none wrote:

Walt wrote in
:


Koen wrote:


My good old NAD 705 receiver finally gave up, so I am looking around
for a replacement. I guess lots has changed in the audio world in
recent years, because stereo receivers seem to have become very
scarce, it's almost all surround system these days

Two possibilities I keep runnning into while browsing the web are the
HK 3480 and Onkyo TX8511. Both get decent reviews, and are in the
price range I can currently afford.

I don't care about all sorts of gimmicks and possibilities, for me
its more important that the audio quality is good and that they are
easy to use.

Are there any other alternatives (NAD maybe) to the two above or are
these good choices? I don't mind paying a bit more (up to $500- 600),
but then I will have to wait a bit before I can purchase it

Check out the Denon DRA-395 or 295

I bought a 395 about a year ago and while I've got a dozen or so minor
nits to pick about it, I'm very happy with it overall. So much so
that I bought a 295 to drive the speakers in the kitchen. (no phono
preamp on the 295 but since I'm basically using it as a power amp
that's no big deal).


I second the 395, it's a decent reciever and apparently a better tuner
than the 295. Go to www.dakmart.com, they should carry some B-stock with
warranty. Marantz has a nice SR4320 at
http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-...tereoReceivers . Recent
NAD receivers seem to have a quality control problem so I would be wary.

A receiver for the kitchen?

Sure. I drive three sets of speakers from the "control center" - one
pair in the den, one pair in the living room and one pair in the
kitchen. The 295 is basically just a power amp for the kitchen
speakers, mainly so that I don't encounter 2 ohm loads, but it also
gives me a separate volume control and with the 395s multi-zone
capability it allows me to play a CD in the kitchen while the TV is on
in the den.

The 295 doesn't have the multi-zone, is less powerful (50 v 80 wpc) and
doesn't have a phono pre. Other than that it's mostly the same,
including the annoying fact that the remote for either controls both.
(duct tape over the IR sensor on the 295 cures that little problem.)

//Walt