donttrustgoats
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- Feb 20, 2019
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The JBLs are rebadged Arcams with upgraded DACs, faceplate, Dante, and additional codecs. Harman owns Arcam.
I just picked up https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/insignia-200w-2-0-ch-stereo-receiver-black/4156007?variant=A to power a set of Insignia NS-B2111 bookshelf speakers I found in my parent's basement. If you recall, these bookshelf speakers were internet sensations several years ago due to providing non-terrible sound for $50-80.
The Insignia receiver works pretty well (thus far), and I would be very interested in its measurements. The two types of reviews I find most interesting are:
1. Discovering "giant killers". These are the low priced, unassuming audio components that push the envelope when it comes to transparency-for-price. This IMO is the true spirit of the objectivist movement - how do we find good sounding gear without all the marketing, and snake-oil BS.
2. The Emperor Has No Clothes. These reviews expose flaws and substandard engineering in extravagantly priced equipment. We skewer snake oil peddlers and have a nice chuckle at the expense of audiophools who have more money than sense.
If MiniDSP made a HDMI input/8+ channel output version of the SHD, that would work great as an extensible preamp with first-class room correction.
I have slowly started breaking my AVR into individual components. I currently have a Denon AVR-3808, which is more than 10 years old. Last year I bought two MiniDSP NanoAVRs, one for Bass Management and the other for Dirac. I use the HDMI Audio Out from my Oppo 203, this feeds the first Nano for BM and that goes to the second Nano for Dirac, and then finally into the Denon. You can configure the Denon with multi-channel direct mode, set the speakers to large and the signal by passes the internal bass management. You can also disable the built in room correction, leave the levels and distance setting all the same so the NanoAVR Dirac handles these. It seems to work, no issues with HDMI handshake, with over a year of use.
i did this originally, because it seemed to be the most cost effective way to add Dirac to my current setup. I didn’t think it was worth replacing the Denon amp section. But now I’m thinking that an 8 channel DAC like the OktoDac8, feeding 5 channels of Ncore amps might be a worthwhile upgrade. Found a recent thread that calmed my concerns of how volume will work without a preamp.
I looked at getting the Cambridge Audio CXR-200, as I already had Dirac, but the amp section of the CXR-200 did not seem much better than the Denon. I did compare the 3808 DACs with the Oppo 203, but could hear no difference.
All the threads here about poor performing AVRs got me thinking about going down this complicated route. The two NanoAVRs already give me most of the extra functionality an AVR has over just power amps.
You're absolutely right Dimifoot! Even if I had a 3-figure sum of money at my disposal I would never buy a fancy AVR. This might sound a bit crazy but instead I would buy 3 stereo power amps+ preamps and I would connect it to my on-board multichannel DAC of my computer and do the decoding with software. I reckon this would substantially outperform any x000$ AVR out there for a fraction of the price. Did I even mention heat dissipation and repairability?Let’s see:
We want 9-11 channels of quality amplification+analog stages
11 channels with high quality dacs
Quality room correction software
Processor-crossover functions
HDMI 2.0
Airplay, Spotify, Roon, Tidal, Dolby Atmos, Auro3D, DTS, MQA etc etc compatibility (+royalties!!!!)
All that in one case, functioning smoothly
Do the math...it can’t cost 2000$
never heard 701 but fwiw I cannot hear any discernible difference between oppo-205 and sc-lx 901 both connected to the parasound hint. oh, and hint's own built-in dac (though different sabre version) sounds the same for meMy last four AVR have all been Pioneer Elite class D receivers. I always buy one below the top which is currently the SC-LX701. I’ve always found them plenty powerful and very clean. Not sure how they measure but I’ve always been satisfied. The SC-LX701 can be picked up for around $900
Unfortunately, such a pre-amp does not exist. The closest I can think of is the new Outlaw pre/pro but with no room correction.