2 channel amp for fronts in a surround setup?

Kentmick
Kentmick Posts: 12
edited January 2013 in Electronics
Would a 2 channel amp be a good investment to power the fronts (LSiM 703) and let the receiver handle the center and surrounds?

If yes, what are some good quality amp brands?

Thanks!
Post edited by Kentmick on
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  • math wizard
    math wizard Posts: 106
    edited January 2013
    Yes, it would be a good idea. Personally, for the money, I recommend Emotiva. I have an XPA-2 powering my Polk RTi10's. It's a great amp.
    Processor - Emotiva UMC-200
    Pre-Amp (2 Ch) - Emotiva USP-1
    DSP Minidsp nanoAVR DL
    DAC (2 Ch) - Emotiva XDA-2
    Amp (Fronts) - Emotiva XPA-2
    Amp (Center/Surrounds) - Emotiva XPA-3
    CD - Emotiva ERC-1
    Fronts - Polk Audio RTi 12
    Center - Polk Audio CSi5
    Rears - Polk Audio RTiA1
    Sub - Epik Knight
    Sub EQ - Velodyne SMS-1
    Monitor - Sony XBR65X850C
    Blu-Ray - OPPO BDP-203
    Network Media Player - Chromecast Ultra
    Power Conditioner - APC H15
    Power Conditioner - Emotiva CMX-2
    PVR - DirecTV C61k
    Remote - Harmony Touch w/Hub
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,114
    edited January 2013
    Yes it would, what amount of investment do you have in mind?
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Devlon
    Devlon Posts: 355
    edited January 2013
    I have a friend that has an XPA-2 powering some Maggie 1.7's. An extremely impressive amp given the price. The low end may be punchier than my Adcoms.
    Living Room: HK AVR 354 as pre/pro, 2 x Polk Audio Micropro 4000, Adcom GFA-7500, 2 x Mirage OMD-15
    2 x Mirage OMD-5, 1 x Mirage OMD-C1, APC H15, Sony S790, Philips 52" LCD, Beogram 3000, FAT (Firestone Audio Tobby DAC), Harmony One

    Den: Sherwood R-972,as pre/pro, 2 x Velodyne SPL-1000R, 3 x Crown Drivecore XLS1500, 2 x Polk Audio Lsi9
    1 x Polk Audio Lsic, 2 x Polk Audio Lsifx, Sony S790, APC H15, Dspeaker Dual Core 2.0, W4S DAC 2, Keces DA-151
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  • Kentmick
    Kentmick Posts: 12
    edited January 2013
    I bought a Denon 2312 to begin my HT journey. It was ok but I didn't know what pre-amp out was or why it was important. So of course it didn't have one when I started learning about amps.

    So I will probably get a Denon 4520 or 4311 first. Even though those aren't cheap I don't want to spend half as much on an amp. But I should probably wait until I get the new receiver.

    I don't know how much of a difference an amp would make. I like the idea of it potentially prolonging my receiver, if I am going to invest a lot in a receiver I'd like it to last a decade.
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  • htrdln
    htrdln Posts: 116
    edited January 2013
    i've seen parasound used for real inexpensive they seem to get good reviews.. saving money back for one now in fact.. lol
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  • Kentmick
    Kentmick Posts: 12
    edited January 2013
    I'm now looking at an Emotiva Xpa-3. Since the front 3 are the LSiMs it makes the most sense and I can't beat that price. Unless someone has serious reservations with Emotiva I think thats where I am headed. Thank you guys for all the input.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2013
    Kentmick wrote: »
    I'm now looking at an Emotiva Xpa-3. Since the front 3 are the LSiMs it makes the most sense and I can't beat that price. Unless someone has serious reservations with Emotiva I think thats where I am headed. Thank you guys for all the input.

    We really need a price range to give you recommendations. There are many better sounding 2, 3, and 5 channel amps out there than Emotiva. On the used market, you can make a lot happen. Adcom, Paraound, Rotel, and B&K would all be good choices.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • cowtrimmer
    cowtrimmer Posts: 201
    edited January 2013
    I would assume his price range is around 600 bucks as that's what a new XPA-3 costs. Is there such a thing as a Adcom, Parasound, Rotel, or B&K for that price thats working or not 15 years old ?
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  • snake1
    snake1 Posts: 567
    edited January 2013
    cowtrimmer wrote: »
    I would assume his price range is around 600 bucks as that's what a new XPA-3 costs. Is there such a thing as a Adcom, Parasound, Rotel, or B&K for that price thats working or not 15 years old ?

