Amps really do make a difference?

KrazyMofo24
KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
edited July 2006 in Speakers
I'm new to owning good speakers I barely got my first HTIB last year. Current Setup is: Rti'10's, Csi5, Fxi5, Rti4, H/k 335. When I upgraded my receiver to the H/K 335 their was a HUGE improvement in sound quality.

It seems everyone here has owned a good separate amp. I was just wondering as I save for an amp has there not been a time when someone who had a decent receiver, spend $500+ for an amp, and not feel there was much of an improvement?
Setup:

2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

Post edited by KrazyMofo24 on
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Comments

  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited July 2006
    Never!!!:p :D

    J/K

    Your HK has a very nice amp section for a receiver, but if you were to add a seperate, decent, high current amp to it, there should be a noticeable improvement. Somewhere in the 150-200 wpc should be ample.

    You probably could get away with just the fronts for a while, then the upgrade bug will bite that **** again and you'll start looking for another multi-channel amp for the rest.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2006
    If you like the H/K sound, and want to improve on it by adding a separate amp, then why not check out one of H/K's amplifiers? H/K separates are no longer in production, but they still sound pretty good imo, especially if you like their sound characteristics to begin with.

    With the possible exception of the 'Citations', I realize H/K separate amps may not have the respect of the audiophile community. But I think you would be pleased, considering. 150 watts and +/-100amps of current is tough to argue against. :)
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2006
    These two of the same model would be totally decent. 80x5/110x5 +/-73amps of current. Like I said earlier, due to the lack of respect in the audiophile community you can usually get any H/K amp used at a deal, a steal even. I did, and imo it sounds better than anything from Adcom which is usually the starting-point for many looking to get into separates.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Nice-Harman-Kardon-PA-5800-Massive-5-Channel-Power-Amp_W0QQitemZ190008092951QQihZ009QQcategoryZ14973QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Harman-Kardon-PA5800-5ch-high-current-amp_W0QQitemZ130006016890QQihZ003QQcategoryZ14973QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

    No affiliation.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited July 2006
    I doubt you'll ever regret getting a seperate amp for your set up. You'll notice a difference again as you step up the ladder in more power. Maybe not the HUGE difference you noticed going from a HTIB to your HK, but i know you'll be able to tell a difference.

    congrats on your new set up.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited July 2006
    Congrats. Once you try separates, you will NEVER go back to a receiver unless you need the $$.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,586
    edited July 2006
    Had the HK330.... then hooked up the Rotel RB1070 and it was a significant jump in overall quality!
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited July 2006
    My receiver was pretty decent(sony 7100es), ample power, but just reading from this site, I figured I would go ahead and buy two Outlaw M2200s.

    All I can say is WOW, big difference in the Sound of the rti12s now. As everyone here has said you cant go wrong. Outlaw makes a nice amp, good bang for the buck product you can say. And this is the first time I have ever gone seperates as well.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

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    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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