Switching out a C2 for a receiver???

[jkscherk]

I recently started thinking about selling off my C2 pre and Sherbourn 7/2100 amp and replacing them with a Marantz SR9600 receiver. Is this crazy??

I just got a Marantz DV9600 player which is a super unit. Changing over to the SR would allow me to go firewire for player-receiver connection. I'm driving an all-ACI speaker setup and all speakers are run as small. This move concerns me a little about what I'd be giving up in amplification, but I figure I could save at least $1000 in the switch and still have some decent resale on the SR when and if Parasound comes up with a successor to the current C1/C2. I could still add a 2 or 3 channel amp if I really needed it, but that would negate the $$ savings.

Am I nuts?

[J.H.]

Yes this is crazy. Why would you go from nice high end separates to a receiver? Yes the receiver has more bell and whistles but sound quality will be hurt in my opinion. In the end sound quality is the most important factor in our little hobby. J.H.

[locomk]

how about keeping your Sherbourn amp and using the marantz as a pre-amp/processor. sure you'd lose a bit of savings, but you will still benefit from the quality of a seperate amp and get to use the firewire in the marantz.

[jkscherk]

J.H- I agree that the sound quality is the most important part of this. However, I think I can reallocate the saving from the move into uprgaded speakers which will actually yield a bigger improvement in sound than that found between the difference in the electonics.

locomk- There'd be absolutely no cost savings in the scenario you set. Not that its a bad scenario, but it might actually cost me more.

I'm going to keep thinking about it. I don't want to make a rash decision that I'll later regret.

[Brian]

I don't think it's crazy really, especially with the age of the C2. I've actually thought of doing something simliar, except keep my amp. I had a C1 and replaced it with a much cheaper pre/pro. Didn't lose squat regarding the sound. This is what has made me curious about comparing the marantz to my current pre/pro.
(I compared them side by side in my room too so I'm not just regurgitating something I read on AVS.)
It's really gonna come down to how picky you are and how difficult your speakers are to drive.

[Rolyasm]

Brian,
What pre/pro did you change to?

[Chris D]

Wow, did I miss this thread when it first came out?

jks, I wouldn't recommend doing that, as others have mentioned, it would be taking a step BACKWARDS in performance to go from high-end separates to a receiver. Even if you use the savings to buy better speakers, you're just "robbing Peter to pay Paul". I only recommend people make upgrades to IMPROVE each part of their systems.

If you're really looking for certain new features that the C2 isn't giving you, I'd recommend that you save up a buy a better pre/processor than the C2, not go back to receivers.

Just my .02.

[jkscherk]

Chris,

I think part of my reasoning is now would be the time to sell of the C2 while it still has some value. The receiver would probably be an interim solution until the next wave of pre/pros arrive. Additionally, there are some who say the Arcam units sound better than the Halos. If I can find one, I'm going to try to demo the new Arcam AVR350 against my C2.

John

[Chris D]

Your call, of course! I still wouldn't go backwards to a receiver, even if it were a filler. But if you can get an Arcam unit and do C2 comparisons, then I would HIGHLY encourage that!

[Brian]

Rolyasm,
I went from a B&K ref 50 to the C1 to the Cary Cinema 6, then to the Audio Control Maestro M2 which is a clone of the Arcam AVP 700. Saying one is better than the other is pointless really because they all have their strength's and weakness. I felt the C1 was a huge step up from the ref 50 but didn't think the improvement was all that great going from the C1 to the cary or maestro. They sounded different but if you remove the preference of the type of sound and simply listen for dynamics, range, soundstage, etc . they all sound really good. And much more important is the room and speakers.
Soundwise, the differences between a less expensive pre/pro and a more expensive one are becoming less and less these days.
I have someone who is interested in my maestro so I may try something like the Marantz SR9600 (as a pre/pro) just for kicks. I always do a side by side before getting rid of whatever I have so it would be an interesting comparison. A buddy still has a C1 that I sold him and I've borrowed it before to use for a comparison. May have to do it again with the maestro, C1 and SR9600. (finding the time is always the killer for me)

[jkscherk]

I was thinking about the marantz SR9600 as well. Two other units that intrigue me are the new Cary Cinema 11 and Nuforce AV16. Both units are geared toward audio first with limited video capabilities. That's fine for me as I don't run any video through my C-2 anyway.

[mitch57]

Soundwise, the differences between a less expensive pre/pro and a more expensive one are becoming less and less these days.
I have someone who is interested in my maestro so I may try something like the Marantz SR9600 (as a pre/pro) just for kicks. I always do a side by side before getting rid of whatever I have so it would be an interesting comparison. A buddy still has a C1 that I sold him and I've borrowed it before to use for a comparison. May have to do it again with the maestro, C1 and SR9600. (finding the time is always the killer for me)

I would be very interested in your findings if you decide to do a side by side comparrison. I too have heard that the differences between higher end receivers and dedicated pre/pros is narrowing significantly.

Please keep us posted if you decide to do an A/B test.