Amp Question (2 Channel vs. 5 Channel Amp)?

Kingkwas

Been close to buying a 2 channel amp but have a couple last min questions:

1) With a 2 channel amp setup for my L/ R. Will the other 3 channels (center, rears) see an improvement in sound quality from AVR because it is being asked to handle less

2) Will my centers and rears benefit from a 5 channel amp? Or will the benefit be worth it?

3) Can u bi-amp with a 5 channel amp?

Thanks!

Emlyn

Usung a separate two channel amp will reduce the peak current draw on the receiver. The receiver would have more headroom and therefore sound quality on those speakers may be improved slightly. The greater improvement would be on the main speakers because of the separate amp. Likewise, a five channel amp would improve the system all around if it is of decent quality.

A five channel separate amp can be used to biamp the front main speakers leaving one channel for the center. I have not found that biamping with a single amp does much good. Better to have a larger two channel amp with more power to see the most improvement.

rpf65

In general, if you add a 2-channel amp to your system, it will be an overall improvement. As stated above, a lot of the available power your AVR is using for the front two will be free to power the other speakers.

Having said that, I don't know that you will hear a dramatic improvement in surround preformance, at least with HT. Music yes, but not necessarily HT. I think going from 2-channels to multi-channel amplification will improve the overall front soundstage, but again not necessarily surround preformance, at least for HT.

If your surround are set up and dialed in properly, and you have a capable AVR, the best you should expect is a slight improvement. You should also keep in mind that all those slight improvements do add up and when combined can be significant.

Not advocating one over the other, but just pointing out that either way you go, it will improve overall sound quality. Depending on your budget I would go for a higher quality 2-channel amp over a lower quality multi-channel amp. Of course my system in duel purpose, and I don't really care for multi-channel music.

When I added a 3-channel amp, running 9.1, I heard an overall improvement, and a dramatic improvement to the front sound stage. There was a slight improvement to the surrounds, but it was subtle. That tells me I probably have the surround set up as correctly as I can, and didn't put too many speakers in my room.

cfrizz

All speakers benefit from getting all the power that they need when they need it, including the center and rear speakers. It allows them to operate to their full potential.

My fronts came alive when I put them on a Parasound 1500A, 2 channel amp. Then I added an Outlaw monoblock for my center channel. I finally just got my Sunfire 5 channel 405wpc amp and was done with upgrading my power.

Getting separate powerful amplification, remains the single most important improvement that I have ever made to my system, because it showed me what my speakers were/are actually capable of.

pitdogg2

Boom Cathy lays it down...

I concur completely

Kingkwas

Thanks everyone.

Opinions on Amps? Leaning towards Marantz just cause I have Marantz AVR.

Thoughts on Rotel... Parasound.... Anthem... Marantz?

pitdogg2

Kingkwas wrote: »

Thanks everyone.

Opinions on Amps? Leaning towards Marantz just cause I have Marantz AVR.

Thoughts on Rotel... Parasound.... Anthem... Marantz?

Pick one they're all good

Kingkwas

I should Mention I want to future proof my amp. They will power my 703s but one day when space allows plan to buy towers for L/R.

So is the Marantz enough to power say LSiM 707s?

pitdogg2

Well maybe all those you tossed out have several levels of amps. Maybe be more definitive on which Marantz you are referring to.

mantis

I don't care for just replacing the fronts with a 2 channel amp. You get a dynamic imbalance.
Using a 5 channel amp is the way to go my friend. But the truth be told adding a 2 channel amp as stated above will improve everything due to the less current draw on the internal power supply for the main channel speakers.
Run everything in small anyway and get a boost if anything is in large. Let your subwoofer do the heavy lifting. This always improves the over all sound despite peoples OCD on wanting larger speakers in large.

jayman_1975

Here’s another question. Does that 2 channel stereo amp do as good of a job at H/T? I’m kind of in a similar position. I have two, 2 channel stereo amps. Both are identical. Well mostly. Same brand, same model, one is just a couple years newer. One lowers my front left and right, and the other my center. My receiver just powers my two surround channels. All in all I find there’s an improvement for sure from strictly running all 5 channels from my H/T receiver, but truth be told, I feel most of the improvements for H/T are coming from having my center channel amped. I have often wondered if I exchanged my two stereo amps, would a H/T amp do every better for H/T? And, would it be able to do just as good of a job as my stereo amp currently running my front left and right for stereo duty is doing. So torn.

kharp1

I would encourage you to go with a 3 channel amp at a minimum. The center channel is responsible for a lot of information and it's harder to get a good cohesive sound stage with the front three channels having different amplification.

Geoff4rfc

Holy crapola, this post is almost two years old...……..gee, I wonder what became of the big dilemma???