amp or receiver?

bradhoffy

I am looking for some advice or opinions on what to power my system with.
I finally have been able to start getting some good speakers and and am about to get new receiver or amp but not sure what would be best.

I have:
2 LSI 25's
1 LSI C
about to purchase 2 LSI FX,
and,
ok dont laugh, a 6 year old Kenwood avr that is 100x5.

I have about 1200 max to spend, would prefer to spend less.

Thoughts, suggestions, or opinions would be appreciated.

danger boy

get an amp. those LSi speakers. all of them.. need a amp to properly power them. a good 5 channal amp will eat up that $1200 pretty quick. leaving nothing for a receiver. but you need an amp.

does your Kenwoof have pre outs on the back of it? Please chect. if it does.. you can just add an amp for now. and upgrade your Kenwood down the road.

Sherardp

Agreed, amp would drive those LSi's ****. How about this, 3 M2200s from Outlaw Audio and still some change left over to put towards a new AVR, or a B-stock M7700(200x7)

cfrizz

Welcome Brad. As others have said, you definately need an amp. I always say 200wpc minimum!

If you don't have preamp outputs on your existing receiver, you will need a new one as well.

Check Audiogon for good used pieces like Rotel, Oulaw, B & K, Sunfire.

Welcome to CP & congrats on your new system.

janmike

Welcome to the forum. Not that you need additional acknowledgement, but AMP for sure. No question.

MSALLA

Welcome to the site. Don't forget used amp market.

autoconsortium

Amp...no question about it. Unfortunately, you have to buy a preamp, but if you are building a system, do it right the first time. If you buy a receiver, you will soon want to upgrade, and your receiver will be useless to you. Again, take the plunge now. If you want a cheap preamp and amp combo, go for Adcom equipment. I used to have a GFA555 (a pair of them...I have the 6 foot SDA SRS speakers and they love wattage) and these amps can be had for about $300. You can get a nice Adcom preamp for less. So, for under $600, you have a great preamp, amp setup that your speakers will love.

McLoki

If you can negotiate down $100 you are there....
(no affiliation)

Michael

dholmes

Ill have amp fs in a couple of weeks,its a ATI 2505 250x5 in perfect shape! 900.00 + shipping ps it weighs 106 lbs I also have the box & manual.

Libertyc

Amp.

louthewiz

Look at this baby lots of clean power and headroom.

http://www.emotiva.com/lpa1.html

Frak601

What do you gain/lose going with a pre amp and multichannel amp for your system verses usinga av receiver then hooking an amp to the preouts on your receiver?? I was considering a Marantz 110W X 7 receiver, but after reading I am hesitant thinking I may be going the wrong direction? Any input is appreciated. I am considering buying a Rti10 or Rti12 speaker system also that will be powered. Thanks

hearingimpared

Welcome to the club Brad. . . I'm a separates man so naturally I'm gonna tell ya to go with the amp.

george daniel

^^^^^amp^^^^^

GATOR3000

Welcom to the CP. Amp for sure. No question about it. Have fun!!!

Gator

MSALLA

Frak601 wrote:

What do you gain/lose going with a pre amp and multichannel amp for your system verses usinga av receiver then hooking an amp to the preouts on your receiver?? I was considering a Marantz 110W X 7 receiver, but after reading I am hesitant thinking I may be going the wrong direction? Any input is appreciated. I am considering buying a Rti10 or Rti12 speaker system also that will be powered. Thanks

Welcome to the fourm. The AVR's amp is not used once you hook up an outside amp so if your starting from scratch, it's really a waste in my opinion. If your buying an AVR to run your system it's a good idea to get preouts incase you want to upgrade to an amp later. A dedicated amp gives you current. Lots of nice highpower current to really push you speakers.

Frak601

Thanks Msalla...........I really must say that I have gotten alot of better info here on this forum, than on the klipsch forum.........I have been on both forums, as I was trying to decide which speakers to go with, and I have had great experience here so far,I really appreciate everyones help and sharing of knowledge!

MSALLA

If you go with the RTi10's or 12's, go with separates.

jcaut

Note: As I previewed my long-winded post, I see that MSALLA has already responded (twice, even), but I'll go ahead and add mine since I've already typed it.:)

Frak601 wrote:

What do you gain/lose going with a pre amp and multichannel amp for your system verses usinga av receiver then hooking an amp to the preouts on your receiver?? I was considering a Marantz 110W X 7 receiver, but after reading I am hesitant thinking I may be going the wrong direction? Any input is appreciated. I am considering buying a Rti10 or Rti12 speaker system also that will be powered. Thanks

The only downside to going with a pre/pro and amp is that it will generally cost more money. Especially if you buy new equipment. You might give up some "fluff" features like built-in multi-zone capability, additional DSP modes, etc., but it's the way to go for better sound. In my opinion, the biggest difference is in the amplifier. The processing built into most midline and up receivers is (again, IMO, and in my limited experience) pretty good. Therefore, if one has a receiver with preamp outputs, adding a multichannel amp can be almost as good a solution as going with the dedicated multichannel preamp/processor.

Very few receivers have amplifier sections as robust as even a modest (even lower rated wattage) power amp. It's simply one of the sacrifices they make for the sake of having everything in one neat package. When you consider that we're usually talking 7 seperate channels of amplification, crammed into the receiver chassis along with all the other electronics that are required for preamp functions, DSP, tuners, etc., all sharing the same power supply-- It's just highly unlikely that the amps are going to be capable of 110W x 7 channels at any significant load or for any length of time.

The LSi speakers are 4 Ohm speakers, which means basically that they're going to demand a lot of current from the amp- exactly what is lacking in most receiver amp sections. The LSi's were designed to be driven with an amp (or a true 4 Ohm-capable receiver: Sort of a gray area- there aren't many). Driving the LSi's with a receiver will generally result in a hot running receiver that may shut down at moderate listening levels and significantly reduced sound quality.

Rti's aren't 4 Ohm and they were made to be usable with good quality receivers. Some of the bigger multi-driver models may still be difficult loads for less capable receivers and, IMO, all of them will benefit from more clean high-current power that a power amp can provide.

Jason

MSALLA

jcaut wrote:

Note: As I previewed my long-winded post, I see that MSALLA has already responded (twice, even), but I'll go ahead and add mine since I've already typed it.

Your's was better anyway;)

louthewiz

In the first place my system sounded ok but i felt that it could sound better so I added power amps and the sound opened up big time and that's the way I like to listen to movies and music,
The advantage of using an avr as a pre/pro is that it will give you the features and signal processing costing 3 times as much found in preamps...

PolkWannabie

louthewiz wrote:

The advantage of using an avr as a pre/pro is that it will give you the features and signal processing costing 3 times as much found in preamps...

Except in terms of dollars, I wouldn't call that an advantage ...

cfrizz

Why not?

PolkWannabie wrote:

Except in terms of dollars, I wouldn't call that an advantage ...

PolkWannabie

The differences between a good preamp and a receiver are more subtle then between an amp and a receiver but they still exist ... To me they are substantial ...

bradhoffy

Thanks for all of your answers and advice. Sorry for the delayed response, I have been out of town. Sounds like an amp is the consensus.