Receivers to consider
June 9, 2002
I have purchased Mordaunt Short speakers with a Boston
Acoustics sub. I narrowed my search for a receiver to the Onkyo TX-DS595 or the Denon
AVR-1802. I then decided to wait for the Onkyo TX-SR600. Now that it is out, it does not
seem to be setting the world on fire. What is your opinion of the Denon AVR-1802 versus
the Onkyo TX-SR600? Or for that matter, is there another receiver in this price range I
should be considering?
George Marion
Denon and Onkyo both make comparable receivers. We have
a review sample of the Onkyo TX-SR600, so we should be able to give you a more definitive
opinion soon. You don't mention if you are running a full home-theater system (5.1 or 7.1
channels) or simply stereo. If you do have a two-channel system only, you may want to
consider either an integrated amp (Denon makes some fine ones), or you may be able to get
a fantastic deal on last year's receiver models. It is worth noting that many times when a
new receiver is introduced, the most obvious changes involve processing features and
amplifier channels (more of them). If I were looking for a receiver for stereo, I'd look
for a five-channel version instead of a seven-channel model. The more channels you feed
from a single power supply, the more suspect the power rating becomes. This may put the
TX-DS595 back into the running.
Upcoming reviews
June 6, 2002
What reviews can we look for in the next month or so? I
like to see what you guys like before I buy something.
Peter Roosa
We'll have Polk Audio and Acoustic Energy speakers,
cables from Audio Magic and TARA Labs, and components from Onkyo, Taddeo, and B&K. So
we have some great stuff in store. Hang tight!
Expensive speakers
June 4, 2002
I m in the market for a pair of great speakers. I m
interested in knowing what you think I should listen to in the $7000 to $10,000 range.
Thanks.
Pio Ferro
Your budget exceeds the price point of the equipment we
review on GoodSound!. However, we at the SoundStage! Network do regularly test speakers
you'd likely be interested in, but the reviews are located on different sites. Navigate
through our family of publications each month to find new articles and reviews on a
variety of gear. Also, have a look at AudioVideoReviews, where you'll find a database of past reviews. Good
luck!
Wrong?
June 3, 2002
I am going to buy a pair of Paradigm Reference Studio/40
speakers. Currently my budget doesn't allow me to buy an amplifier costing more than $1000
(Canadian). So I am thinking about getting the NAD C370. Any thing wrong with that?
Boggy
Nothing at all wrong with that. Regardless of my, or
anyone else's, recommendation, you must be happy with what you purchase. If after
weighing all the factors you deem as important, the NAD comes out ahead, then go for it
and don't look back. The NAD C370 is reportedly a very good integrated amplifier. You
should have an excellent combination with the Paradigm speakers.
Fix it?
June 2, 2002
I have a Luxman R-115 that has worked wonderfully for ten
years. The past year or so the sound started to cut out, and I would have to turn the unit
off and back on to regain sound. Last week the sound completely stopped when I played the
radio. The sound is fine when I use the CD player. Luxman equipment is almost impossible
to get serviced since they went out of business and every service center I've called say
they will look at it for $200 but won't guarantee they can fix it. Do you think this unit
is worth the service cost or should I start looking for a new unit to invest in? Also does
this sound like a problem that can be fixed?
James T.
First, $200 just to look at it is outrageous. The going
rate is between $20 to $50 and usually that charge is applied to the service bill if in
fact the technician can fix the problem. I'd call some more places. Is it worth fixing?
That depends. If you are looking for more features than the Luxman has, like up-to-date
surround processing or the ability to drive multiple speakers, then perhaps it would be
cost effective to replace it. If, though, you listen primarily to two-channel music and
like the sound of the Luxman, then I'd pursue getting it fixed. Luxman used to make some
wonderful gear. And they are still in business, though they sell primarily to Japanese
markets. I had a buddy who recently replaced his Luxman receiver. To get what he felt was
similar sound and build quality, he bought the $5000 McIntosh MHT 100. The point? Older
Luxman sounds good, and is built very well.
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