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Why can't we have a streamline receiver?

J

Joeyd33

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Why do receivers need to be so big?

Can't we have stuff thats stripped down a bit, without the useless headphone garbage sounding outputs??

I'd love to have a small dolby reciever, 4-6 preouts , HDMI/optical and get rid of most of the other stuff.

I'm guessing it just comes down to market size not being big enough for that?
 
I’m a bit puzzled by receiver by itself as a component category, since there are dedicated radio receivers, traditional hi-fi integrated amps with radio receiver built in, AV receivers, and digital media receivers all floating around out there.
 
Receiver's become something of a misnomer (or at least a vague or even mis-applied sobriquet) in recent years. :(

For decades, a receiver was a single component (virtually always with a single power supply/mains cord*) integrating a tuner (could be FM or AM and FM), preamplifier, and power amplifier.

____________________
* virtually always. ;)

Sansui G-33000 | Classic Receivers

The G-33000 has the wattage to back up its size as it puts out a massive 300 watts which is second only to the Technics SA-1000.
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Joeyd33 said:
Why do receivers need to be so big?

Can't we have stuff thats stripped down a bit, without the useless headphone garbage sounding outputs??

I'd love to have a small dolby reciever, 4-6 preouts , HDMI/optical and get rid of most of the other stuff.

I'm guessing it just comes down to market size not being big enough for that?
Click to expand...
Good guess
HalSF said:
I’m a bit puzzled by receiver by itself as a component category, since there are dedicated radio receivers, traditional hi-fi integrated amps with radio receiver built in, AV receivers, and digital media receivers all floating around out there.
Click to expand...
Try not to get caught up with semantics
Just buy what you need
 
Joeyd33 said:
Why do receivers need to be so big?
Click to expand...
The number of connectors in the back and all the labels in the front are the core marketing material. As a result, the more the better in their eyes! Size has also traditionally been associated with "high-end" audio so there is also that.
 
Only ones I've seen that come close are the Marantz Slimline avrs. I'd think it doesn't matter generally (never has to me) but do see wishes every now and then for such. Even my last 2ch receiver was pretty large and hefty, tho.


HalSF said:
I’m a bit puzzled by receiver by itself as a component category, since there are dedicated radio receivers, traditional hi-fi integrated amps with radio receiver built in, AV receivers, and digital media receivers all floating around out there.
Click to expand...
Receiver meant tuner/pre-amp/amp in one box traditionally. With digital/video it has morphed somewhat, those capable of audio and video are called avrs (audio video receivers). Calling that an integrated amp with integrated tuner works but kinda wordy, receiver was easier. Many avrs now assume digital reception/apps and sometimes simply drop the tuner altogether.
 
There's also the fact that you need a bit of space to cram in all the video and audio functions along with some big honking transformers for the linear power supply traditionally while still leaving room for airflow and not having too many components crammed right next to each other.

Nowadays with SMPS and class D you can certainly get smaller boxes, but a lot of the players in the space seem to be coasting on existing platforms without updating their designs much if at all.

That said there are in fact more streamlined options available, two of which were pointed out up thread. There's also the new JBL MA lineup, but those don't have preouts (though I'd argue you don't need them).
 
I guess I could use my old Marantz NR-1608 as a sort of AVP by connecting the speaker outputs to home-made speaker -> line-level adapters (but don't do this with bridged amplifier designs). Downside of the slender Marantz models is that they don't equip them with the most advanced room correction software, so you get 4 parametric filters versus 32 or more.
 
Yeah its just like I see my parents Sonos arc ultra setup and its all crammed up in in there with dolby. Even though I have monitors I really love to cut down on bulk. Imagine a nice gloss block DAC,little bit of geometric shaped with dolby/dts support, just hook up some monitors with a remote..

ugh... heaven.
 
Joeyd33 said:
Yeah its just like I see my parents Sonos arc ultra setup and its all crammed up in in there with dolby. Even though I have monitors I really love to cut down on bulk. Imagine a nice gloss block DAC,little bit of geometric shaped with dolby/dts support, just hook up some monitors with a remote..

ugh... heaven.
Click to expand...
Using Sonos is weird enough. Let alone relying on my parents, altho my dad in the early 60s did hand me down some gear to get me going to an extent....sometimes a little bulk can be worth more than just going slim....
 
Chrispy said:
Using Sonos is weird enough. Let alone relying on my parents, altho my dad in the early 60s did hand me down some gear to get me going to an extent....sometimes a little bulk can be worth more than just going slim....
Click to expand...
??????

I was just saying how the Sonos or other pieces of equipment manage to streamline and fit all those in small spaces vs huge receivers...
 
Joeyd33 said:
??????

I was just saying how the Sonos or other pieces of equipment manage to streamline and fit all those in small spaces vs huge receivers...
Click to expand...
Sonos is 2ch, yes? No video?
 
JeffS7444 said:
Doesn't decode Dolby, DTS or other popular multichannel formats though.
Click to expand...
Yes I should have read the OP in detail, stereo only. My bad
 
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