Hi everyone--

I know the "what receiver should I buy" threads are becoming redundant, but please forgive me as my question is a bit specific.

I have a Sony (non-ES) receiver that I've had for awhile & has been decent for home theater use, but I'm listening to a lot more music lately.  I would like to upgrade to a new receiver, something that can do 5.1 surround, but most importantly, really sounds best for 2-channel stereo music playback.

I really don't need much for bells and whistles on the video side (HDMI inputs/outputs are not necessary), but I would like it to have optical digital inputs.  Under $2000 is my preferred price range

I've heard really great reviews of the Denon 2807 in terms of its' home theater capabilities, but little on its "musicality".  Any recommendations?  Thanks in advance!

By the way, my current receiver is a Sony STR-DE685...certainly not a high-end unit.

The AVR-2807 drives my 633s, 634 & 532, $ S10 so very well. The Aperion speakers as good as they are aren't going to show themselfes without a excellent receiver. If you could try the AVR-2807 I'm sure you wouldn't return it!!!   Just Go for it!!!

I've a Sonny, Yamaha (was very good), harmon cardon, receivers, I'll glade I went with the 2807

take a look at Marantz.

both the 7500 and 8500 are great for music reproduction, as well as movies.

actually, I think those were recently replaced by the 7001 and 8001, so maybe you can get yourself a closeout model.

 as for Denon, I wasn't as impressed with their music reproduction, but for movies they are excellent.
 

Nick B:

take a look at Marantz.

both the 7500 and 8500 are great for music reproduction, as well as movies.

I can't agree more about Marantz.  I've had one of their middle of the road 5.1 AV receivers for about 6 years now and never had one tiny bit of trouble with it.  The thing is built like a TANK, and it's so good that my desire for a new receiver with more inputs isn't strong enough to replace it. I just put band-aids on my situation with an array of switchboxes.  

When I do replace it, chances are it will be with another Marantz, though. 

---

Word.

it's tough to beat Marantz for SQ at their price point.

I had originally planned to upgrade to 8500, but lately I have had my eye on a Rotel Processor/Amplifier combo.

I ended up buying the Denon AVR-3806.  After reading a lot of reviews, I realized the 3806 was a much better choice than the 2807 for my usage (80% music, 20% movies; no need for HDMI upconversion) and a local shop had one.  After doing a fairly extensive demo and some negotiations, I was thoroughly impressed & picked up the 3806 for $1099.

 The sound quality is SOOOOO much better than my Sony.  I was disappointed when I first bought my 633-T's because acoustic/jazz/clasical music sounded great but rock and electronic music sounded really muddy and lacked punch.  I realize now that it had nothing to do with the speakers--it was the amp.   I can make out individual instruments now, singing voices sound much more realistic & drums actually sound like drums, not just bass thuds.  It made a big difference in movies too--the Sony could play loud, but the Denon can be forceful.  I don't have the technical vocabulary to explain it, but there just seems to be more impact from the sound, even at lower volumes.

I'm definitely happy with my choice.  Now it's time to choose between the Marantz, Onyx and NAD CD players I've been looking at....or should I keep with Denon?   Decisions decisions.....

 

for CD players, I've read/heard great reviews for NAD C542, Rotel RCD-1072, and Music Hall CD25.2.

however, I have no idea how a Denon CD player would compare to these 3.... 

I'm actually looking at the NAD C542 and C521BEE right now.  My local shop has the 521 for $299, but does not carry the 542 so I can't do a side-by-side comparison.  However, I found a site online where I can get the 542 refurbished for $369.  For $70 difference I'll probably end up going with the 542.

the 542 has a more detailed, warmer sound than the 521.

but both are good CD players.

concerning the refurb, make sure they have a good return policy; my experience with refurbs is they work pretty well, but not as well as a brand new item. 

So I have a case of upgraditis and have been checking out different receivers and seperates out there. Currently I have a Pioneer Elite vsx54 which is great.  I have not had a single issue with that receiver, the sound is nice and warm and has quite a bit of power..but...I have long dreamed of having seperates.  I have a buddy who works for Krell..but really, even if I could get a great deal I still couldn't afford a multichannel amp from them.  I would love to get my hands on an Outlaw 770 or one of NAD's new intergrated receivers (T-785, release date TBD)  Either way I am still in it for some $.  Any advice on a nice 7 channel amp?

what I have considered doing is starting with a 5 channel amp, then adding a 2 channel to drive only the front speakers later on.

that way you can have a 2 channel stereo system and 7 channel surround system.

the amps I've had my eye on are Rotel's RMB-1075 (120x5; $999) and RB-1070 (130x2; $699). 

I have an Anthem PVA-5 and it sounds really nice with my PT's, they also have a PVA-7, seven channel amp.

Here's a link to the amps.

A little off-topic now, but an update on my CD player decision.  I went to my local shop & demoed the NAD 525BEE and 542 one after the other using the same source material (non-HDCD).  I was hoping that I wouldn't hear much of a difference & save some money with the 525, but unfortunately I was wrong--the 542 has a substantially more detailed sound.  I always heard that the main difference between the two was the bass handling (which is true; the bass is much tighter & more natural on the 542), but what really shocked me was vocal reproduction and soundstage.  Vocals were MUCH cleaner oand more natural sounding on the 542, and you could really pick out instrument placement & have a greater sense of depth in the sound.

This is a great question.  I just ordered the 633-t speakers and am concerned about an old Kenwood receiver, 1996, at 100 watts x2 not supporting the new speakers.  I will be using the speakers for 100% for 2 channel music.  The units mentioned in this thread all talk about all these fancy features with surround sound stuff.  What about pure 2 channel music.  I came across a Denon DRA 697CIHD stereo receiver with no surround sound stuff.  First, does anyone have any experience with this unit?  Second, am I out of my mind buying a stereo only receiver, even though it is not going to be used for TV or movies?