Video Asylum

Posted by mpoes (A) on February 23, 2006 at 17:04:17

Hey guy, I have been looking at getting a receiver to add to my stereo system for surround sound. My preamp has an HT pass through, and I have decided that I can't afford an HT preamp that can best my stereo sound. I want to spend 1000-1500 dollars or so. My original idea was to buy a preamp, such as the Outlaw audio 970 preamp, and adding a 5 channel amp of some sort, to go with my 2 channel amp, and give me 7 channels. However, then I decided I wanted autosetup if I could get it, and auto eq. To be honost, what I really want is a fairly advanced auto eq that works much like the high dollar room correction devices do. I looked then at the Outlaw audio 990, but I dont believe it has that, I think its auto setup doesnt do much if anything in the way of advanced eq, or any eq. Then I started looking and found that, at my price point, only certain receivers have this. Models like the Denon avr-3805/6 or avr-2807. I also found the Marantz receivers to have MRAC, and Yamaha to have YPAO. However, neither the yamaha nor Marantz seems as advanced.

What I was hoping some of you could all help me with is, how much of this is marketing hype. I mean, is the Denon system as advanced as they describe it? I have even read a few reviews of Denon's system that describe as being one of the more advanced available on a reciever, and the Yamaha to be a step down from that, the Marantz down from that. Is this true? I haven't been able to properly demo the auto room eq in a good enviroment, so its really hard to tell myself. There is also little information directly comparing the systems in magazines, atleast that I can tell. I read everything from forum posts that say, dont waist your money they dont work, on to magazine reviews stating it completely changed the sound of the system to the best ever heard. If this auto eq isn't what its cracked up to be on this price point of reciever, I probably will just go with the Outlaw Audio 970 and a seperate amp. I know its an odd route, and a different price point, but if I could get a seperate pre/pro and amp with auto room correction for less than 2 grand, I would go that route, but I can't find anything.