From: cal@gsbux1.uchicago.edu (Cal Lott)
Subject: Re: System recommendation (NAD/Denon)
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 23:46:53 GMT

dem@meaddata.com (David Myers) writes:

>nodrog> I'm in search of a receiver (or component equivalent) and
>nodrog> speakers for ~$1200 to play mostly jazz and light rock (Paul
>nodrog> Simon, REM) in a small apartment listening room (ie, modest
>nodrog> volume requirements).  So far I've narrowed the choices down
>nodrog> to Denon AVR-2000 or NAD 1600 preamp/2100 amp, and Paradigm
>nodrog> 5SE or Vandersteen 1B.
>
>   I just bought an AVR-2000 and am pretty pleased with it.  I
>definitely wanted Pro Logic, but at a lower price than separates.
>Also, being lazy, I definitely wanted a system where I could operate
>most functions via remote control.  The design of the AVR-2000 remote
>is pretty poor (62 identically sized buttons evenly spaced out - don't
>try to use it in the dark), but it controls lots of functions,
>including most other Denon components and other companies' TV's and
>VCR's.  And it has learning capabilities on top of that.

	It is hard to beat an A/V receiver for all-around signal-
switching convenience. This is not to say that it is necessarily
*better*, just more convenient.

[discussion of Denon surround sound quality vs. seperate processors
 deleted]

>nodrog> (2) long-term will I be sorry I don't have the "flexibility"
>nodrog> of a component system (particularly appreciate hearing from
>nodrog> someone who might have made this mistake)?
>
>cal> 	(2) Going the seperates route ultimately allows greater fidelity,
>cal> and you can upgrade bits and pieces of your system without having to
>cal> throw the baby out with the bath water. I would prefer to have a great
>cal> stereo system over an adequate surround system.
>
>   I'd rate the Denon as a step above adequate, but the point's well
>taken that separates are better.

	I, too, would rate the Denon as above adequate. I was not 
referring to specifically to the Denon, but was instead making a general
comment that I would personally enjoy and prefer an excellent stereo
reproduction more than I would an average surround reproduction.

>				  As for flexibility, the AVR-2000 is
>somewhat less flexible than I'd like.  It's missing a preamp loop, for
>example, and using the tape monitor for external processing would be
>inconvenient due to the way the whole thing works.  It's also missing
>an audio out pair that you can use to send audio back to your TV (it
>seems to have been designed with a separate TV tuner in mind, as none
>of the inputs are called "TV").  You can use a VCR record out for
>this, but you could get into a feedback loop this way if you press the
>right buttons.
>
>   Remember, too, that the Denon switches video.  I think some of the
>separates discussed here don't do that, if it's important to you.

	Well, that's what the outboard video processor on a seperate
system is supposed to do. A processor like the Yamaha DSP-1000 series
has a remote, video switching, and a master volume control.

>cal> 	(4) I have not heard the Paradigms or Vandersteens very much,
>cal> so I can't be very helpful. Both of the amplifiers mentioned above are
>cal> high-current designs, so you shouldn't worry about them being unable to
>cal> drive the speakers. (If the Denon can do it, either of those amps can.)
>
>   The Denon, like many 5 channel receivers, it seems, doesn't like 4
>ohm speakers.  They say to use speakers from 6 - 16 ohms.

	Well, that's still better than the Sonys, which croak at anything
below 8 ohms. A/V receivers were not designed to drive difficult and/or
revealing speakers. Some might think that the Vandersteens under
consideration would qualify as such a speaker.

>cal> 	The only reason that I would go with the Denon is a budgetary
>cal> one. It is not a bad component, but the seperates will ultimately give
>cal> you much better sound quality.
>
>   Very true.  You'll pay about half as much with the Denon as with
>separates with an outboard Pro Logic system.  You may or may not
>notice a difference in sound, unless you spend a fortune on the top
>end stuff.  Me, I need to eat, too.  :-)

	It also depends on how closely you pay attention to the music.
(Or film.) Most people are better off getting a laserdisc player if they
want to make a big improvement in their A/V system.

						-Cal
--
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Cal Lott          "Oh, I see-- I thought 'no' meant 'spoon'!" --Dan
Email me, baby!   cal@gsbux1.uchicago.edu   cjl1@midway.uchicago.edu
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Newsgroups: rec.audio