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Stereo amp upgrade path?

Hello all,

First time posting here, but after reading many of the posts here, I think I may be in a place to get some seriously unbiased (yeah right!) opinions of how to approach my given situation.

“System” Set-up:
1. Yamaha RV703 AVR. About 5 years old. NO pre-outs!
2. Panasonic (cheapy) DVD player (trust me, good enough for my AV needs)
3. CD Player: ummm, the Panasonic DVD atm…
4. PSB Silver Stratus i’s, C5i center channel, and Subsonic 7 subwoofer. No surround speakers atm, but planning on matching with more PSB…perhaps the mini’s. Main speakers are Bi-wired.
5. 12 gauge $4 a foot bi-wire speaker cable with Dayton gold connectors plugs. Hell, I got the speaker cable thrown in free with the purchase of the speakers and it sure is better than the 20 gauge Rat-shack zip cord I used to use…

My TOTAL (remaining) Budget for upgrades: $1,000. (I blew $1k on the Silver Strats, $350 on the C5i, and $600 on the sub…all in all I think a great deal.)

I am looking for an upgrade path to improve my stereo listening needs.

Obviously the first thing is a new CD player. I am leaning towards a NAD C521/C541. It is my understanding that NAD works great with PSB speakers … Figure up to $350 for the CD player but I am very open to listening to other options and/or buying used. Suggestions?

NOW we get to the fun part: HOW do I upgrade the amplification? Some options I have thought of:

a. Buy a higher end AVR with pre-outs to allow use of a downstream amp: Aka: NAD 762 or such, then add an additional 2/3 channel amp down the road

b. Buy a completely separate int/amp such as a NAD C532ct or Rotel and somehow run TWO sets of speaker wires to the PSB mains directly from the int/amp. IE: CD to Int/Amp wire split to speakers…DVD to Yamaha split wires to speakers…

c. Just buy the CD player and wait for something like an Outlaw separates system to come out for sale…

My listening is easily 80% stereo, and maybe 20% HT. I like movies, but they don’t stir my soul. To me, the movie is more or less icing on the cake.

Any suggestions on upgrade paths would be greatly appreciated.
rnovi
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swampwalker
5,132 posts
 
(c). will not work properly. Should not have 2 amps connected to same speakers at same time. I'd probably sell the DVD and get an older ref quality DVD, like Elite DV-05 or 09, or Sony 7000 or 9000, depending on what you find for sale. The 05 and 7000 will be in the $200-250 range, while the 09-9000 will be in the $450-500 range.
elevick
2,439 posts
 
1-stratus mini's might be the best speaker psb has made!
2-You need a good sub for the 5.1 recordings. Not only will it keep your mains from picking up the slack, it will keep the amp driving the mains from overworking.
3-If you buy a used dvd, make sure you get a warranty. Even 30 days will cover any shipping problems. Personally, I would just buy new so you get the best features and the longest possible use before it's obsolete. Features you need to consider: Bass Management, SACD, DVD-A, 24/96 or 192, dual outputs, coax and toslink digital outs.
4-You will like movies better even if you use tiny radio shack speakers for the rears. Hell, go to a garage sale and get anything. It will be fun.
5-The receiver will need replaced eventually. Even though you don't have pre-amp outs, you should still have a tape loop output if you really need a pair of stereo outputs to an integrated. This is a pain in the butt though since the speakers can only be hooked up to the integrated and its volume control.
WHAT WOULD I DO: Buy a nice dvd. Blow the rest of the budget on the best used receiver that you can get with pre-amp outs. You can use the dvd for dolby decoding..... and use the 5.1 inputs in the receiver. Eventually, you will be able to add external amps as your budget allows. If you spend the $350 on a dvd, you will be amazed how much receiver you can get for $650. That buys one heck of a used denon unit.
avguygeorge
2,300 posts
 
I know this is a shamless plug but I have a nice Entegra 6.2 with pre out for all ch. Not that you would 'need' different amps---This is a nice sounding piece. Actually there are a bunch of these late model receivers available. Mine is 100x5---Price is flexable.--Like most of these owners, I have moved up to a 7 ch amp./receiver. I think once you hear music from a 2ch source going into all 5 speakers--- Well it's pretty good. You just get so much for your money with a good sounding receiver. This refers to most of them,not just mine. Also there is good selection of used book shelf speakers for 300 or so. Really good cd players will run a grand. A half decent dvd-cd player can be had for 200,used as suggested from above. Good luck careful spending can yeild good results.
merge038346
73 posts
 
essentiall you have two choices. the cheapest out is to buy another AVR WITH pre-outs. this will give you much better audio tham that old yamaha, and set you up for you next upgrade.

the other way is ultimately cheaper, with a higher up front cost. just bite the bullet. buy a new pre/pro and a new 5 channel amp. look at the NAD, Rotel, Outlaw gear in your price range.

have fun either way.
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