Receivers?
I’m considering getting my gentleman caller a new receiver…
…his is on the fritz. That being said, I have NO idea what to look for, what’s good, or for the most part, anything about building a stereo system. I live off of my little Cambridge iPod dock.
Suggestions?
Comments
This is always a rough topic because there are two schools of people:
1. Audiophiles.
2. People who are satisfied with anything that has sufficient volume
So while my friend Mike has this thousand(s of?) dollar(s) japanese, all-wood tube receiver that actually has to warm up the tubes before you use it, I have a $300 all-in-one sony system. And no doubt you’d get two very very different answers from each of us and we’d both be right for our own specific listening habits and perceived needs.
The only thing I can say for certain that I’ve picked up with my own ears (and is backed up with actual science, unlike all-wood japanese tube amp receivers) is the issue of phasing, which is when the sound swooshes around as you turn your head or move around the room. This can be caused by mis-matching speakers. The other thing is simply under or overpowering your speakers. So, really, the first step should be figuring out what the power needs of his speakers are and that should narrow down your search quite a bit from the get-go. Another thing to help narrow your search would be what sort of features he’s looking for — do you need 5.1? 7.1? Just stereo? Single or two room support?
Build out a list of needs in terms of what he has and what he’d like and you’ll probably have a much easier time deciding from there.
Hmm. OK, yes Things to snoop around about. I know he’s got it hooked up with his surround sound, it’s wired in two rooms, and possibly outside soon.
I’d say he’d like it to have higher sound quality over volume. He’s in a townhouse, so really blasting anything is out of the question. I’m much more into music than he is.
I think, more than anything, I’m looking for build quality. The receiver he’s got now is only about two years old, and it’s a piece of crap, whereas my dad just replaced the system he bought for him and my mother when they were newlyweds.
I’d rather put a little more money into something that will sound decent and will be durable than going all out and dropping mega bills on the state of the art unit with questionable build integrity.
It just blows my mind that something bought like two years ago, could be so poorly built, while my dad’s old receiver is still kicking, and his 1971 Advent speakers still sound DAMN GOOD.
That being said, I never want to endure my dad’s “speaker placement day”, where he had me stand in different places all over the first floor and had me judge the sound. I apparently have “younger ears”. Ugh.
Advice for ladies: don’t buy your dude equipment (electronic, sports, etc.) unless he asks you for something specific or if his friends tell you something specific would be good.
Just tell the guy you want to buy him a receiver and go to Best Buy together to test some out. Then come home and buy it online for cheaper.