Will an amp help?

roscoe1972

I am powering a Rti6, Rti4, Csi30 HT with an HK AVR 245 @ 50 WPC. 60% Movies 40% Music

Does this power get the most out of my speakers at a moderate/slightly loud playing level?

Will adding a budget amp improve sound quality?

If so what should I look at?

Ricardo

Looking at your setup, I would spend the money on a sub; that's your weak link IMO. That receiver will power your speakers with no problem. You might hear an improvement with an external amp....or you might not.

Welcome.

Lowell_M

Best advice I can give is from personal experience. HK makes a fantastic AVR, but there is no replacement for the differences in separates. Do what I did and see if you can find some polkies near your home. Chances are that they will be more than willing to drag some gear to your house to let you demo.

There is no better judge than your ears to tell you if you should upgrade to separates. My original upgrade path was to add Outlaw monoblocks, which I probably would ahve purchased if I wouldn't have had H9 and DKG999 over for an afternoon of listening. I discovered that I really didn't see much of a difference in sound between my HK and the Outlaws...but the other amps (ADCOM and Parasound) that we listened to were amazingly different and distinct in their own respect. You won't need monster amps for your system either, but may like what you hear from the amps rather than the AVR.

ben62670

Welcome to club Polk Roscoe. I am also using an HK receiver(AVR-235 50Wpc), and I am running all Adcom amps instead of the receiver amplification. I do like HK as a receiver, but there is no comparison vs external amplification. You can get an Adcom off of Ebay for $200-250 plus shipping. It will tighten up the sound, and take a load off of the HK's receiver. If you don't like the Amp (which I highly doubt) you can sell it, and just be out on shipping. I would look for an Adcom GFA-545, 5400, 555, 5500, or even look for a 7500 if you want to cover all the 5 channels, and have it done right the first time.

Ben

reeltrouble1

Is there something in particular you do not like or want out of the sound the speakers are not providing??

RT1

azfabshop

I have a very similar setup and was wondering the same thing? I was thinking of running a Harmon Kardon Signature 2.0 @ 100wX5 or was recommended a Marantz MM9000 @ 150wx5. Would this make a noticable improvent to these setups? I'm really happy with the sound I get from my reciever but it seems like there is a lot of unused potential in these speakers. Or am I just pissing away money on the "more power" disease I have? Thanks!

roscoe1972

I do enjoy the sound I am getting now (my setup includes a JBL 10in. sub).

But reading all of the testimonies on these boards touting amps, makes me wonder if I am missing something.

ben62670

azfabshop wrote:

I have a very similar setup and was wondering the same thing? I was thinking of running a Harmon Kardon Signature 2.0 @ 100wX5 or was recommended a Marantz MM9000 @ 150wx5. Would this make a noticable improvent to these setups? I'm really happy with the sound I get from my reciever but it seems like there is a lot of unused potential in these speakers. Or am I just pissing away money on the "more power" disease I have? Thanks!

Keep your reciever. Upgrading to a more powerfull reciever isn't the same as getting an external amp. I don't care what the watts say.

azfabshop

Both of the products I mentioned are external amps I was considering adding to my current receiver. We are asking how much if any benefit will this give?

Ron Temple

As stated, a better sub will make the most dramatic improvement. An amp will improve the soundstage, but spend the money on the sub first, you won't regret it.

ben62670

azfabshop wrote:

Both of the products I mentioned are external amps I was considering adding to my current receiver. We are asking how much if any benefit will this give?

Its not so much that an external amp gives incredible loudness as it cleans up the sound, adds more detail, and tightens it up. If bass is lacking go for the new sub. Everyone here likes SVS. If you go for a sub now, and want to upgrade to amps later you will probably not be satisfied with the sub that you choose to match your current system. One thing that you guys didn't mention is the size of the room you have your setup in. If you live in an apartment with a smallish living room external amplification may be impractical. I personally don't use a sub do to the design of my speakers. I actually have an infinity 500 watt ILS120 sub, but I don't really use it. I used to run a yami HTR5850 110 watts per channel, and upgraded to an HK AVR-235 that I use as a pre. I run all Adcom amps. You just can't beat the Adcoms for bang for the buck. If you took a reading with a meter of 2 different systems at the same SPL, and compared them the system with external amps would sound much better than the receiver. Reread the post above, and look at post other people have created. Then look at what people have for systems. Just the fact that you are here shows that you are more interested in your setup than the average Joe who gets a theater in a box. By the way if amps didn't help much people would hold onto their money for something else, wouldn't have to deal with the extra wiring, the extra space it takes up, and so on, and so on...

Ben

azfabshop

Thanks for the help, Ben and everyone! I have the system in a greatroom setup LR/kitchen thats all open, That is probably what is absorbing the sound so much. I also am running a PSW 350 Sub. Is this considered a below average sub for this setup? The bass I get is good, not overpowering now but amps may make it the new weaklink!

cfrizz

Here is where you & I disagree Ben. I live in an apartment & still have external amplification. You are correct that it is not so much about incredible loudness. But it IS all about all of the details and clarity from the music & movies that the extra power gives to the speakers! I will NEVER give up those details & extra oomph of bass I get again, now that I know that is truly the benefit of having external amplification.:)

ben62670 wrote:

Its not so much that an external amp gives incredible loudness as it cleans up the sound, adds more detail, and tightens it up...... One thing that you guys didn't mention is the size of the room you have your setup in. If you live in an apartment with a smallish living room external amplification may be impractical. Ben

McLoki

I think an external amp will improve on the sound you are getting from your system. With that said though - the most bang for your buck will come from upgrading your weakest link. imo - get a new sub. When you are done and looking for your next big upgrade, decide what you want to improve and maybe look for an amp then.