    Yes, but you have to be patient and shop around. Audiogon and Ebay have some very good deals, from time to time however. Its how I got my Para.
    AVR - Onkyo NR809
    500gb HD for MP3 and FLAC files
    Amp - Parasound 2250 - FOR SALE BTW!! PM me if interested!
    Mains - Polk RTi12 towers
    Center - CSi5
    Surround - FXiA6's
    Sub - psw505
    Movies and games - PS3
    TV - Toshiba 52" HD

    Every vehicle has one good nuetral drop in it
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2013
    cowtrimmer wrote: »
    I would assume his price range is around 600 bucks as that's what a new XPA-3 costs. Is there such a thing as a Adcom, Parasound, Rotel, or B&K for that price thats working or not 15 years old ?

    Yes, or I wouldn't have recommended it. I own an Emotiva XPA-5, BTW, so I'm not a hater, but I've heard many other amp designs, and I've heard those LSiM's, and I can tell you that they'd prefer a different brand. :wink:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • Kentmick
    Kentmick Posts: 12
    edited January 2013
    These are good points, I am willing to wait. The 4520 has 150 watts per channel, I think it deserves to show me what it can do on its own first. Ill keep an eye out for an Amp. Yes my budget would be about 600.
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  • michael1947
    michael1947 Posts: 775
    edited January 2013
    I just looked at the Denon 2313ci and it does have pre-outs for the mains but not the center. I see this as a conflict as I feel it is important to have the same amp powering the front 3. Your Denon is probably fairly new can you come up with some reason to return it and get one with full pre-outs?
    Main Family Room: Sony 46 LCD, Sony Blue Ray, Sony DVD/VCR combo,Onkyo TXNR 708, Parasound 5250,
    Polk SDS-SRS with mods, CSI 5 center + Klipsch SC2, Polk RT2000P rears, Klipsch KG 1.5's sides, Polk Micro Pro 1000, Polk Micro Pro 2000, Polk SW505, Belkin PF60, Signal Cable Classics,Monster IC's, 2 15 amp circuits & 1 20 amp circuit.

    Living Room: Belkin PF60, Parasound HCA2200, MIT ProlineEXP balanced IC's,Emotiva XDA-1 DAC/Pre,Emotiva ERC2 transport,MIT AVT2, Polk LSI 9's.
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  • Kentmick
    Kentmick Posts: 12
    edited January 2013
    I might be misunderstanding you but I don't have a 2313 but a 2312. As for good reasons, not really, Its nice and I like it a lot. I will either sell it or use it elsewhere.
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  • 4xoddic
    4xoddic Posts: 372
    edited January 2013
    Based upon several months' use of a QSC GX7 pro amp (725 W @ 8 ohms / 1 kHz both channels driven) with my RTia9s (50-500 watts per channel), I would recommend looking at "pro" amps. The QSC GX series have phono inputs which made it easy to connect the preouts of my Pioneer SC-07 (140 WPC).

    The QSC GX3 @ 300 W should give you "headroom" as Polk's LSiM703 Recommended Amplifier Power is 20-200 watts per channel. Retail is ~ 1/2 your budget. There is some fan noise audible between tracks on my GX7. I have a < dB fan to install in my GX7 . . . .

    http://www.qscaudio.com/products/amps/gx/index.php

    There are several "audiophile" threads regarding the QSC amps & "pro" amps in general.
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  • 4xoddic
    4xoddic Posts: 372
    edited January 2013
    Me too, so read many musicians' threads on "pro" amps & far too many from religious "soundmen" who use & rec the QSC GX series for their "auditoriums."

    Lots of performers are swapping out their old "beasts" for newer Class H amps.

    GX3 uses . . . A true Class B biasing system

    The GX5 uses a Class H system, based on key elements of the PL Series, (PLX, PL3, CX, DCA) almost doubling power in the same size and weight.

    The GX7 adds the road-proven PowerLight supply to the Class H output section, for more overall output power and additional weight savings. The result is one of the highest power-to-weight ratios in the industry.



    I was plenty skeptical myself. I looked for an "audiophile" amp ~ 250 WPC. The majority on audiogon & ebay were priced > what I wanted to test against the ICE amps in my SC-07. Since my wife could hear the improvement with the GX7, I'm sure it will be easy to swap in a Parasound or Anthem without mentioning the $. The Anthem P2 Two-Channel Power Amplifier(325 Watts RMS x 2 into 8 Ohms, MSRP: $4,299), Weight: 75 Pounds = assurance it can put out 25 WPC > GX3. However, my MD's orders are to not lift > 50 lbs . . .
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