Center Channel Amp

curved
curved Posts: 664
edited September 2008 in Electronics
Is it worth it for me to add a center channel amp? Or do you think my Yami will power it just fine.....I would prefer adcom to match my 555 but noticed that you can't bridge the 545, 535, etc.

Any recs? It will be powering a CSi3 or CSiA4
Living Room:....................[HTML] [/HTML] Zone 2 (Workout Room):
AVR - Yamaha RX-V757......JBL 4312 Pro Monitors
Pre - Nak CA-5
AMP - Adcom 555 (Main)
Main - Polk RTI8**/RTiA5
AMP - Adcom 545II (Center)
Center - Polk CSiA4**
Sub - Snell Basis 300:p......Zone 3 (Outside)
CD - Yamaha CDC-555.......Def Tech AW5500
TV - Pani TH-42PZ80U
BR - LG BD390
Monster HTS1600 Power Center
Dedicated Circuit - (2) 20amp, (1) 15amp
Ben's IC, Canare 4S11
**Dayton and Sonicap Caps with Mills Resistors**
Post edited by curved on
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Comments

  • MADGSF
    MADGSF Posts: 603
    edited September 2008
    I have the CSi-5 and in my case yes it was beneficially to amp the center channel. I wanted to try this which is why I went looking for a 5 channel amp. I found that it helped the center with dialog even at lower volumes. I don't have to turn it up when it's quiet and down when it gets loud anymore to hear.

    Of the two you selected both will be fine. As you know the CSi3 will be, technically, a closer timbre match to your RTi-8s. I suggest you try running off of the AVR first since you have buy the amp for it anyway.
    AVR: Elite VSX-21TXH
    Amplifier: B&K 7250 Series ii
    Misc: Velodyne SMS-1
    Mains: RTi-10
    Center: CSi-5
    Rear: Boston DSi460
    Sub: SVS PC-Ultra
    TV: Panasonic TC-P58V10
    DVD: Panasonic DMP-BD60K
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited September 2008
    Curve I got another Adcom 555 for you
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  • curved
    curved Posts: 664
    edited September 2008
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Curve I got another Adcom 555 for you

    If you still have it in a month, I may take that off your hands :D

    Would that little CSi3 be able to hand it running it bridged? (600w) :eek:
    Living Room:....................[HTML] [/HTML] Zone 2 (Workout Room):
    AVR - Yamaha RX-V757......JBL 4312 Pro Monitors
    Pre - Nak CA-5
    AMP - Adcom 555 (Main)
    Main - Polk RTI8**/RTiA5
    AMP - Adcom 545II (Center)
    Center - Polk CSiA4**
    Sub - Snell Basis 300:p......Zone 3 (Outside)
    CD - Yamaha CDC-555.......Def Tech AW5500
    TV - Pani TH-42PZ80U
    BR - LG BD390
    Monster HTS1600 Power Center
    Dedicated Circuit - (2) 20amp, (1) 15amp
    Ben's IC, Canare 4S11
    **Dayton and Sonicap Caps with Mills Resistors**
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  • curved
    curved Posts: 664
    edited September 2008
    Or I could use each 555 per speaker:D
    Living Room:....................[HTML] [/HTML] Zone 2 (Workout Room):
    AVR - Yamaha RX-V757......JBL 4312 Pro Monitors
    Pre - Nak CA-5
    AMP - Adcom 555 (Main)
    Main - Polk RTI8**/RTiA5
    AMP - Adcom 545II (Center)
    Center - Polk CSiA4**
    Sub - Snell Basis 300:p......Zone 3 (Outside)
    CD - Yamaha CDC-555.......Def Tech AW5500
    TV - Pani TH-42PZ80U
    BR - LG BD390
    Monster HTS1600 Power Center
    Dedicated Circuit - (2) 20amp, (1) 15amp
    Ben's IC, Canare 4S11
    **Dayton and Sonicap Caps with Mills Resistors**
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  • higgins79
    higgins79 Posts: 72
    edited September 2008
    I too was thinking of adding amp for my center as well. I was just thinking of getting one of those outlaw monoblocks. 200 watts, low dollar value and won't take up to much room in my system. Anyway might be a good suggestion for you too.
    TV ................Sony kdl52xbr4
    Reciever ........Denon AVR 988
    Amp -............Monster MPA 2250
    Bluray............Sony PS3 (80gig)
    Hddvd............xbox 360 Hddvd
    Power centers.Monster 3600II & 2600II & 1600 x2
    Voltage..........Monster AVS 2000
    Fronts ...........polk Rti12s
    Center ..........polk Csi5
    Rears.............polk Fxi5s
    Sub ..............Infinity PS12
    cables............Monster / DIY
    Video games...XBOX 360 / Wii
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited September 2008
    Yup Higgins. That's how I started out with amping my center channel, with an Outlaw mono.
    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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  • curved
    curved Posts: 664
    edited September 2008
    I actually was browsing around and saw the Marantz M500. This would probably be a good amp for the price - 125wpc

