Poll: Pre amp/power amp VS AV receiver

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Comments

  • zx_toth
    zx_toth Posts: 417
    edited April 2009
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    I have gone the AVR/Amp route for my system and will be stuck like that for some time as I blew my upgrade nut for the next two years on my SDA-1c's. LSI15's and my Sunfire. Now my system sounds as sexy as it looks... in fact if I could sleep with it I woody:D

    yes your system has grown leaps and bounds over the last little while. It is time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor ... or rather the labor you still have to do to pay off your credit card that you put these on ;)

    Z
    My Home Theater Rig
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  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited April 2009
    Without reading the other posts, because I don't care :p it's my ears, my system, seperates all the way baybe! I don't need HT, only a two-channel casa here, that's my story and I'm sticking 2 it ;)
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2009
    stuwee wrote: »
    Without reading the other posts, because I don't care :p it's my ears, my system, seperates all the way baybe! I don't need HT, only a two-channel casa here, that's my story and I'm sticking 2 it ;)

    I respect that. But I do have to say that listening to Blu-rays in 2 channel would be a waste. Lossless sound formats...pretty darned good...7.1 unbeatable in HD-sound? On the other hand it sounds like there will not be a Blu-ray player in your future....so you're good!

    But you might want to reconsider the HT option.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited April 2009
    mr2sw21 wrote: »
    Hi I am the Hell who start this poll sorry if this bugs you. I am really new to this world and I can't find any these kind of information in this forum before so I am just curious to see what people playing, just want to know, get more thought and learn more about stereo system.
    Plus I am not a market researcher I am just an Architecture designer. So I am not a sale don't worry.

    Mr2, thanks for informing everyone why. It's a good reason to poll and an apology for the accusation. Whether or not some of these gurus around here know it, this forum is RIGHT for the kind of targeted info cherry picking for polls to extract info from. There are enough market researchers out there who would not be shy about taking advantage of the club members' good will in doing this.

    I know, cause these scumbags try to sell me info from time to time so I can come up with products/product improvements for others to sell you, Xcapri. Ricardo, go audit my posts and report to everyone what ratio of them has been positive contributions to this forum.
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  • mr2sw21
    mr2sw21 Posts: 115
    edited April 2009
    after reviewing all your comments (thanks all) I am thinking to go for a secondary amp (I have the AV receiver Onkyo ht5100 very low end but it doesn't sound that bad) or should I get a new AV receiver? My budget is about 2000 bucks. Should I get Yamaha RX-Z7? Or I should spend the money to the secondary amp and keep the AV receiver that I have.
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  • CALoff
    CALoff Posts: 28
    edited April 2009
    I am using an Onkyo TX-SR600 with no external amp. I didn't even know about separates until this forum. Maybe one day. I guess I'd have to be able to hear the difference and it would have to be substantial. I can't imagine I'd want to go louder than what I currently have...
    Panasonic tc-p0S1, Onkyo TX-SR600 AVR, Definitive Mythos 7, Definitive 7006s, Polk FXi3s, Velodyne CHT12
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited April 2009
    The benefits of separate amplification are far greater than being able to go louder with the volume. Caloff. Do a search about this topic here and find out the benefits.

    Mr2, if your Onkyo is low end, then you don't have preouts in which to add a separate amp.

    So you will either have to get a new receiver & a separate amp, or just go straight to separate prepro and amp.
    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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  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,081
    edited April 2009
    CALoff wrote: »
    I am using an Onkyo TX-SR600 with no external amp. I didn't even know about separates until this forum. Maybe one day. I guess I'd have to be able to hear the difference and it would have to be substantial. I can't imagine I'd want to go louder than what I currently have...

    It's not louder that you'd be going for but MUCH improved dynamics and clarity in what you're listening to. I sat by for a long time watching everyone talking about separate amps and having no idea what I was missing. It won't be until you try a good separate amp that you'll suddenly realize what you've been missing. It doesn't cost much these days to get a good Adcom......


