Comments on: If you listen to music at home--don't buy an AV receiver!

If you listen to more music than watch movies don't buy an AV receiver.

[kskertchly]

This post is the reason I have deleted this blog from my RSS feeds, it will not be reading it again. It has lost all credibility for me.

I have never seen a decent AV Reciever without a "direct stereo" mode.

[hturner1949]

Steve's editorial makes absolutely no sense unless you have a room dedicated to music only (which I don't). Yes my Yamaha THX A/V receiver is extremely complicated and that's they way I like it. My wife can't figure it out and she doesn't need to. It's a "guy" thing. I stay out of her garden and she stays the hell away from my Home Theater. When I want to listen to music I simply put the receiver in the "Direct" mode which bypasses all processing for pure stereo sound. Most high-end A/V receivers have this feature, so why spend an extra $500 for a stereo receiver on a feature you probably already have. Unless like Steve you can't "figure it out. " I had a bad experience with a Harman Kardon product years ago. My neighbor also had Harman Kardon receiver die after limited use. I'm sure that HK makes a quality product, but I'll never buy another one.

[rezkar]

Wow, poor guy took a lot of punishment, anyway i have to say that i agree with Steve, who needs 100.1 speakers anyway?

People are so gullible these days falling for clever marketing techniques used by companies, i mean really, think about it.
When i watch an old classic movie recorded with tape and has stereo sound, i look at it and say WOW!, now thats what its all about.Look at these SUPER HIGH DEFINITION movies of today, with 10000.1 speakers and what not, first of the picture is so sharp that it resembles nothing that the real world look like, the sound is so crisp and so loud that you think what kind of universe do these actors live in?, cause where i come from nothing really sound or looks like this.

Did we really move forward in the audio and video department or have we just added more "bling"?
So i can see where Steve is coming from, if you wanna listen to music in stereo and your old vinyl records then this is a perfect amp, for people who want to listen to sound that is totally devoid from reality and pictures that make your eyes bleed, then go ahead and pay millions on your entertainment setups, for me i prefer analog sounds and pictures, is it perfect of course not, does it sound or look better than cd, dvd, etc,?......TOTALLY!

[stranglehold]

Look, this article was clearly aimed at 2 channel lovers, (read audiophile). I own an h/k integrated and an h/k reciever, they are fine products. Last time i bothered to check, there were 14 different kinds of surround sound, which one is right? My guests and I have loads of fun watching movies in 2 channel. Surround sound speakers do nothing but resonant and cause suck outs anyway. Surround sound is a joke. SG's credentials are pretty good, bashing him is just pointless. My current system is modest........and capable of much higher fidelity than most of the people whining in here.

Marantz universal player VC 6001
Exposure integrated amp 2010S
B&W 602 S3
Cerwin Vega subwoofer CLSC-12S (yeah, i know, but the price was right and it's better than you would think)
Transparent Audio and MIT cabling
Sanus speaker stands and audio rack (spiked to my hard wood floor)
Vibropods under the equipment
(soon to be added, my old analog rig)

2 channel IS high fidelity, folks.