Help me decide. HK AVR-520 vs. Newcastle R-756 (1 Viewer)

[Ronnie Ferrell]

Ok, I know there are 100's of these post everyday, but you guys are the greatest when it comes to opinions!
Anyway I can get a HK AVR-520 or a Newcastle R-756 for the same price. Which should I get.
Here is some helpful info:
This is my first HT receiver. $500 is my budget. 2-channel music listening is very important too me. 5.1 surround is good enough for me, but I know the HK has more option than the Newcastle. The music to HT ratio is at least 50/50 and maybe up to 75% music to 25% HT. (Not really sure how this will pan out. Right now music is more important, but as stated, this is my first HT receiver and that ratio might change when I get hooked!) I have a pair of GR-research A/V-1s and will be building 3 more to go with the HT receiver. I also have a sealed 122L tempest powered by the PE 250w plate amp. I listen to classical, jazz, little girl with a guitar music, 80's, grunge, etc...
If you need any more info, let me know.
Any advise will be appreciated.
Thanks!
Ronnie Ferrell

 

[Paul Clarke]

Hi Ronnie,

My personal preference would be for the H/K. The 520 is the last of the 5 series to come equipped with Main Ins. As you get further into HT, you just may like the added perk of buying a 5 channel amp as well as a quality receiver in one package.

 

[Ronnie Ferrell]

The amp inputs do open the door for an ICBM later on...


rf

 

[Ronnie Ferrell]

Well after reading more post here, and swinging by Circuit City on the way home from work, I pulled the trigger this morning and ordered the Harman Kardon AVR-520 from www.onecall.com. I could not pass it up! After using the $20 promo code the total with FedEx economy shipping was $514.80.
X-mas is coming this Friday for me!!!
I just love and hate this forum all at the same time!
Ronnie

 

[Paul Clarke]

Enjoy! And Happy Holidays.

 

[rick_perez]

i'm also the proud new owner of a HK 520 from onecall. I got mine shipped the friday after thanksgiving. what a treat and a great price too.

I'm just starting to enjoy it.

good luck

 

[Mark.Louis]

Ronnie - how are you liking the sealed Tempest? That is going to be my project over the Xmas break. I am building the exact same model. I was going to build it passive and use my old Pioneer stereo amp to power it. However, if I get the 520 then I will use the Pioneer stereo to either (1) power the rear surrounds or (2) power another room. How does the plate amp from PE work? Its on sale for < $120 right now!!

Mind if I email you with questions as the build process ensues?

 

[Ronnie Ferrell]

Mark-
I love my 122L sealed tempest! The Parts Express plate amp is plenty power for it. I had some boomyness issues but it is all room induced. I have a real funky shaped bonus room acoustically. I built some bass traps and acoustical panels and it helped the boomyness a lot! Again, the boomyness I have is not the subs fault.
I have a bazillion pictures of the build process at this link:
Build Process of my 122L Tempest
The first picture is a CAD drawing I did to show how I will finish it out in the Spring.
Here are some pictures of the Tube Bass Traps I built:
Bass Traps
They are ASC clones Jon Risch came up with. Here are the plans:
Jon Risch's Acoustical Treatment Page
Mark, you or anyone else are more than welcome to email me with question at anytime! I can't guarantee I will have the answer, but I don't have a problem with saying "I don't know".
FYI: I got my HK-520 yesterday. last night was my offices x-mas party and tonight I have to go see a friend of mine who is in a band, play. It will be Saturday before I can play around with the 520. Its killing me!!!
Ronnie