Bridgeable Onkyo Amps

concealer404

As title says....

I've brought this up in passing from time to time, but here's the situation, i want to finally find my definite answer.

I have an Oinker M-5150. 150wpc, it's not really a slouch, and i love the way it sounds with both the Paradigms and Polks, and it's very unlikely that i will venture away from either company anytime soon in the speaker department. I've tried numerous Adcom amps on any of my speakers and it just didn't sound as good.

The Oinker isn't bridgeable. Someone in a past thread alluded that some of the older Onkyo amps ARE bridgeable. Does anyone know of any that i should be looking for? Looking for 200w+ in bridged mode. I would just get one of the old Onkyo Integras but they seem to cap out at 170wpc if i remember correctly, and still aren't bridgeable.

Call it the bug. None of my speakers sound underpowered to my ears with this amp, but i just can't help but wonder. Especially now with a new set ot 11TLs on the way.

I appreciate any help!

heiney9

Bridging amps is overrated. The extra 50wpc you seem to get will make little to no difference, especially running an easy load like the M7. Bridging usually causes more distortion and stability issues.

IMO, not worth it especially for std push/pull mass produced amps.

Right now I'm running 30wpc in the main rig with 1C's and 15wpc in the computer rig with 5B's. I have no complaints at all. If you want to step it up start looking at a higher end amp, not trying to bridge a mediocre amp. Yes, I said mediocre because IMO, Onkyo of any vintage is mediocre compared to the "big boys".

H9

P.s. I'll qualify my advice based on a person not wanting to achieve extremely high and uncomfortable SPL's. If you're simply interested in ear splitting SPL's and don't really care about sound quality or listening pleasure, get yourself some very powerful and cheap pro amps and have at it.

concealer404

^I appreciate the advice.

It's not for the M7s, though. I have no doubts that i could overpower them grossly with the amp the way it sits. The Paradigms seem like they could take a LOT more, though.

What amps would you recommend on a poor man's budget that would be that large step up? No Adcom or Carver, please. I've tried both, and was not impressed with the way either sounded. Probably a synergy issue, but they didn't sound good at all. I've tried numerous adcoms up to the 555, and a Carver TFM-35, and the Oinker blew them both away.

I've been looking at a Yamaha M-45 for the last couple weeks, trying to decide if i want to try it. It seems like a fairly powerful amp, i'm just worried about synergy issues again. Like i said, i'm EXTREMELY happy with the sound of the amp, i would just like a bit more of it.

heiney9

Yamaha is either a lateral move or a step down. Again, IMO. I've never come across a Yamaha amp or receiver that even sounded remotely good. On a budget? What budget? You gotta pay to play unfortunately. Pass, Bryston, Aragon, B & K, BAT, maybe a higher line Parasound, Classe, Forte, Threshold, Musical Fidelity, Belles, Odyssey......to name a few.

Yammy's puke their guts routinely w/ moderately difficult loads, not what I ever term a high current or high power amp regardless of what the rating on paper state.

Sorry if I'm to the point.........been around this stuff for awhile, sold alot of this stuff at the retail level and these are just my personal observations. The best of course is personal experience with as many pieces and types of gear possible. And SYNERGY can be a ****!

Good luck

H9

concealer404

heiney9 wrote: »

Yamaha is either a lateral move or a step down. Again, IMO. I've never come across a Yamaha amp or receiver that even sounded remotely good. On a budget? What budget? You gotta pay to play unfortunately. Pass, Bryston, Aragon, B & K, BAT, maybe a higher line Parasound, Classe, Forte, Threshold, Musical Fidelity, Belles, Odyssey......to name a few.

Yammy's puke their guts routinely w/ moderately difficult loads, not what I ever term a high current or high power amp regardless of what the rating on paper state.

Sorry if I'm to the point.........been around this stuff for awhile, sold alot of this stuff at the retail level and these are just my personal observations. The best of course is personal experience with as many pieces and types of gear possible. And SYNERGY can be a ****!

Good luck

H9

Synergy IS a ****. That's why i was trying to stay Onkyo, M-series if even possible, because they're the first thing that actually sounded GOOD in my rig. Smooth (the adcoms all sounded really grainy), plenty of slam (carver was lacking in this to me), and still warm enough that i don't get any fatigue even at higher volumes.

But i guess i'll just start playing and see where it gets me. There's a S.U.M.O/GAS or whatever amp on the local CL that might be worth trying. I liked the way my old Dynacos sound, but they're just too weak.

As for budget.... I'm not really sure. I'm hesitant to dump a ton of money into an amp until i find the speakers that i want to stick with for a very long time. Nik and i had a conversation about this for an hour or two, and we think that the law of diminishing returns would own me pretty hard.

concealer404

Whoops... misread the power ratings on the M-45. Doesn't look like it's any more powerful, other than it's 4ohm "certified." Only 180wpc at 4ohms... looks weaker than my Oinker. Hmmm... back to drawing board.

I'll run through the list you gave me and see what it gets me.