I've been meaning to upgrade my onkyo sr-507 for a while now since I have the general feeling it is lacking a bit in performance. Yesterday a friend brough a bluesound powernode N331 and I wasn't expecting the difference to be that big. Music had more detail, was way less muffled and voices were so much clearer and detailed. I did not expect this from my old Kef Q5 speakers. Movies were the same. Dialog was clearer when there was a lot going on sound didn't get muffled.
So what I know now is that upgrading the Onkyo will be worthwhile. And even though I know I like the sound of the powernode I am also looking for other options because of two things I don't like about the powernode:
1: 1200 euro's is a lot of money
2: it has no support for DTS and I don't want to manually set audio to PCM every time
What I am looking at
1: Marantz cinema 70s with fosi ZA3. I'll buy the marantz first, see how that sounds and than add the fosi (or two) if necessary.
2: A beefier AVR like Onkyo RZ30 which I can get for 1000 euro's or something similar for hopefully less money
My first question is this:
What is it that is making so much difference between my Onkyo and the Powernode? Is it the processing? The power? Or is it the combination?
The second question is:
Am I going in the right direction with my two options? Should I focus on another reciever than the Marantz or RZ30? I Don't know how good the powernode is compared to something like that..
Also I do have a center speaker and might add a sub later but for now this is only relevant in that I am not looking for a stereo reciever
And there are plans for upgrading speakers in the future but onkyo first
So what I know now is that upgrading the Onkyo will be worthwhile. And even though I know I like the sound of the powernode I am also looking for other options because of two things I don't like about the powernode:
1: 1200 euro's is a lot of money
2: it has no support for DTS and I don't want to manually set audio to PCM every time
What I am looking at
1: Marantz cinema 70s with fosi ZA3. I'll buy the marantz first, see how that sounds and than add the fosi (or two) if necessary.
2: A beefier AVR like Onkyo RZ30 which I can get for 1000 euro's or something similar for hopefully less money
My first question is this:
What is it that is making so much difference between my Onkyo and the Powernode? Is it the processing? The power? Or is it the combination?
The second question is:
Am I going in the right direction with my two options? Should I focus on another reciever than the Marantz or RZ30? I Don't know how good the powernode is compared to something like that..
Also I do have a center speaker and might add a sub later but for now this is only relevant in that I am not looking for a stereo reciever
And there are plans for upgrading speakers in the future but onkyo first
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