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Favourites: recommended AV receivers

Our advice, plus the dealers picks

By Michael Jones

July 2004

AudioEnz advice

AV receivers - the equipment that acts as a control centre and amplifier for audio and video signals in a home theatre system - are among the most popular audio components today.

This writer is embarrassed to say that we at AudioEnz haven't kept up with the flood of models. The sheer number of models, plus the fact that they're regularly replaced by newer models, helps explain why AudioEnz has only reviewed one AV receiver (the Denon AVR-2803) that is still a current model!

As a general rule, this writer has found models from Marantz, NAD, Denon, Rotel and Yamaha to offer good sound and value.

Models from NAD, Marantz and Rotel are usually the closest in performance to a good, audiophile amplifier and are my recommended place to start for a two-channel audiophile who wants to get into home theatre without losing his or her sound.

While many AV receivers have been thin and brash in sound, Denon receivers have usually offered a warmer and more inviting sound. A few years back, Yamaha AV receivers were known for being bright. Over the past couple of years their receivers that I've heard have much better tonally, and usually offer great features.

 

What the dealers say

Sound Expression, Wellington

Yamaha RX-V550 $1199

This latest hot buy from Yamaha comes in the form of the RX-V550. A replacement for the popular RX-V540, the 550 performs well above its price with a clean and dynamic performance for movies and music alike.

Another increasingly demanded feature is the multi zone option for separate sound source in other rooms. Popular with smaller bookshelf speakers, Yamaha performs at a level a couple of years ago would have cost in excess of $2000.00. At $1199 the RX-V550 rocks!

RX-V1400 $2199

The RX-V1400 is a must mention. A favourite with the staff, it strikes the right balance in performance and flexibility at a great price.

Customer response is great, particularly with Yamaha’s YPAO technology, which enables automatic room calibration and system set up. Simply plug in a microphone and relax, let the system do the work. A real plus for those who want the performance of component separates but are daunted by more complex menu systems. See YPAO technology in action and you’ll be hooked!

NAD T763 $2899

This receiver improves on proven formula from NAD. Famously solid and serious in appearance, the distinctive grey facia hasn’t changed much in colour and style over the years, with the addition of titanium finish in some lower models a necessary exception.

NAD are still producing amplification based around “music first” and this one is a master. While not offering too much in the way of unnecessary processing, the T763 can still offer some seriously useful features such as a 2nd zone out put (with an extra remote the size of a credit card). The customary NAD soft clipping reduces distortion (therefore the potential to damage to your system) without compromising musicality, and traditional NAD high current performance gives you much more genuine power for your watts.

Mike Corderly, Soundline Audio, Christchurch

Marantz SR7300 OSE $2199

Marantz released their new Range Series of  AV receivers early this year and due to its past success the 7300 OSE was continued in the new range.  Musically the 7300 OSE is a stand out AV receiver with clean bass, smooth midrange and dynamic highs, this machine has an abundance of power and performance to impress us.

The  multi-room function is a cheery on top and surprisingly very easy to use. The Marantz 7300 OSE has to be at the top of your shopping list!

Rotel RSX-1065 $4999

If you enjoy a movie or two a week and love listening to music daily this is definitely the receiver for you. For two channel the RSX-1065 performs beautifully with incredible richness and depth. Movie soundtracks confirm pace and accuracy showing that it is in a class of its own. Packed with power and precision the RSX-1065 has a look separating it from its competitors, Easy to operate, with a straight forward setup menu. such a pure simple product…

The Listening Post, Hamilton

Yamaha RX-V440 $999

The RX-V440 is a bright, cheerful, great value receiver that will delivers plenty of cheap home theatre thrills without embarrassing itself on music. If that sounds like damning it with faint praise, it’s not.

This is one great little receiver for not a lot of money. It’s well featured, has plenty of plenty of power and punches well above its weight in terms of home theatre performance. For someone looking for something better than the mass-market garbage, but working on a tight budget, this is a great starting point.

Marantz SR7300 OSE $2199

Okay, we all know that when Marantz do a special edition, it’s going to be something… well, special. The SR7300 OSE is no exception. On the home theatre front it’s as good if not better than anything else we’ve heard at the price.

But what really sets the 7300 OSE apart from the competition is its ability to play music. Really play music. Sounds simple, but there are very few home theatre receivers which do this well.

If you want to enjoy the thrill of home theatre, but still value your music, then the SR7300 OSE is one of very few home theatre receivers that will deliver long term satisfaction.

Marantz SR12 S1 $7999

Put simply, this is one of the best one box home theatre receivers we’ve heard. What better reason could there be for a recommendation?

Enveloping, involving, knock you socks off theatre performance? Check! Smooth sweet natural musical reproduction? Check! Beautiful “must fondle” build quality? Check! Okay, now here’s the clincher. It’s only $7999. Every thing we’ve heard that has come close has been $10k plus.

Strongly recommended both in absolute terms, and as remarkable value for some one who wants a high end system but doesn’t have a high end budget.

Tim Babbage, Beggs Music, Nelson

Yamaha RX-V450 $899

The shift in home theatre receiver technology over the last couple of years is most dramatic at the entry point in the market. Nowhere is this more evident than in the new Yamaha RX-V450. Feature wise it is absolutely chock full of goodies: full 6.1 discreet amplification (6 x 85 watts  and processing, component video switching, 192kHz 24 bit DAC’s for all the channels, the list is endless. It has a new styling from Yamaha that looks and feels a lot more expensive than its $899 price tag.

The main thing that comes to mind when listening to the RXV450 is just how big and dynamic the sound fields are, from what is after all the baby Yamaha. It’s what we call a head-shaker, you shake your head wondering how they did it for the money.

Yamaha RX-V1400 $2,199

Okay, so I admit it I am a big fan of Yamaha home theatre and have been for more than 15 years. The first thing Yamaha fans will notice about the RX-V1400 is that Yamaha have succumbed to badge envy and have THX rating on this and its two big brothers. So does the THX badge make any difference? Nope, but then we didn’t expect it would.

The big plus for the RX-V1400 is its ease of use out of the box to set up and get a great sound. Experienced users know that a big part of a good home theatre sound is in accurate setup and installation. The RX-V1400 with its YPAO system comes with a microphone that is placed in the primary listening position. Turn on the amp, put it into auto mode and hey presto - about five minutes later you have a great home theatre sound.

The other thing I love about the RX-V1400, being a man who still likes a bit of stereo, is that Yamaha have obviously put a lot of effort into the two channel performance. So for this money you get great home theatre and surprisingly good stereo, what more can you ask for?

Denon AVR-3805 $3,699

This is a new store favourite just released last month in New Zealand. Out of the box the AVR-3805 looks and feels great. In fact it looks so nice that the guys thought it was the replacement for the AVC11 which is twice this money.

Like the Yamaha RX-V1400 the AVR-3805 has an automatic set up mode so you get the best out of the amp without hours of endless fiddling and, of course, having to read the manual. Fully featured with 7.1 amplification, multi-room capable with second and third zones and every decoding format known to man.  

Sound wise it is very smooth and controlled even when driving difficult speaker loads at high volume. If you are looking for something to shake along a set of traditional English speakers look no further.