Are you satisfied with your home Audio System?

[Dinesh Menon]

Why AVR again?

I just have a Sony SA-D100 (4.1 multimedia system) which replaced my old Philips Sound Machine. Never owned a stereo amplifier or an AVR.
What I've found out about the AVR's advantages are as follows:
AVR has atleast 5 built-in audio amplifiers along with a subwoofer preamp output.
It can enable surround sound and video and can also work as a 2-channel stereo system.
It offers the most advanced sound technologies and more convenience.
Nowadays, there's not much difference in the price of a good integrated amplifier and an AVR.
Eager to know your expert opinion.

 

[Adaboy4z]

The SU-1 has USB, OPT and COA, what other inputs do you want?

I chose the SMSL DL200 to place in my main system and put the SU-1 in my secondary.

 

[cookiefactory]

Yes, so much so that the I've basically moved on from "audio" as a hobby and onto other interests. Of course I still *listen* to music, but it's not accompanied by the "audiophile hobbyist" part that we all know and love - researching, buying, and tweaking gear, reading/arguing on forums, etc. You know, now normies do it.

In fact this is the first time in weeks (months?) that I've visited this site as something reminded me of the NAD M66 which I - seemingly a lifetime ago - was interested in to replace my NAD C658 (which I consider to be my system's weakest link). Will this lead to a resurgence in my interest for all things audio or simply the final nail in the coffin. Only time will tell.

 

[sq225917]

Yup, I change when stuff breaks or meaningfully better becomes available

 

[kibs]

It's ok.
-I'm using a yamaha receiver and often wonder if I'd hear the difference if I got an amp with a higher sinad
- Receiver is 60 wpc stereo, speakers are 150 watts. Often wonder if a more powerful amp would make a difference.
-Room is open plan family room, not dedicated or even closed
-Other than YPAO I've never bothered with any room correction.
- I can't seem to convince myself to part with more than $ 600 for a pair of speakers.. Will I even hear a difference or will it be money down the drain
...
Too many unresolved issues.. Probably when I'm flush with cash I'll begin addressing them one by one

 

[kiwifi]

"Yes, but" always looking for improvement (within reason)

Having recently REMOVED my center channel speaker, my system has never sounded better. Tannoy dual concentric L/R generate an excellent phantom center for movies, which automatically disappears for multi-channel stereo.

So now it's a 6.4 system built around a Marantz AV8801 with 4 DSP (MSO) corrected subs, that the AVP sees as a single sub. The L, R & four surrounds each have pseudo-anechoic correction applied external to the AVP.

I am really happy with the sound at the moment and see no need to look beyond Audyssey XT32 for room correction. I prefer to address the room directly first, if possible.

The room is quite big and has windows along the length of one wall. It has some treatment on the walls already, but I have plans to make some 4ft2 combo diffusers/absorbers and suspend them from the ceiling.

The only possible reason to upgrade the AVP would be to better support a modern 4K TV with the latest HDMI specs vs our current (20 year old!) 42" FHD model TV.

 

[Scytales]

Always "Yes, but".

The but is :

I'm awaiting more channels (3 operational at the time of writing) and identical speakers...

... and I'm still in search of the ideal multichannel digital player and preamplifier for conveniance and absolute audio performance.

 

[gfinlays]

I'm in the process of converting a DIY passive pair of speakers to a fully active setup, so I'm deep in the rabbit hole with Acourate, but also well on the way to Wonderland. Unlike Alice, I have @Keith_W holding my hand! Presently, not completely satisfied with my home audio system, but not far off.

BTW, I'm done with passive x-overs. Linear phase baby, Yeah!

 

[JeremyFife]

Pretty happy, although (yes, but...) new speakers downstairs would make a big difference I think. Unfortunately there's not much point until I can change the room ... which is quite a BIG change and not happening soon

 

[Palmer]

I'm always happy, since I can bring various artists into my house - sort of - and play for me. This sense of wonder I gained from way back as a kid with a portable, mono, Dual portable, and it has never left. I live both in the analog and digital world, recording and reproducing, so the journey is exiting and ongoing. To quote Peter Lederman, loosely : Have I stopped searching for better audio in my life? Not yet...

 

[Mart68]

I voted 'Yes' last time but this time I've gone for 'Yes but' - since I have changed some parts of the system since the last vote and I think it is better now than it was.

So never say never.

I've now changed back to 'Yes' again...couldn't be happier.

 

[Fahzz]

I voted "yes". There should be an option for "yes, finally".
Three things happened recently: 1: I learned how to place the microphone properly for Audyssey setup, and 2: I bought a quality audio video cabinet (Salamander) for everything and 3: I bought an 8" mini touch monitor that shows album art. Sounds great, looks great. Happy here.

 

[pablolie]

Enthusiastically "yes"

It's all I need after decades of occasionally (cough) suffering from Upgradeatitis Nervosa.

ASR provided a solid measured foundation to make me confident it wasn't odd I had an inability to hear a significant perceptible improvement as I tried new stuff. I suspected it for a while. The discussions and measurements here allowed me to stiffen up my backbone and confidently establish why and what I had been after.

 

[valerianf]

Whatever is my system, it is at the top level of the one's I got since the 90's.
But improvement is always possible, and time is missing.
Technology is also improving if manufacturers are following.
Also my answer "yes, but".
I am letting some room for improvement with the "but".

 

[jeffaegrim]

yes, but my system is in stereo, and I eventually want to upgrade to multichannel, which will require various resources not currently available. I’d also like to install some ceiling absorbers.

 

[Anton S]

Yes. Love it.

 

[Cogito]

I'm quite pleased with the performance. To get an incrementally better performing system is simply not worth the cost involved. My philosophy, is getting the "best bang for the buck". The majority of my investment is in the speakers.

 

[Sgt. Ear Ache]

Enthusiastically "yes"

It's all I need after decades of occasionally (cough) suffering from Upgradeatitis Nervosa.

ASR provided a solid measured foundation to make me confident it wasn't odd I had an inability to hear a significant perceptible improvement as I tried new stuff. I suspected it for a while. The discussions and measurements here allowed me to stiffen up my backbone and confidently establish why and what I had been after.

Pretty much my situation as well, for some time now. I haven't bought or really even looked at with interest any audio gear in maybe a couple years now. I don't get to use my living system very much for a variety of situational reasons but I absolutely LOVE my headphone rig. I can't imagine how I'd go about improving it in any meaningful (as in audible) way.

 

[wadude]

At the end of the day it's just a stereo...

 

[Wavetouch]

I'm quite pleased with the performance. To get an incrementally better performing system is simply not worth the cost involved. My philosophy, is getting the "best bang for the buck". The majority of my investment is in the speakers.

That's a very smart decision. Congrets!

With a stiff return on investment you won't get much better sound than what you have. Also, all recordings in the world are distorted and noisy that even if you have $million system won't sound as clean as you want.