help choosing components

[Chandos]

about to purchase the RCD-1072 along with an integrated amp and a tuner. Am I better off purchasing the RX-1052 stereo receiver or spending a few hundred more and getting seperates(RA-1062 and RT-1080)? Any major differences in sound quality? Any advice would be appreciated.

If it matters at all, my speakers are Totem Arros.

[Mitchell]

I was in the same situation.
I was looking to buy a receiver and was not quite happy with the sound.
I described it as anemic. It was a Rotel receiver that I believe output 100 wpc.
The salesman brought in seperates and even the seperates with similar wattage seemed to have more "fullness" to the sound, especially in the bass.
I still was not entirely happy though and he suggested bringing out some larger amps.
Once I got to the Rotel RB 1080 and an equivalent amp (in power) by Naime I could really hear the difference.
I decided on the 1080 as it got me to the level where I felt the music sounded right and at a good price. I am not an experienced audiophile and I just went with my ears - and gut. The salesman deserves credit as he realized it was the amp - not the speakers or the other components that was the limiting factor.
I suggest you do the same kinds of auditions and see if it makes a difference to you.
Hope this is helpful.

[Chandos]

thanks. i'll try auditioning next week. i might just end up purchasing seperates, maybe the 1070, though that is stretching my budget