Maybe someone around here is able to help me.
I’ve been dragging arround the same 7.2 Onkyo Receiver for close to a decade now. I since scaled back my setup to Stereo Speakers plus a Sub. So now, that Onky thing is more or less a big spaceheater.
I’m looking for something to drive 2 yamaha bookshelf speakers and an active sub. I’m not 100% on my TV being able to ouput stereo from HDMI sources, but it should be. So, even the Reciever part wouldn’t strictly be necesarry.
I don’t need much. I have my TV, an Nvidia Shield and one Console (PS4 or Switch. Depends). If i can get something with 3-4 HDMI inputs that’s fine. If my TV would have to do the reciever part and i only have an amp below, that should work too.
Now the more restrictive part. I want it to be decently small. So, either hifi size put “DVD-Player” height, or just not as wide. The smaller the better. Price is flexible, but i’m not going over 300€. Price is a factor in the decision, so i’ll take a hit in quality or features if i can save 100 bucks. 95% of the time it’s used to play youtube videos or Netflix shows, so audiophile level quality isn’t needed. A remote would be great. Oh, and it should be half way wife aprovable. So, not to much lighting or such and nothing that requires to climb behind a shelf and replug cables every evening…
Bonus Features: Some kind of Bluetooth or ability to play Audio from the Network. Both aren’t needed, as the Shield can do it, but it would allow me to keep the TV off.
What do you recommend? A dumb stereo amp and then let the TV do the rest (or add a CD-player or Media player later?), or some kind of all in one reciever type device?
Also, some active speakers are in the same ballpark in terms of price. Is that worth a shot?
Feel free to recommend anything. Also, if you need more info, i’m happy to provide what ever is needed.
I have a Nad D 3020v2 powering two Dali compact speakers. It gets tv audio over toslink/optical. And it has bluetooth.
It has no problem getting my speakers working up a sweat.
It is over your 300€ budget though. But “only” by 100.
Not 100% sure. They are speakers from a 10 year old yamaha compact system. I can look for some model number when i’m home.
Maybe. It’s similar to what i have now in size. It’s also 2 times over budget.
Looks really nice, but yes, that’s too expensive for now. If nothing else fits the bill, i’ll discuss with the wife the size is worth the price for her.
To maybe give a perspective of what i’ve been looking at so far:
On the large side, but i’ve heard good things from Marantz. This ones a bit older, therefor relatively cheap.
For an all in one solution:
That’s on the high end of budget and hard to justify. But it does basically everything.
Finally a really cheap option:
SMSL is pretty well known for great Headphone Amps on a Budget. No clue how good this one is though. It’s certainly affordable and small.
I really don’t need Dancehall levels of volumes. A good bit over talking levels is fine. I live in a Flat with neighbours. So if i want to listen to music loud, i pull out my Headphones.
I have a PM8005, a bigger one of (I guess) the same generation for around five years now and it sounds just perfect to me. I’m not sure if Marantz is even still it’s own thing or if they are owned by some chinese money or whatever but in this case I don’t care. It’s an amp. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Does all i need except Sub out. This plus an RCA Splitter (the sub has a low-pass filter build in) could work. Again, have heard only good things about Pro-Ject so far.
Edit: NVM it does have a output that could go to the sub with a 3.5 to coax adapter.
I was say the cheapest Denon receivers will supply you with a great deal of flexibility but you need to spec match speakers with the system. So reusing your old speakers will determine what is needed.
As far as I can tell SMSL mostly makes stuff that is cheap and not total shit. They do feel a bit crap though. I only had some small digital amps from them but still. Oh and THX is part of razer now. It’s just a logo.
Look, a good analog amp will last you a long time. Just keep the digital stuff that comes in annually progressing standards out of it.