Reguarding external amps in your system:

Will it make you system sound better? - YES. Is it the best use of your money to get the most improvement? imo - NO.

Michael

ben62670

cfrizz wrote:

Here is where you & I disagree Ben. I live in an apartment & still have external amplification. You are correct that it is not so much about incredible loudness. But it IS all about all of the details and clarity from the music & movies that the extra power gives to the speakers! I will NEVER give up those details & extra oomph of bass I get again, now that I know that is truly the benefit of having external amplification.:)

We are on the same page
I whole heartedly agree with you. I would never give up my external amps either

azfabshop

Wow! Now I'm gonna have to hunt down some different subs to hear, if you guys are saying that is the next thing this system needs? You know, I think of more bass and think of the kids in thier hondas bumping crap down the road. The Polk sub I have seems to make its presence in the system but doesn't overtake it. Although I sure can tell the difference in how tight it hits just by running a good coax instead of the junk cable that comes with it so I can apreciate what you are saying! Thanks again, everyone!

Ron Temple

I think the replies about the sub were directed more towards roscoe, but pertains to you as well. There's some reasonably priced subs out there with extention into the teens, very clean, no midbass hump/boom, that deliver OMG moments when called for. A capable sub will really add dramatic improvement to movies and extra dynamics to music.

McLoki

As I have explained to some of the people that I work with. It is not that a good sub will only give you more volume, but it will actually play things that your current sub is just not able to play. i.e. - there is content that you should be able to hear that is just not audible with your current sub.

Granted you can turn it up louder, but that is not the point of a new sub (in this case). Playing information that right now you don't even know exists is the point.

Happy hunting.

Michael

azfabshop

You guys are awsome! Now I want to see about dropping some money in the flea market and need to yap up a few more posts to get in!

azfabshop

Theres a few subs in there that might do the trick!

azfabshop

Maybe that will do,thanks

roscoe1972

Cnet gave my sub an 8.0 out of 10.

http://reviews.cnet.com/JBL_PB10/4505-7869_7-6900209.html

What do have to say about that:p

McLoki

If you would have followed CNets advice - you would have purchased Bose....

roscoe1972

I appreciate all the advice, I just got a little discouraged when I saw the price of a "good" sub.

Lowell_M

Just try some stuff. Where are you from? The people on this forum are a wealth of information and advice. Nothing is more informational than the opinion of your own ears, though. That is why people here are usually more than willing to help you demo some gear.

Everybody here loves this hobby. Some have a vast knowledge of the electronics and engineering of the systems and some simply love audio and like to talk about it.

Just try to get involved. You will learn and discover more than you realize. Try to get some good demos.

Oh... Mcloki, BOSE rules, dude. Haven't you ever been to one of their in-store listening rooms. Come on man....its has patented acoustimass technology. Geeeesh..... If I didn't have so much space to fill up, I might consider Bose, but I would rather fill up more space in my room and sacrifice the patented accoustimass sound.

John K.

Roscoe, if you're not exceeding the power limits of your 245(e.g. experiencing audible distortion on brief peaks), then you're fine. Adding more unused power in the form of a separate amplifier isn't cost-effective.

F1nut

Warning: Anti Audio Hifi Insurgent sighting.

ben62670

John K. wrote:

Roscoe, if you're not exceeding the power limits of your 245(e.g. experiencing audible distortion on brief peaks), then you're fine. Adding more unused power in the form of a separate amplifier isn't cost-effective.

Warning... listening to comments like this is sure to cause the spreading of stupidity.

Ron Temple

roscoe1972 wrote:

I appreciate all the advice, I just got a little discouraged when I saw the price of a "good" sub.

There's been a couple of good deals on the FM for subs. Keep looking and be patient, just be prepared to move quickly. If you were local you could pickup a DIY that will eat most ID subs for breakfast for a song.

cfrizz

JohnK, why don't you go join the crackpots over at Audioholics! You will fit in perfectly with those whack jobs!

snow

cfrizz wrote:

JohnK, why don't you go join the crackpots over at Audioholics! You will fit in perfectly with those whack jobs!

AVS is as bad maybe even worse. Some of the posts i have read over there by people that have 10k plus posts are amazingly idiotic. I am astounded that by the time it took to get ten thousand + posts that they havent learned basic audio 101 stuff. And your right cathy even if you are listening at low volumes the sound is better with a decent external amp. And if you have speakers that are hard to drive it becomes a necessity. The cheapest way to find out for yourself is to beg, borrow, steal a decent minimum 200wpc amp from a friend or audio shop, listen to a few albums and a movie or two. Then you will understand the difference for yourself. REGARDS SNOW