Separate Amp for Mains Question

gregure

Obviously a new speaker package is a ways off for me, but one of my considerations is a nice pair of towers for my mains. I'm considering a separate amp for two-channel, using the preouts on my B&K 507, and using the receiver for the center and surrounds. My question is, do those of you who use a separate amp for your mains find that they are significantly louder than your center and surrounds, especially if the amp outputs more watts than the receiver?
The separate amp is more a consideration for music rather than movies, but I want to make sure it doesn't throw off the soundstage during movie playback. Thoughts?

michael_w

It shouldn't be much different since the preout is sending the same signal that is processed by the receiver's amps... with the seperate amp you will just have a lot more headroom. BTW I've never done this I'm just going by similar experiance with preouts so I could be totally wrong here.

Dennis Gardner

It normally only makes a difference when your receivers amps give up the ship, and the external amp rolls on. Sensitivity on amp's inputs are pretty similar.

JDSMOKE

gregure

What Amps are you looking at. I was considering this same upgrade?

cfrizz

As a matter of fact, it was just the opposite. Once calibrated it was seamless. Then I had to boost my center channel up in order to hear dialog for movies.

jrlouie

I have this type of setup and sometimes feel this is a problem. I have an Outlaw M200 for the center but a beefy pro-audio amp for my mains. Even after calibration, I always feel I can't hear dialogue easy and explosions are overwhelming. Night-mode turns out to be a nice feature
But, the cause could be any number of issues (proper calibration, placement, weak Lsic, etc.). So who knows.
I too have to boost the center channel.

unc2701

Depends whether the gain/ sensitivity on the power amps is about the same across channels. If you get a B&K power amp it'll probably be spot on, otherwise, get a spl meter, you'll have to tweak.

Early B.

It's not an issue to be concerned about.

That's what calibration is for. And that's why you have a wide range of setup options in your receiver for 2-channel and multi-channel listening.

gregure

Thanks for the advice guys. It looks like the volume output from the mains would be an issue but that with some tweaking I would have no problems. That's pretty much what I thought.

I'm not sure which system I'm going to get. Either a package from Vienna Acoustics or Sonus Faber. I'm waiting to see what the new Domus series are like.

If I go w/ Vienna, I'd probably get a B&K Ref 200.2 for two-channel. If I go w/ Sonus, I may get a Primare two-channel amp. Perhaps their 3-channel would solve my problem for the front stage, but I really don't feel I need a separate amp for the center. As I said, it's more for two-channel music.

Early B.

If I go w/ Vienna, I'd probably get a B&K Ref 200.2 for two-channel. If I go w/ Sonus, I may get a Primare two-channel amp. Perhaps their 3-channel would solve my problem for the front stage, but I really don't feel I need a separate amp for the center. As I said, it's more for two-channel music.

Wow, you got some great options you're looking at. Vienna or Sonus -- tough choice. Let us know what you decide to get.

Even though 2-channel is your main interest, I would suggest separate amplification for the center channel as well. At one point I had an amp for my fronts and no amp for my center channel, but when I got an amp, it definitely took the dialogue and dynamic sounds up a notch to better match the fronts. Not a major priority, but at least something to consider.

gregure

It's going to be at least a year before I buy, something to save up for. I work at a dealer, so I'll get a great deal on the equipment.