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a newbie's request about a new system

So much good info. This is a great community. Thank you all for your help. It's fun and I'm excited to enter into this knowing it's a journey with great music and moments to come. I'll check back with more questions after digging into some of these enlightening posts.

Thanks again everyone.
 
Add Roon to your list of things to research. You’ll need compatible hardware and if you want to use it for internet streaming it’s only compatible with Tidal and Qobuz, however it does offer a fantastic user interface and experience along with very good DSP EQ. You may have noticed that ASR CEO Amir uses it in his product reviews.
 
The Yamaha amplifiier seems to be an update on the venerable mid price Yamaha amps that have measured very well and have been very reliable. It also has just about every feauture that you might think of, including adjustable loudness to make your low level listening far more pleasuradable. The Elac dbr62 is a great speaker, and if you crave for louder with more bass you can always add a pair of subwoofers. The alternative for electronics would be a WiiM Ultra with a Hypex based power amplifier. And if you are only into streaming and do not care about dsp room eq, there is the Sonos AMP.
 
I like the Wiim, and it seems to be pretty well received here, but every time I look at the Yamaha I drool. Maybe that's a mistake, but I can't shake the desire. I think I'm going to purchase the R-n800a unless I can't resist the 1000 model. Either way, maybe it goes away and I change in a year or two, but I've already got the Elac 2.0's to test in my living room and I suppose if I decide floor standers are going to fill the room better, and I reluctantly forego the DBR62s, then I'll change that too. I guess I'm into this thing now. For better or worse? We'll see how my wife feels when the statements come in. :oops:
 
I like the Wiim, and it seems to be pretty well received here, but every time I look at the Yamaha I drool. Maybe that's a mistake, but I can't shake the desire. I think I'm going to purchase the R-n800a unless I can't resist the 1000 model. Either way, maybe it goes away and I change in a year or two, but I've already got the Elac 2.0's to test in my living room and I suppose if I decide floor standers are going to fill the room better, and I reluctantly forego the DBR62s, then I'll change that too. I guess I'm into this thing now. For better or worse? We'll see how my wife feels when the statements come in. :oops:
Why is your wife looking at your bank statement?

;)
 
The Yamaha is a fine amplifier. It is reliable, has enough power for most sitiuations, has a lot of inputs, including digital ones, and has adjustable loudness for low level listening, plus a basic dsp room equalization. You will not regret it unless you move into a rather bigger house with a large listening room. It will be fine driving the Elac DBR62s, with or without subwoofers. Subwoofers would be nice for a bigger sound, but cost extra money (you need at least two) and if you want to go beyond the basic room eq provided for by the Yamaha, something like Multi Sub Optimizer (with the miniDSP 2x4HD) will involve a learning curve.
 
Maybe this one is more sexy than the Yamaha if you have a close look. The street price is about the same. The build in room correction is really something you should not miss and you have all options you can think of.
 
Maybe this one is more sexy than the Yamaha if you have a close look. The street price is about the same. The build in room correction is really something you should not miss and you have all options you can think of.
But a lot that you don't need in a stereo system. The Yamaha is a more solid amplifier for stereo, and has room correction as well (plus loudness).
 
Anyone needs a HDMI input for the TV. Sooner or later. You will be really screwed once you realize you need it.
The DENON is a VERY solid amplifier if used for stereo, with an extremely solid power supply. The top version of Audessey and Dirac are both considered much better than YPAO.
 
every time I look at the Yamaha I drool. Maybe that's a mistake, but I can't shake the desire. I think I'm going to purchase the R-n800a unless I can't resist the 1000 model.
Don’t feel bad about wanting the Yamaha. Their amps and receivers are beautifully designed, and having a piece of equipment that looks great in your living room and feels great when you adjust a knob or dial impacts the listening experience even if it doesn’t impact the sound. I have a few small, low-cost, high-performing class D amps in secondary systems around the house and they’re a great value and great at what they do, but they don’t provide the same visual and tactile satisfaction that the Yamaha in my main system does.

If you think you ever might want to get rid of that soundbar, I’d consider stretching for the 1000 — you will appreciate the HDMI input.

I might agree with those who argue that these Yamahas aren’t the best value in terms of price / features, but I think it’s ok to take other factors into consideration if they make the overall experience better for you.
 
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Don’t feel bad about wanting the Yamaha. Their amps and receivers are beautifully designed, and having a piece of equipment that looks great in your living room and feels great when you adjust a knob or dial impacts the listening experience even if it doesn’t impact the sound. I have a few small, low-cost, high-performing class D amps in secondary systems around the house and they’re a great value and great at what they do, but they don’t provide the same visual and tactile satisfaction that the Yamaha in my main system does.

If you think you ever might want to get rid of that soundbar, I’d consider stretching for the 1000 — you will appreciate the HDMI input.

