5 Channel Amp....Decisions

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Texas42
Texas42 Posts: 413
edited March 2008 in Electronics
I'm looking for a decent 5 channel amp for my home theater. Will either be using a pair of LSi-25s with LSi Center or a pair of Gallo Reference 3.1s with Gallo center (I switch them in and out all the time). I have the separate Gallo sub amp to power the woofers so in essence I probably don't need a lot of brute force as the LSi's are also powered on the bass. AV123 has an Emotiva amp that looks promising (model LPS-1 which is 125X5), but I've never auditioned one nor know anyone that has one. Used market is also a possibility and considering B&K, Rotel, NAD, etc. Anyone with any experience with any of these amps with these speakers? Or perhaps other ideas? Thanks, in advance...
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  • sbpolk
    sbpolk Posts: 644
    edited March 2008
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    AV123? Haven't been involved in Emotiva for quite some time now.

    The current Emotiva darling is the XPA-5. It just started shipping last week. It is a powerhouse amp, and is getting very positive reviews so far.

    Check out emotivalounge.com.
    "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." George Orwell
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited March 2008
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    Parasound 2205a
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited March 2008
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    Best amp I ever heard with the LSis was a Earthquake Cinenova Grande. Parasound gear was a very good match, so was B&K. For the Gallos the Cinenova was great as well, but the higher powered icepower units did better. The Rotel I tried was good with both but not great. Of course all of this like any audio decision is IMO and YMMV.

    I didn't try my LSi setup with a whole lot of amps, but did with my Gallos. Pick the speakers first then the amp.
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited March 2008
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    You can usually find quite a few Sunfires on Audiogon Las.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited March 2008
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    Another Gallo Punk. :) Welcome.

    Gaara has tried every amp ever made on his Gallo's. :p
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited March 2008
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    venomclan wrote: »
    Gaara has tried every amp ever made on his Gallo's. :p

    I'm working on it, thinking about amping the 2nd voice coil again, so thats another round of amps to try.

    Texas, I know this isn't a WTB but if you are interested I have a Rotel 5ch amp for sale as well as a Cinenova which I haven't posted yet. I would suggest you figure out the speaker situation first though before making any decisions.

    P.S. I'm confused on your situation, you don't have both LSis and Gallos do you?
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • Texas42
    Texas42 Posts: 413
    edited March 2008
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    Yes, I have the gallo 3.1s, LSi-25s, LSi-15s, LSi-C, Gallo Center and Gallo SA Amp (for the second voice coil on the woofers). Right now I have my Gallos in my two channel room with a Mac Amp and Odyssey Tempest Preamp but have a few pair of two way speakers for that room as well so might move the Gallos into my main HT room. Either way, I probably need to divest myself of the LSi-25s or 15s. Which Rotel amp do you have? Feel free to pm me.

    Regards,

    Dave
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited March 2008
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    Emotiva XPA-5 outstanding bang for the buck and great reviews. Here's a link to one from Affordable Audio Web magazine. Be warned though this file is a pdf and is 13 MB large. Worth a look though.

    http://www.emotiva.com/aa2008-03.pdf
    SDA-1C (full mods)
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited March 2008
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    Gaara wrote: »
    I'm working on it, thinking about amping the 2nd voice coil again, so thats another round of amps to try.

    Oh no, now we will have another crossover flipping thread...at least the Gallos are staying. :)
    Texas42 wrote: »
    Yes, I have the gallo 3.1s, LSi-25s, LSi-15s, LSi-C, Gallo Center and Gallo SA Amp (for the second voice coil on the woofers). Right now I have my Gallos in my two channel room with a Mac Amp and Odyssey Tempest Preamp but have a few pair of two way speakers for that room as well so might move the Gallos into my main HT room. Either way, I probably need to divest myself of the LSi-25s or 15s. Which Rotel amp do you have? Feel free to pm me.
    Regards,
    Dave

    So I take it the Gallos will no longer be used for 2 channel? I always wanted to try a Mac amp on the Gallos.
    Venom
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  • Texas42
    Texas42 Posts: 413
    edited March 2008
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    Well, I got a sweet new pair of Sunfire CRM-2s that I am breaking in with my 2 channel rig (6 foot folded ribbon driver in a very small speaker that sound....amazing). I can flip back and forth with the Gallos in either my HT rig or back to 2 channel. The SA amp is in my HT rack as I don't need a lot of bass in my 2 channel room (I have a Polk DSW Pro600 in there already). The Mac amp (MC7300) sounds perfect with the Gallos with all the umpf! one needs and a touch of warmth on the top end.
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  • hockeyboy
    hockeyboy Posts: 1,428
    edited March 2008
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    Expensive but worth it. I love mine.

    http://sunfire.com/TGA5400.html

    or this

    http://sunfire.com/TGA5200.html
    My Main Gear
    Mitsu HC5000 (Proj.)
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited March 2008
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    Texas42 wrote: »
    The Mac amp (MC7300) sounds perfect with the Gallos with all the umpf! one needs and a touch of warmth on the top end.
    Mac does make a few multi-channel amps. If you don't care about meters, you can find one on ebay or agon for around $1500.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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