Audi wise - what do pay for in a Receiver ?

[timetohunt]

As I am on the verge of getting a separate amp to drive my new Klipsch FR-83s. Using my rather entry level receiver as the pre-amp (it does have pre-outs for separate amplification). I looked into gettting a better receiver in the mean time (or even as a full solution, I don't know). I am working with a 5.1 config but my 2 channel is key. On the surface it seems that the better receivers are much more expensive because they offer much more for video, VDMI and so forth. I don't care much about video as long as the picture is average or just OK.

I do care about sound.

So the question is do I still need a better receiver even though I am going for a separete amp? It seems like the processing that my receiver does is fine, actually quite good for what I know. Just not very robust in terms of amping my good front speakers. I think I may be missing something regarding the audio from entry level receivers to good ones. Or am I? Just thinking that I might wind up paying so much more for a lot of video cababilty which i dont care about. Please expand on the topic to help me out.
Thanks.

[NonSense]

You may want to look at a quality 2CH integrated Amp with HT pass through. This will give you exceptional 2CH playback, along with easy intergration into your HT system. Keep the receiver for HT if you are happy with its performance.

A couple that come to mind are the Musical Fidelity A3.5 and A5 integrated amps.

The problem with getting a nice amp and connecting it to the receiver is that the sound quality will still be limited by the pre-amp quality of your HT reveiver. From what you describe, you should be putting your money into the 2CH side only as you are happy with your receivers performance.

[twitch54]

Well, here's my .02.......... Having owned Klipsch in the past (RF-7's) I have never found a SS amp that I could tolerate with horns, so with that being said you may want to consider tube amplification. There is lots of affordable products on the market today, Jolida, Prima Luna, Onyix, Cayin, AES 'Six Packs' , etc. I would almost guarentee a much more 'musical experience' with them, saving reciever duties for HT.

[timetohunt]

You may want to look at a quality 2CH integrated Amp with HT pass through. This will give you exceptional 2CH playback, along with easy intergration into your HT system. Keep the receiver for HT if you are happy with its performance.

A couple that come to mind are the Musical Fidelity A3.5 and A5 integrated amps.

The problem with getting a nice amp and connecting it to the receiver is that the sound quality will still be limited by the pre-amp quality of your HT reveiver. From what you describe, you should be putting your money into the 2CH side only as you are happy with your receivers performance.

Although I think I can guess. What is 2Ch passthrough ? And why would not every integrated Amp have that option ? Still learning as always. Thanks !

[NonSense]

Although I think I can guess. What is 2Ch passthrough ? And why would not every integrated Amp have that option ? Still learning as always. Thanks !

The HT pass through, is as an analog input to the integrated amp which bypasses the volume control electronics. Essentially a unity gain input, which bypasses the local pre-amp section of the integrated. You would connect your main L and R channels from your receiver's pre-out to this input. The integrated amp becomes a power amp driven from the HT receiver's volume control pre-amp section. You then have an exceptional 2CH pre-amp for 2CH playback and better mains (L/R) amplification for your HT setup. Win/Win

The problem is that on an integrated amp or standard 2CH pre with out this option you are required to set the volume control to a known location/value for calibration. Each time you want to use your HT system you would need to move the setting of the integrated back to this known location to keep the HT system calibration correct. (This is a little easier with digital control systems) The HT bypass eliminates this requirement as it bypasses the local volume control in favor of the HT reveivers volume control. Once the system is calibrated, there is no messing around. Clean.