Mate has a 20 year old AV amp which is getting past it. Switching is
giving problems despite cleaning.

He'd like a new one with HDMI and toslink etc inputs, that he can use with
his existing surround speakers.

I've not kept up with this side of the market at all.

Any recommendations on where to look first?

--
*If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

I think this market is now so complex that it would be a brave person who
suggested anything as the chances are something that works now will fail on
the new device, or will work differently altogether.

Probably the best thing is a specialist shop if you can still find one and
get a device on loan and see if it actually does everything correctly. I've
heard stories like lip sync being miles out and not fixable, wrong aspect
ratios and nasty drop outs in the signals. Seems to me that standards are
there to be screwed up!
I still have two speaker stereo, its all my brain can cope with!
Brian

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This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

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"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
Mate has a 20 year old AV amp which is getting past it. Switching is
giving problems despite cleaning.

He'd like a new one with HDMI and toslink etc inputs, that he can use with
his existing surround speakers.

I've not kept up with this side of the market at all.

Any recommendations on where to look first?

--
*If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 20/11/17 11:11, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
Mate has a 20 year old AV amp which is getting past it. Switching is
giving problems despite cleaning.


Cheapest Panasonic from Richer Sounds.

"All competently made amplifiers and CD players sound the same"

Which magazine regularly recommends Panasonic without hesitation (or
effort).

--
Adrian C

On 22/11/17 17:26, Bob Latham wrote:
In article ,
Adrian Caspersz wrote:

"All competently made amplifiers and CD players sound the same"

Not an expression I would use but I suppose it is fair enough depending on
what you mean by "competently". :-)

It's a sentiment that often arises, that I don't agree with either
(hence the quotes). Made by some that can't separate the differences
between AV/audiophile goodness, specifications and bull****, and deride
all as the latter. Sadly influences like Russ Andrews & Co make that
polarisation sport a bit too easy.

That, and my quip about Panasonic was made in jest. No, I wouldn't
spring for Sony and Panasonic stuff, I'd want some enjoyment with
technical things away from the basic cooking wine experience.

But maybe that might suit the customer?

We have no idea exactly what are the current speakers, configuration,
size of room, types of films, sources, technical comprehension of the
user, whether he cares for Dolby Digital or DTS, has a good budget,
plans for future expansion, wishes integration with HiFi, streaming etc...

Someone inexperienced recommending something for someone else based on
dumbed down top-10 list hearsay, particularly on brand names, is the
beginnings of madness (or a subscription for Which, sadly same thing).

Plenty of good AV HiFi dealers about for serious made to measure
demonstrations.

--
Adrian C