Question about optimizing performance.....

shawn474
shawn474 Posts: 3,052
edited January 2014 in The Clubhouse
As you can see from my signature, I just recently upgraded my system to lsi 9's as fronts, lsi c center and lsi fx's as rears. I HAD rt55's in front, cs400 center and fx300i's as rears. I am running the pioneer elite as a pre and the b&k av5000 as my amp. My question related to optimizing performance. I am wondering if the amp is 4 oh. Stable first of all. Secondly, would it be better for performance to bigamous the 9'sa nod run the center with the open channel. Then run the surrounds off the avr. Right now I have one channel on the amp assigned to each speaker. Any suggestions on how to get better performance? If the amp isn't 4 ohm stable am I harming anything or should I upgrade?

As always, thanks I and acne for any suggestions you have.

Take care,
Shawn
Shawn
AVR: Marantz SR-5011
Center Channel: Polk LsiM706c
Front: Polk LsiM703
Rear: LSI fx
Subwoofer: SVS 20-39pci
Television: Samsung UN58NU7100FXZA
DVD Player: Sony PS4
Post edited by shawn474 on

Comments

  • shawn474
    shawn474 Posts: 3,052
    edited January 2014
    Looks like my amp isn't 4 ohm stable according to this chart. http://www.bkcomp.com/fileadmin/content/bk_support/FAQ/Previous%20Amp%20Specs.pdf

    How much harm am I doing running this setup with my amp?
    Shawn
    Shawn
    AVR: Marantz SR-5011
    Center Channel: Polk LsiM706c
    Front: Polk LsiM703
    Rear: LSI fx
    Subwoofer: SVS 20-39pci
    Television: Samsung UN58NU7100FXZA
    DVD Player: Sony PS4
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited January 2014
    Bummer :sad:

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • shawn474
    shawn474 Posts: 3,052
    edited January 2014
    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    Bummer :sad:

    Don't be sad; it's really my own fault. Should have researched before doing it. Now I will just have to upgrade the amp as well.
    Shawn
    AVR: Marantz SR-5011
    Center Channel: Polk LsiM706c
    Front: Polk LsiM703
    Rear: LSI fx
    Subwoofer: SVS 20-39pci
    Television: Samsung UN58NU7100FXZA
    DVD Player: Sony PS4
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited January 2014
    I'm not sad, you're right sad for you.... :wick:

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited January 2014
    You are not doing any harm unless your really cranking that amp. Emotiva amps are 4ohm stable
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited January 2014
    B & K are pretty stout amps. I think you'll be fine unless you really get on it.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
  • shawn474
    shawn474 Posts: 3,052
    edited January 2014
    Thats all good to know! Might keep using it then and use as an excuse to eventually upgrade the amp. Looking at the sherbourn in the flea market - its local to me and hoping to hear back from the seller.
    Shawn
    AVR: Marantz SR-5011
    Center Channel: Polk LsiM706c
    Front: Polk LsiM703
    Rear: LSI fx
    Subwoofer: SVS 20-39pci
    Television: Samsung UN58NU7100FXZA
    DVD Player: Sony PS4
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited January 2014
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2014
    heiney9 wrote: »
    B & K are pretty stout amps. I think you'll be fine unless you really get on it.

    H9

    Exactly.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • shawn474
    shawn474 Posts: 3,052
    edited January 2014
    Been monitoring the heat of the amp (it typically runs pretty warm). Not anything so far that seems to be running hotter so I am not really worried about it...........yet. Thanks again all.
    Shawn
    AVR: Marantz SR-5011
    Center Channel: Polk LsiM706c
    Front: Polk LsiM703
    Rear: LSI fx
    Subwoofer: SVS 20-39pci
    Television: Samsung UN58NU7100FXZA
    DVD Player: Sony PS4
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,014
    edited January 2014
    Well, that particular model of B&k amps is on the light side. If you like the sound, then hit up the bigger more current throwing monsters in the B&k line up. After that, experiment with different cables, maybe have Trey do the crossovers, or even take a look at the LSIM's which are easier to drive than the 9's.

    Also, source components can go along way in improving performance, that's obvious. But I can tell you I have the same receiver as you and it's a huge limiting factor, particularly the pre amp section.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • shawn474
    shawn474 Posts: 3,052
    edited January 2014
    tonyb wrote: »
    Well, that particular model of B&k amps is on the light side. If you like the sound, then hit up the bigger more current throwing monsters in the B&k line up. After that, experiment with different cables, maybe have Trey do the crossovers, or even take a look at the LSIM's which are easier to drive than the 9's.

    Also, source components can go along way in improving performance, that's obvious. But I can tell you I have the same receiver as you and it's a huge limiting factor, particularly the pre amp section.

    I would love to be able to do all those things. Right now all the pocket change went into upgrading the speakers. Have my eye on a few amp that will drive them better but content for now. Will sell some gear and see if I can fund a new amp or better pre amp, etc.
    Shawn
    AVR: Marantz SR-5011
    Center Channel: Polk LsiM706c
    Front: Polk LsiM703
    Rear: LSI fx
    Subwoofer: SVS 20-39pci
    Television: Samsung UN58NU7100FXZA
    DVD Player: Sony PS4