    BTW, AVR/Separate AMP is my current setup and I will probably continue on the way to 7.2 for the same reasons others have already stated in this thread.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, McIntosh C2300, Marantz AV7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Sim Audio Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
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  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,081
    edited April 2009
    mr2sw21 wrote: »
    after reviewing all your comments (thanks all) I am thinking to go for a secondary amp (I have the AV receiver Onkyo ht5100 very low end but it doesn't sound that bad) or should I get a new AV receiver? My budget is about 2000 bucks. Should I get Yamaha RX-Z7? Or I should spend the money to the secondary amp and keep the AV receiver that I have.

    If you want a new surround processor with all of the latest hookups, get a Pioneer SC05 AVR and use it as a pre amp as well as the amp for your surrounds. Buy a good 3 or 5 channel power amp for your front L/R/C speakers. Get some good interconnects and you're all set. You can probably do this for $1,000 to $1,300.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, McIntosh C2300, Marantz AV7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Sim Audio Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
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  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited April 2009
    mr2sw21 wrote: »
    after reviewing all your comments (thanks all) I am thinking to go for a secondary amp (I have the AV receiver Onkyo ht5100 very low end but it doesn't sound that bad) or should I get a new AV receiver? My budget is about 2000 bucks. Should I get Yamaha RX-Z7? Or I should spend the money to the secondary amp and keep the AV receiver that I have.

    Isn't the HT-S5100 an all-in-one package (one of the better ones)? I didn't know it had pre-outs for an external amplifier but could be wrong. Anyway, if it doesn't have pre-outs then you would need a new receiver if you wanted to go the receiver with amplifier route.

    If it does have pre-outs, then you have a couple of choices as you mentioned. You certainly could get an amp and keep your current receiver but there are features on new receivers that yours doesn't have (up-conversion, new audio formats). They may not be a pressing need right now but could be in the future. IF you plan on staying with the S5100 speaker package then you really don't need anything else right now unless you want the newer features. If this is part of a complete upgrade then here's my recommendation:

    For the $2,000 you mentioned, you could get a new receiver and a good amp for the mains and use the receiver power for the center and surrounds. There are a lot of combination's with that amount of money. It depends on what the whole upgrade plan is, and the timing of the upgrade. I don't think you should limit yourself to an either / or choice.
    Sony 60'' SXRD 1080p
    Amp = Carver AV-705THX 5-Channel
    Processor = NAD T747
    Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray
    Main = SDA-1C Studio with RD0s, spikes, XO rebuild, rings, I/C upgrade
    Center=Polk CS10, Surround = Athena Dipoles, Sub= Boston 12HO
    Music/Video Streaming = Netgear NEO550
    TT = Audio Technica
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited April 2009
    AVR paired with power amps to run my speakers. Don't think I'll go back to just AVR again.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • olilugo
    olilugo Posts: 405
    edited April 2009
    Sherardp wrote: »
    AVR paired with power amps to run my speakers. Don't think I'll go back to just AVR again.


    Funny I know exactly what you mean...
    Current HT setup
    Mains: B&W 804s
    Center: Polk CSi5
    Surround: Polk FXi3
    Sub: Velodyne DLS-3750R
    Receiver: Pioneer SC-07
    Amplifier: Sunfire TGA5200
    TV: Sony KDS60A2020
    DBP: Sony DBP-S350
    CDP: Pioneer DV-48AV
    Interconnect cables: SignalCable analog II
    speaker cables: SignalCable Ultra Speaker Cables Bi-wire
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited April 2009
    just save yourself now or

    spend the dough and be happy knowing you have killer sounds with your rigs.

    I like 2 Rigs, 2 Rooms, I like things in two, the Doublemint Twins, the Gabor sisters, bottles of fine Rum to name a few more.

    RT1

    Beware the I-pod people though.
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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
    edited April 2009
    - Receiver + 2-channel amplifier for mains in the home theater.
    - 5.1 pre/pro + 5-channel amplifier in 2nd HT.
    - 2-ch pre + 2-ch amp with 2-channel system, but this system will get incorporated into 2nd HT soon.
    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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