The speakers do not cause distortion, but the application of volume and programme material will. That receiver is made for light loads, and not serious stereo speakers, like most mass market receivers. With all channels driven, the Pioneer will put out very little power, and turning up the volume will stress the power supply very quickly. Clipping comes quickly, and tweeters get fried.
Here's an idea. if you really want the Jamos and they are a good deal, buy a dedicated 2 channel amp that can run them and use your pre-outs for the mains. Or you can also buy a decicated beefy multi channel amp and bypass the receiver's amplification altogether turning it into a pre-pro. If your reciver doesn't have pre-outs on all channels, it's indicative of it's dedication or lack there of, to being the cutoff point for future purposes. In other words, never buy a receiver without pre-outs on all channels. When you build a system, especially in stages, you want flexibility. Your largest bang for the buck is speakers first(they actually reproduce sound), then power, then control and conversion, then source. you want a receiver that lets you choose when and how you want to upgrade. If you can find a well cared for ATI amp, its not well known among the midfi community and its an extremely well made product. (the people behind ATI were the original geniuses behind Soundcraftsmen). Your best audio products are made by people who specialize, as in anything else. Why would want speakers from the people that made my receiver? Good luck, let me know if you need any help. Paul
Amplifying a poor source and switch make louder sources and switches. However, as this is a natural progression, adding an amplifier is a normal step, and will accommodate the Jamo's much more easily. The integration of these parts is now your problem, IMO, as this is more easily said than done.
what problem of integration could there be, if he has the connections to do so, other than expense, and a place to put it. If he were using a poor source I would have mentioned it. But he isn't and all things being equal in the source section, the recommendation is more than sound, its the established truth and has little to do with opinion. Don't confuse a simple solution and an enthusiastic newbie with a word like "integration" It's inapppropriate for his continued education and excitement in Audio/HT and bordering on pseudo-audiophile/snob talk.
You are about as useful to a newbie, Paul, as a saddle to a snake. Integration and compatibility lead to synergy and all parts working as a whole. As I stated, this is a natural process to a newer listener, and I have seen so many hundreds of people spend thousands of dollars to watch another one go by, cash in hand.
If you cannot understand the integratin issue of a seperate amplifier of anothe make, mated to compltely unmatched speakers in a 5.1 setup, then you missed the point entirely.
Adding an amp to a receiver, to power speakers in a 2.0 is a stand alone issue as to quality, but melding this setup into a center channel and complete system is never the best thing to do, unless something is free.
this weekend, a friend cranked up his top end amplifier and speakers (CD only), and i was blown away. I think it will turn out to be a very expensive experience....
Tell me, in your most expert way, what you advise, please.
I am now....thinking of getting rid of the Pioneer, and upgrade it to for another, more high end, AMP. I have had a few replies which tell me that the Pioneer is not a "Great" choice.for top quality sound.
coud you please advise what you would recommend??
My ultimate goal is to have a nice, full home Cinema in 7.1, with 2 good quality towers up front, which really cranks good quality sound.
In our home we have a shitload of music on MPS and Apple, and listen to the odd CD.
I mostly want my 52" Full HD TV, to be upscaled for Video and Sound where possible. this is why i went with the Piuoneer. with all of it's "extras"
I have SKY HD in 1080 and another HD package in 780HD in a foreign language. it would be good to have an AMP which up scaless to 1080...??
I play Blue Ray through my PS3.
all in all, i would like to have a kick butt home cinema experience...
Please advise what AMP to buy to give me the best "bang" for my money.
do you care about HDMI switching? IF not I would recommend you find a good used Lexicon MC-1 processor. Nothing touches Lexicon for stereo reproduction and soundstage without going to a high-end dedicated two channel pre-amp. Most receivers still send stero through their SS processor and it "colors" musical reproduction. The Lexicon has a direct signal path separate from the SS board and though you won't have Dolby Tru-HD or HD DTS, for now, its Logic 7 pretty much defined 7.1 before it was called 7.1. There is no such thing as actual 7.1 in home theather. The other two channels are 'derived' much the same that the center channel was derived in prologic from the stereo source in analog. You won't have HDMI switching in the Lexicon MC-1 but if your components are all within easy reach of your monitor it won't really matter for the video switching.You can also buy an inexpensive scaler that will take care of the upconversion for you. As far as amps arfe concerned, if you are going to go multi channel then my recommendation remains the same, go with the ATI. As far as my "colleague" is concerned yes integration is important when you are talking about a perfect world and one can do everything at once.(speaker voice matching...spending for both video and audio, I.E. Blu-Ray. SACD, and high end analog) Most people can't. so we do what we can in the order of importance. Stuart what matters most, in addition to getting the biggest bang for your buck, is having a grand design, an endpoint in mind up front so you don't waste expense doing things twice or even three times. take your time with the speakers, especially because they are the most subjective and are least likely to match total cost to the sum of their parts. Which is why people can charge 60k to 120K for Speakers. It's relative to what they are worth to YOU. I was a dealer for many years and though I have sold $30K Sonus Fabers, they don't touch my Martin Logan Prodigies which were $10K brand new. you've set yourself upon a great though expensive adventure. Enjoy it but do it wisely. Buy video new. Buy the rest gently used, especially speakers. Speaker technology doesn't change quickly enough to warrant continually upgrading. Save up. Buy what you really want and enjoy it for years. Buy based on Music not movies. Music is far more demanding than movies are when it comes to detail especially accoustic, symphonic and voice. When it comes to your sub, consider a DIY project..you just get a much better fit for your wallet and your room. And you'll have more fun doing it. I wish you great joy in audio, Paul PS- make sure the Lexicon's software/Eprom is V4.00 and the DTS version 1.10. You'll know the DTS 1.10 by the DTS modes in it. It also means it was a later upgrade and not a "built as" MC-1 V4.00
SK - Why don't you ask your friend to recommend a good dealer in your area where you can go and listen and ask some questions? I would expect your friend has been to most of the dealers in your area and if you ask for someone who can just listen and then advise with your budget in mind, you should do well in this.
Don't rush any decisions. If you're happy with the Pioneer, then that's what matters. Yep, there's lots of better gear out there and the Pioneer can be limiting to the future growth of your system. But setting your sights too high when your budget doesn't match can also be bad news. Plenty of people are quite happy with their Pioneer receivers and any good dealer can make the most of what you already own. Don't rush to dump something you just purchased because someone told you they don't like Pioneer.
Take your time, talk and listen to a good dealer who can give you reasonable answers that don't start with, "You never should have bought ... "
And don't base yur options on what some forum guys say, you have to hear it for yourself. Great big HT in a small room can be rather intrusive IME. Arcam make a receiver that I would own, for a good price, the AVR350.
How much money are we spending? What are your room dimensions? What is your tv/stereo ratio?
yes i care about HDMI switching, and would prefer to keep it all in the same unit. i have 2 x HD sat recievers, PS3, DVD and HD Cam Corder, all with HDMI outputs. my thoughts are to Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS Principal) and have a single AV Amp which controlls all
Stuart, there are a number of products that would meet your basic needs. As has been suggested, go listen to a few and see what you like. Check reliability ratings as well, as receivers are very complex beasts and some brands historically have more issues than others. Make a list of your priorities and think ahead to what you might want to do in the future so you don't limit yourself with your receiver.
There are several good HDMI switches available. Even if your new receiver has only a pair of HDMI inputs, you could maybe benefit from a 4->1 and still have a 'spare' for future growth.