    It would probably be a good fit for the CSi3 or A4
    Living Room:....................[HTML] [/HTML] Zone 2 (Workout Room):
    AVR - Yamaha RX-V757......JBL 4312 Pro Monitors
    Pre - Nak CA-5
    AMP - Adcom 555 (Main)
    Main - Polk RTI8**/RTiA5
    AMP - Adcom 545II (Center)
    Center - Polk CSiA4**
    Sub - Snell Basis 300:p......Zone 3 (Outside)
    CD - Yamaha CDC-555.......Def Tech AW5500
    TV - Pani TH-42PZ80U
    BR - LG BD390
    Monster HTS1600 Power Center
    Dedicated Circuit - (2) 20amp, (1) 15amp
    Ben's IC, Canare 4S11
    **Dayton and Sonicap Caps with Mills Resistors**
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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
    edited September 2008
    higgins79 wrote: »
    I too was thinking of adding amp for my center as well. I was just thinking of getting one of those outlaw monoblocks. 200 watts, low dollar value and won't take up to much room in my system. Anyway might be a good suggestion for you too.

    Same here - Outlaw M200 to power my CS400 center. May probably move to my Adcom GFA-6000 5-channel eventually.
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited September 2008
    If I were you I would keep the amps for the front and center the same . If you keep the Adcom 555 you got I would look at a 545 or something along that line in the Adcom family.

    You could also sell the 555 and get a Adcom 5503 (200 watts x 3 @ 8 ohms) but those run about the price of 2 adcom 555. No need to bridged amp for the csi a4 600 watts is waaaaaaaaay to much for that center.

    How does it sound when running the center on the avr? I don't think you will notice a big difference with a 555 on that small of a center channel.

    You might want to look into a 5 channel amp. There is a Adcom gfa-7000 (135 watts x 5 @ 8 ohms) on Chicago's craiglist. The guy wants $400.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited September 2008
    Curve I sent you a PM. Check it out.:D
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  • andrew_mac
    andrew_mac Posts: 95
    edited September 2008
    MADGSF wrote: »
    I have the CSi-5 and in my case yes it was beneficially to amp the center channel. I wanted to try this which is why I went looking for a 5 channel amp. I found that it helped the center with dialog even at lower volumes. I don't have to turn it up when it's quiet and down when it gets loud anymore to hear.

    Of the two you selected both will be fine. As you know the CSi3 will be, technically, a closer timbre match to your RTi-8s. I suggest you try running off of the AVR first since you have buy the amp for it anyway.

    Wouldn't CSi5 be a closer timber match to the RTi8? CSi3 has smaller drivers then the 8's. The CSi5 has the same size drivers as the 8's. I would go with a CSi5 center if you have the RTi8's.
    Front - RtiA5's
    Surround - RtiA1's
    Center - CsiA6
    Sub - Velodyne DPS12
    B&K Ref 50 Pre
    Amp - B&K AV5000 II
    Ben's Silver IC's
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  • curved
    curved Posts: 664
    edited September 2008
    I already have the CSi5....however I just got a plasma (going above the fireplace) and had to relocate everything. The CSi5 didn't get the wife's approval as she thought it was way to big to sit on our mantle.

    Hey Lee, would I just use one of the channels when using the 545 or 535? Or am I able to bridge (positive L terminal to positive wire and positive R terminal to negative wire) this amp??? I looked in the manual and it didn't have any info on this.
    Living Room:....................[HTML] [/HTML] Zone 2 (Workout Room):
    AVR - Yamaha RX-V757......JBL 4312 Pro Monitors
    Pre - Nak CA-5
    AMP - Adcom 555 (Main)
    Main - Polk RTI8**/RTiA5
    AMP - Adcom 545II (Center)
    Center - Polk CSiA4**
    Sub - Snell Basis 300:p......Zone 3 (Outside)
    CD - Yamaha CDC-555.......Def Tech AW5500
    TV - Pani TH-42PZ80U
    BR - LG BD390
    Monster HTS1600 Power Center
    Dedicated Circuit - (2) 20amp, (1) 15amp
    Ben's IC, Canare 4S11
    **Dayton and Sonicap Caps with Mills Resistors**
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited September 2008
    curved wrote: »

    Hey Lee, would I just use one of the channels when using the 545 or 535? Or am I able to bridge (positive L terminal to positive wire and positive R terminal to negative wire) this amp??? I looked in the manual and it didn't have any info on this.

    The 545, 535 is not bridgable. I wouldn't get the 535. Stick with the 545 or 555.
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