I might agree with those who argue that these Yamahas aren’t the best value in terms of price / features, but I think it’s ok to take other factors into consideration if they make the overall experience better for you.
Yep, got the R-N800A. It was a bit of a fiasco with Gramaphone through Amazon. They said 2 days but it kept showing up back and forth between shipping locations and made it a week or so later. Pretty lame as the styrofoam was cracked in a couple of places so it had seen some "action". Everything I've tried so far seems to work though, so I avoided the headache of a return and have it in my living room now. I'm glad I purchased it, though it went on sale for about $200 less about a week later. I pulled the trigger since all of the discounted prices seemed to be disappearing, hence the east coast delivery origin. I wouldn't purchase from Gramaphone again though since it seems all of their negative reviews get removed and Amazon takes responsibility. I saved probably $100 on the extended warranty so overall it was not a bad price though. I've spent more on dinner for my family than what I would have saved; self justification to ease the frustration.

As far as the sound, I really like the sound with the correction in my room, though the debut 2.0s lack a bit of room filling sound without cranking the amp to about 75%. I'd like to stay around 50%, but I guess it's capable of doing that so I shouldn't worry. I don't think it's shut off...maybe once it went into protection mode? There seems to be enough bass for my preferences, but for some of the electronic stuff I would appreciate a sub. Would that free up the bookshelves to play louder too? Overall it's not bad and I think I'm happy enough to forego the DBR62s ($s) for now and instead look at a sub since it sounds better than anything I've had so far.

I couldn't justify an additional $500 for the 1000's HDMI since I don't lack any enjoyment out of the TV speaker and/or the soundbar. I guess the 1000 has some upgraded components and a more solid build, but I wouldn't notice it at this point in my journey, I think.
 
An AVR would have given you the option to use a high pass for your mains, relieving them of the lowest frequency. This improves their sound quality by what you would call "one class", if used together with a sub. I don't see that option with the Yamaha. It is a very limited 2-channel design object, no ultimate sound machine. You may have known before you bought it.
All you can do now is to ignore the amp inside the Yamaha, connect an external crossover or DSP to the pre-out, then use an external amp to drive the filtered mains and sub (or active sub). Somehow pointless if you ask me.
It is all these limitations that made some here think that the Yamaha was not really the best decission. If you want anything more from your system than just drive two mains speaker, not even havving HDMI or a separate pre/main section, you are on a one way road with it.
The need to extend the system will always come, sooner or later, in one way or another. This is why there are only a handfull of stereo receivers on the market and you can buy all the great gear from the past chep, used. Maybe the last owner of your Yamaha found out soon after purchase, just like you, what is cause for your unit being opened before. Maybe just return it and think again about it. No need to keep something you are not 100% happy with.

PS the room correction of an AVR, like Audyssey MultEQ XT32, is audible better than YPAO. Now that you know what these systems do. Be promised the amps will not sound even a notch worse, this is only marketing speak.
 
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OK, if it works, that should be fine. I just had a look at the manual and nothing about a high pass option is mentioned.
 
I'm sure at some point I'll discover something that I've got to have, but for now this is making me very happy. My wife and kids have the app now and are enjoying it too. I'm content...for the time being. Ha!
 
Yep, got the R-N800A. It was a bit of a fiasco with Gramaphone through Amazon. They said 2 days but it kept showing up back and forth between shipping locations and made it a week or so later. Pretty lame as the styrofoam was cracked in a couple of places so it had seen some "action". Everything I've tried so far seems to work though, so I avoided the headache of a return and have it in my living room now. I'm glad I purchased it, though it went on sale for about $200 less about a week later. I pulled the trigger since all of the discounted prices seemed to be disappearing, hence the east coast delivery origin. I wouldn't purchase from Gramaphone again though since it seems all of their negative reviews get removed and Amazon takes responsibility. I saved probably $100 on the extended warranty so overall it was not a bad price though. I've spent more on dinner for my family than what I would have saved; self justification to ease the frustration.

As far as the sound, I really like the sound with the correction in my room, though the debut 2.0s lack a bit of room filling sound without cranking the amp to about 75%. I'd like to stay around 50%, but I guess it's capable of doing that so I shouldn't worry. I don't think it's shut off...maybe once it went into protection mode? There seems to be enough bass for my preferences, but for some of the electronic stuff I would appreciate a sub. Would that free up the bookshelves to play louder too? Overall it's not bad and I think I'm happy enough to forego the DBR62s ($s) for now and instead look at a sub since it sounds better than anything I've had so far.

I couldn't justify an additional $500 for the 1000's HDMI since I don't lack any enjoyment out of the TV speaker and/or the soundbar. I guess the 1000 has some upgraded components and a more solid build, but I wouldn't notice it at this point in my journey, I think.
I have an Elac Debut S10.2 that pairs nicely with my old Monitor Audio floorstanders.

As you already have Elac speakers, one of their subs should compliment them nicely. I can throughly recommend the debut S10.2. Great sub at its price point!
 
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