Hey guys i'm in the market for a new A/V receiver and was after some advice and suggestions.

My budget is around $1500 but i don't mind spending a little more if needed (I also don't mind spending less if i can )

Few features i want in the new receiver:

• 7.1 minimum (2 powered zones)
• 6 HDMi ports in
• ethernet/DLNA
• airplay
• 4K upscaling

Few receivers i've been looking at:

• Denon 3312 or 4311
• Pioneer VSX-LX55
• Onkyo 709

I know the Denon 4311 retails for over 2k locally but it's still in the shortlist.

Would love to hear people experiences with the above receivers and also any other suggestions.


**Edit, removed 4K upscaling after speaking to the wizards at the hifi store**

Don't you hate it when you go to a store. State your budget. Then the shop assistant offers a suggestion just outside it?

Azur 650R. $1599.




That'd be my choice, but it does seem to fall short with some of your requirements. Unparallelled on sound though.

Thanks mate, at first glance it looks like it might not do what i'm after (no ethernet, only 4 HDMi ports) but i'll look into it.

http://au.yamaha.com/en/products/aud..._l/?mode=model
RX-V781 ticks most of your boxes

Originally Posted by Dust For Eyes

Azur 650R. $1599.

Had a decent read up on this amp, sounds very impressive sound wise but it lacks too many of the features i want/need.
Thanks for the heads up Dust, i hadn't even thought about Cambridge amps.

Originally Posted by Lorenz

RX-V871 - RX-V '71 Series Receivers - Yamaha - Australia
RX-V781 ticks most of your boxes

Thanks Lorenz, do you have this amp? pros and cons?
(doing a read up on it now)

Originally Posted by torana355

Go for a Yamaha RX-V1071. Ive seen it for $1500. Ive had almost every brand amp and my Yamaha is by far the best.

You need to come listen to my Anthem MRX 700 and Focal Chorus 726 Vs!!

Originally Posted by emerson

Had a decent read up on this amp, sounds very impressive sound wise but it lacks too many of the features i want/need.
Thanks for the heads up Dust, i hadn't even thought about Cambridge amps.



Thanks Lorenz, do you have this amp? pros and cons?
(doing a read up on it now)

Don't have this amp but have played with a mates, pretty impressed overall.

Originally Posted by torana355

Yeah Anthem is more music based like Cambridge, Arcam, Rotel. You can't beat those brands for 2 channel music. Yamaha, Denon and Onkyo are more HT/ multichannel based. I don't mind the sound of the Focal range actually but im a big fan of Paradigm.

Exactly, plain old stereo music done very well is what I was looking for and both the Anthem and Focals do it very well. I wish I could have upped the ante with the floor standings but I view that as something I can change later when I can justify spending that much, whereas a great amp just improves the sound so much that it is well worth the additional investment.

But yes, to the OP for something in that range I would seriously consider a Denon or Yamaha.

Originally Posted by torana355

Go for a Yamaha RX-V1071. Ive seen it for $1500. Ive had almost every brand amp and my Yamaha is by far the best.

RX-V1071 - AV Receivers - Yamaha - Australia

Thanks Torana, i'll check this one out too.

Originally Posted by ravage221

You need to come listen to my Anthem MRX 700 and Focal Chorus 726 Vs!!

I've heard some great things about the sound of Anthem amps but heard they are quite hard to setup, is that true? (this was told to me by the hifi store, i haven't tried to use one yet)

Originally Posted by torana355

Yeah Anthem is more music based like Cambridge, Arcam, Rotel. You can't beat those brands for 2 channel music. Yamaha, Denon and Onkyo are more HT/ multichannel based. I don't mind the sound of the Focal range actually but im a big fan of Paradigm.

This is what spurred on this thread, i just bought a full 5.1 set of Paradigm SE's and want something decent to power them

Originally Posted by torana355

Always good to meet an fellow audiophile, i came very close to buying a set of those focals but i decided to wait till i get my own house so i can do the job properly For now ill stick with my Yamaha 3800, DB Dynamic Floorstanders/Centre/surrounds and psb sub.

OP are you more interested in music or watching movies, this makes a big difference in choice of amp.

This amp will mainly be for HT

Anyone had any experience with the Pioneer LX55 or LX75? Seems like they have pretty good bang for buck as far as options go, wondering if they sound good as well?

Originally Posted by torana355

Yeah Anthem is more music based like Cambridge, Arcam, Rotel. You can't beat those brands for 2 channel music.

I'm certain that you can, but I know what you mean.

When I had to merge the home cinema and music listening setup due to space restrictions it took me a while to come up with a compromise that would be both functional and acceptable sounding. I went through various stages of hybridisation and have arrived at a setup now where the AV receiver (Sony 3300ES) is doing all the audio/video switching, multi-channel decoding and video upscaling, but drives only the surround speakers. Of the original Wharfedale 5.1 speaker set only the rear surrounds and the 12" sub are left now. The front speakers (Rogers LS3/5a) are now driven by a Musical Fidelity class-A amp (via the Sony's pre-out), and the centre speaker is gone completely.

This way I don't have to put up with horrible sound when listening to music, I get much clearer dialog in movies and still have surround sound and LFE plus the central control of everything the AV receiver affords.

Cheers
Steffen.

Originally Posted by torana355

Nice speaker selection, you have the SE 3 floorstanders?

Yep the full kit so SE 3's for fronts, SE 1's for rears, SE center and sub.

Originally Posted by fan

Try Sony 5600 receiver. I design million dollar Broadcast systems and I was amazed how good this Rx is. It has auto phase calibration and also IP switch. Got iPhone App to do all the funny stuff. It also can act as a streaming server.
You may need to compromise on HDMI numbers. It has 6
It was in Sony Aus site some how it is not there now. It may be being ES they have given this to high end installers.. Another dumb Sony decision. Get it from overseas web sites or here
Sony STRDA5600ES 7.1ch HD ES Receiver $3149 + FREE Delivery - Save $350 off RRP

Sound quality is almost good as 20K system.
Sony Receivers - AV Receiver Range for Surround Sound | ES - STR-DN - STR-DH Series

Thanks Fan but it's quite a bit more than i wanted to spend.
That's the first amp i've seen to have 4 ethernet ports!

Ok so i think i've limited it down to 2 choices, does anyone have any experience with the 2 following amps?

• Denon 4311
• Pioneer LX75

Will be off to the hifi store on the wkend to have a decent listen but would love peoples inputs if they have used/listened to any of these