Tuner/Receiver advice *or* should I really step into the 21st century?

[canrocks]

So, here's the deal: I have a receiver in my stereo system (the Luxman R-1040 (http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=mozclient&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=luxman+r-1040) if that rings any bells) that's starting to show its age. When you turn the volume knob, it makes a really loud fuzzy noise, and the radio on it doesn't really work anymore. If I were planning an upgrade, which receiver do you think would be the best? It's gotta be under $300, allow for two different sets of speakers (A and/or B) and hopefully have a few rca inputs (2 video, 2 audio). Is there anything in particular I should be looking for? Also, I'll need to be running a phonograph. I already know that I'll need a preamp, which I found on <a href=../autolink/redirectpage.php?linkid=78 target=_blank>EBay</a> ($25 after shipping (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5738902038&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT) or maybe $20ish (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3770032452&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT)) will they be good enough? Is boxing day a good time for receiver deals?

[joo]

Boxing day is a great time. I think I saw a HK receiver at Future shop for 229. Look in the Boxing Day forum.

[eelfliw]

I have a Nakamichi tuner/preamp that does the same thing. Repair shop estimated $125 to fix it. Citing some esoteric reasons.

I simply opened it up, sprayed some electronic contact cleaner into the volume control POT and that cleared it up. Total cost less than $10 (can of spray cleaner, gas to go to the store etc.).

[trini]

Yup Eelfliw is right with the contact cleaner.

However if either of you want to donate the luxman or Nakamichi to me i will gladly take it or maybe trade something for it.

[canrocks]

We've already cleaned it, but the problem comes back. We're also having various problems with the tuner, that probably can't be fixed that easily.

Also, I have narrowed it down to three receivers on boxing day, all priced around $200. Any idea which is best? No need for high tech component or s-video or digital etc.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/subclass.asp?catid=10551&page=0&sort=3&list=%270665000FS10041481%27%2C%270665000FS1004199 9%27%2C%270665000FS10040562%27&logon=&langid=EN&dept=10

[hagbard]

You're still better off with a vintage receiver than these el cheapo receivers they make nowadays. I still have my 27 year old Yamaha CR-2020 receiver I bought back in 1978. Recently had it reconditioned for $125. I replace this with something that can actually do the same power and give the same quality would take over $3000. If I were you, I'd search <a href=../autolink/redirectpage.php?linkid=78 target=_blank>ebay</a> for 1970s receivers by Pioneer (very popular and expensive), Yamaha (nearly as good and cheaper), and Sansui . Expect to pay a bit to have it fixed up. If you don't like it, you can then sell it on <a href=../autolink/redirectpage.php?linkid=78 target=_blank>ebay</a> and get your money back.

[warpdrive]

Unless there is some functionality that a new receiver gives you that you want, it's unlikely anything that cheap ($300 and under) will be worthwhile buying unless it's a really good sale.

If you can save a bit more money, and buy something decent, you might as well stick with what you have now.

If you do want to buy something, I'd suggest a base Yamaha stereo receiver (NOT home theater), it has a phono stage, 2 sets of speakers. http://www.yamaha.ca/av/stereocomp/RX396.jsp
It doesn't have video switching, but anything in this price range that has video switching is not going to sound as nice as any Luxman even from 15 years ago. While technology moves forward and for the most part, we get better sound from modern components, the cheap stuff is....still cheap. Makers are more interested in making lights flash than good sound for stuff in the budget price range.

[grant]

Ok why are modern low-cost receivers inferior to older ones?

Or are you saying the amplifier is inferior? If so, why?

[warpdrive]

Ok why are modern low-cost receivers inferior to older ones?

Or are you saying the amplifier is inferior? If so, why?

Good sound is a result of simple design and quality parts.
A lot of cheaper components are designed to be built to a price, using cheap IC's in the signal path, weak power supplies, cheap circuit boards...which may measure well on the spec sheet for specific test tones but don't really handle real world music that well. Even a simple thing such as using a cheap IC to electronically control the volume can degrade the signal

In order to get the best quality sound, you have to spend money. A cheap $300 Sony 7.1 receiver is still not going to sound any good....because Sony also makes $1500 receivers that were designed for better sound and do use quality components.

The basic design principals behind amplifying a signal has been known for decades, it's just all textbook Electronics 101. There's nothing in a modern receiver that does anything better for the job of amplifying a signal that we haven't known for decades. So a good receiver of 10 years ago can easily sound as nice as something you buy today. Of course, when it comes to fancy features, the modern amp has the benefit of DSP and other interesting tricks, but the basic task of taking a low voltage signal and sending it to speakers is something hasn't changed really.

As with anything that becomes commoditized, quality is not a priority in the design. My original $1000 Sony DVD player of 6 years ago has a faster layer change, has faster access time, and is still running strong. Of course, its picture quality is not as good thanks to better decoding chips, but the mechanism was built like a brick. My brand new $400 Panasonic DVD-S97 single disk HDMI DVD player that I just bought two weeks ago has a slower access time, and makes louder noises when moving the laser, and feels flimsy.

I have a 15 year old Sony ES (when "ES" actually meant something) 2 channel amp which can drive even the most difficult speaker load I've attached to it thanks to its massive power supply (the whole thing weighs 50 lbs), but my brand new Yamaha RX-V2400 $1000 receiver with all its DSP modes still doesn't sound any better than that Sony amp for just music.

Don't get me wrong though, there are lots of good sounding modern components. Think of it this way.....new technology and advancements allows us to move two steps ahead in features/cost/sound quality but sometimes the cost cutting in the wrong places can move us backward when it comes to sound quality.

[canrocks]

Update: My dad and I decided we would keep it, so we did what eelfiw suggested and sprayed contact restorer everywhere. It works fine now! Yay! Anyway, a more minor problem: one of the speaker wires has the wrong gauge. Any suggestions on good places to get wire?

[hagbard]

Update: My dad and I decided we would keep it, so we did what eelfiw suggested and sprayed contact restorer everywhere. It works fine now! Yay! Anyway, a more minor problem: one of the speaker wires has the wrong gauge. Any suggestions on good places to get wire?

Home Depot, get some heavy gage stuff. BTW, in answer to the other guys post, back up until the 1980s, receiver manufacturers were required under US law to post RMS numbers based on running at a power rating for around one hour. Those rules where changed to being able to reach that power level for a few minutes. So, a 100 watt RMS amp from today is equal to about a 20 watt amp of the 1970s. I find the stuff today to be very cheezy.

[cliff]

Update: My dad and I decided we would keep it, so we did what eelfiw suggested and sprayed contact restorer everywhere. It works fine now! Yay! Anyway, a more minor problem: one of the speaker wires has the wrong gauge. Any suggestions on good places to get wire?
any hardware/home improvement store will carry wire. For "speaker" wire any stereo shop/electronics place will carry it, but expect a decent markup on it.

[eelfliw]

Speaking of speaker cables..... some time ago I went to a "high-end" audio store and saw an "esoteric" speaker cable that look exactly like a braided IDE ribbon cable. When I asked the salesman what is the scientific reason behind this cable design, I was told that many strands of individual wires running in parallel provides less impedence, less distortion than single wire. Improves transparency, stage and sonic accuracy. At $125 a foot, even the braid design was scientifically derived.

I couldn't believe braided IDE cables could be so profitable.

[warpdrive]

I couldn't believe braided IDE cables could be so profitable.

Any kind of snake oil is going to be profitable. Monster Cable is one of the most successful accessory companies ever. And since quality of sound cannot be quantified in any meanful way, the whole industry works on "fear" and mystery.