Mixing av receiver and amplifier brands?

[Noddy347]

I currently have a Rotel receiver(1056) and a five and two channel Rotel amps running the theatre setup. If I was to replace the receiver with a denon, onkyo receiver will there be a difference in the sound style even though I will bypass onboard amps and use the Rotel power amps to run the theatre?

In short I am very happy with the movie/music reproduction but would like to upgrade to a newer receiver for all the extra connectivity/sound formats etc.

[mjb]

It will obviously work fine, but I'm sure there would be a difference in sound. Whether that difference is good or bad will be a personal taste! Rotel gear is generally highly considered, so it might be a change for the worse!

[madmac]

Getting the new hi-def sound formats will likely result in better overall sound. Especially since you will still be going through the Rotel amps. If you used the Denon/Onkyo amps, you would very likely be disappointed in the audio performance when compared with the Rotel.

[Noddy347]

Getting the new hi-def sound formats will likely result in better overall sound. Especially since you will still be going through the Rotel amps. If you used the Denon/Onkyo amps, you would very likely be disappointed in the audio performance when compared with the Rotel.

And this is what concerns me. As you know madmac I had a thread regarding an upgrade to an oppo bluray with 7.1 analog pre-outs so I could access the new sound formats. This would be a simple way to access them but there seem to be so many new advances/extras on avr's these days that in a dedicated room like mine they would useful.

So like you mentioned going to a relatively cheaper receiver when compared to the latest Rotel receiver, my two channel listening will probably suffer.

The problem is the budget is at the most $1500 AU, slightly better than the U.S. $ atm. $1500 is miles away from the latest Rotel avr.

Add that to the fact I have Klipsch Reference speakers I have to be careful what avr I stick with them. I originally used a Yamaha avr and the two channel sound was :sos:

Is the sound quality/style dependant on the dac's in the receiver or the type/brand of amplifiers? Wouldn't the type/brand of player have some effect on the sound as well?

[John Holmes]

Noddy347,

I'm sorta in the same boat. I do not have a matching amp and pre-pro but, it is a pre-HDMI unit. Like you I love the sound but, of course would love to also have some of the up-to-date features.

I've decided to continue to enjoy what I have until there is no doubt in my mind I will get equal or better sound for my dollar. Because I honestly cannot lie to myself and say my audio doesn't sound very, very good to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way saying that it can't get any better. I just don't see the need in going thru the hassle (at this time) for a marginal upgrade.

In your case, my suggestion would be seriously continue to look at Rotel. Really take the time to listen to what you are willing to purchase from them (in home if possible). Then go out and see if you get that same satisfaction from any of the other products you've mentioned. While I truly believe that proper speaker placement, calibration, listening position placement and room treatment is more important; synergy can has its merits too.

That's the beauty of our hobby, the only right or wrong answer in equipment choice is your satisfaction.

[madmac]

"Is the sound quality/style dependant on the dac's in the receiver or the type/brand of amplifiers? Wouldn't the type/brand of player have some effect on the sound as well?"

The answer to that is yes, yes, and yes. Your choice of Oppo is excellent. Everything has a effect on sound one way or another. Speakers being the biggest one followed by the amp and then the source last. Think of it....you can hook a ghetto blaster up to good speakers and it's gonna' sound good!. I think the new hi-def sound formats are good but only as good as what went into the recording itself. I've got some ordinary cd's that sound better than some of my SACD's and DVD-A's. DTS-HD and DD-HD are essentially 24 bit sound X 5.1 or 7.1 but I would imagine that they don't ALL sound fabulous. Some will...some won't. Personally, I would not shell out big bucks to get that sound. Only when I'm ready for a new receiver will I get these new sound formats. This is solely based on my experience above with HI-RES audio formats in music.

[Noddy347]

Well gents, you have given the advice and i wlll take it. I'll upgrade the bluray player and retire the samsung 1500 to the bedroom and hang onto the Rotel 1056. Also the only bluray disc released in Oz in true 7.1 to my knowledge is Toy Story 3.

I am now tossing up whether to go the oppo route which is close to 1k if i purchase it locally or going with a mid spec panasonic or similar for less than half that.

thanks again.

ps i am going to look at some good room treatments as well. I was just playing around with some eggshell foam i had lying around an mounted them onto the first and second relflections. I was amazed at what that did to tame the HF in the room.

[madmac]

Room treatments will profoundly affect your sound!!. Have fun with that !

[Armbender]

I orginally had the 1056 with the RB 1080, then switched to a bryston 6bsst with awesome improvement...then decided to downgrade to the emotiva XPA-5 as I switched to a processor....for the small time my emotiva was hooked to the rotel, it was a downgrade from the bryston but not when you look at the price justification..synergy was good..still a nice soundstage and warm sound...no regrets...

[whoaru99]

Well gents, you have given the advice and i wlll take it. I'll upgrade the bluray player and retire the samsung 1500 to the bedroom and hang onto the Rotel 1056. Also the only bluray disc released in Oz in true 7.1 to my knowledge is Toy Story 3.

I am now tossing up whether to go the oppo route which is close to 1k if i purchase it locally or going with a mid spec panasonic or similar for less than half that.

thanks again.

ps i am going to look at some good room treatments as well. I was just playing around with some eggshell foam i had lying around an mounted them onto the first and second relflections. I was amazed at what that did to tame the HF in the room.

Might want to check the Marantz AV7005. I got one not long ago to replace my Anthem AVM 20. I think the Marantz is a nice, good sounding unit at a reasonable price. The AV7005 is $1499 MSRP in USD. Better prices can be had.

I had previously purchased a BD player with multichannel analog outs and that did the trick with the Anthem, but that doesn't get you room correction/calibration and the ease of HDMI connectivity that a new processor would, in addition to other features you get (which may or may not be of value to you).

[Hammie]

Yes, changing out the Rotel receiver with another brand can change the sound. Although you are using external amps, the receiver is still doing the processing of the audio (and possibly video).

I'm using external amps and when I recently changed from a Denon 3808 (acting as a pre/pro) to an Onkyo 5508 AV Processor, I felt my sound changed dramatically. It went from VERY laid back to much more neutral to forward sounding. For me, this was a good thing.

[impala454]

As long as your processor/receiver has analog inputs you're essentially timeless as far as sound quality goes. The only stuff you give up is features.