Newbee needs amp advice .

Dabutcher
Dabutcher Posts: 2,596
edited March 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
I am fairly new to HT set ups and anything beyond basic stereo setups. I have never owned an Amp for home use.Seems like everyone here has dedicated amps and uses receivers for their pre amps. I want a 5.1 set up .I thought of getting an Adcom GSP-560 for center and rears and getting a bigger powered amp for fronts?Is this a good idea or should I go the Emotiva 7.1 route instead? Or can I get a good two channel amp for two fronts and let the Marantz cover the rest? As always ,I really value this website and your input. Thank you,Darryl
MIT Magnum MH-750, Monster HTS 5100MKII, Sony 77" Class - A80CJ Series - 4K UHD OLED,PS4, Def Tech 15” sub,LSIM 706c, Sunfire Signature Grand 425 x 4,Parasound hca 120, LSiM 702 x 4, Oppo 103D, SDA SRS 1.2, Pioneer Elite SC63 , Pioneer Elite BDP-05 “Why did you get married if you wanted big speakers?”
Post edited by Dabutcher on
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Comments

  • jaxwired
    jaxwired Posts: 201
    edited March 2010
    Why are you posting in the 2 channel forum? This is for people that want a system with only 2 channels. You want more than 2 channels. Seems to be a disconnect. Maybe this will help, 2 < 5
    2 Channel
    NAD C545 -> Benchmark DAC1 -> Bryston BP6 -> Bryston 4B SST2 -> Dynaudio Contour S1.4
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited March 2010
    Those monitor speakers are pretty easy to drive with a receiver. Why do you want/need an amp ? Save the coin and upgrade the speaks first.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited March 2010
    I have always wanted to send more power to my 70's as well and until about two weeks ago I didn't realize how much better they could sound than they do now. In 2 ch. mode hooked up to a beast of a Jungson amp and a buffer they sounded amazing, almost like new speakers. Keep in mind that an amp will help you more in 2 ch. than it will in HT, but it will benifit you some. Adcom makes great products and they are recommended her on the Forum quite a bit. Emotiva is kind of a 4 letter word to some here, but they build quality, budget friendly amps. Many users here have them and only have good things to say about them. You could get a 5 ch amp and run them all off one amp or buy a 2 ch and a 3 ch and run them together. It's all up to budget and what you are looking to accomplish. Space can be an issue too as some amps tend to be on the beefy side. Hope this helps.


    -Jeff
    HT Rig
    Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's :D
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
    Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
    T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3


    2 CH rig (in progress)
    Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:

    It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited March 2010
    They real place you'll notice the difference most is in 2 channel.

    But if you're interested in HT...buy a good 3 channel amp for the L/C/R front speakers and power 'everything' else with that Marantz...that unit has decent power!

    Or just buy a good 5 channel and be done with it...you will then be able to upgrade your speakers when and if that time comes!

    Actually, for HT the M series is 'fine' and, as said above, very 'efficient'!

    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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  • Dabutcher
    Dabutcher Posts: 2,596
    edited March 2010
    Thank again guys. I am so glad I found Polk Audio! My wifey isn't so impressed with the new five speakers. Her sister has the Bose set up. This blows that out of the water. I have kept the living room set up to five book shelf A/D/S speakers. So what the?
    MIT Magnum MH-750, Monster HTS 5100MKII, Sony 77" Class - A80CJ Series - 4K UHD OLED,PS4, Def Tech 15” sub,LSIM 706c, Sunfire Signature Grand 425 x 4,Parasound hca 120, LSiM 702 x 4, Oppo 103D, SDA SRS 1.2, Pioneer Elite SC63 , Pioneer Elite BDP-05 “Why did you get married if you wanted big speakers?”
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited March 2010
    Emotiva & Outlaw Audio are good, inexpensive amps. There are a lot of variables; what is your budget? What size is your listening room? How picky are you?:D
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
    Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
    Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
    Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
    Carver AL-III Speakers
    Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
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  • jaxwired
    jaxwired Posts: 201
    edited March 2010
    wutadumsn23 wrote: »
    Emotiva is kind of a 4 letter word to some here, but they build quality, budget friendly amps. Many users here have them and only have good things to say about them.

    This comment is not about Emotiva specifically, but I'd take comments from existing owners of any gear with a grain of salt. It's what they say AFTER they switch to other equipment that is much more revealing. People will overlook flaws in gear they currently own, either subconciously, or consciously. I'm talking most people here, not all people, but in general people will tout and defend the gear they own. Everybody wants to think they got a good deal and have great equipment. But, I've seen many times, people post complaints after they sell and move on. If you took a poll of how many people think their current gear is great in value and peformance, the number would be very high.
    2 Channel
    NAD C545 -> Benchmark DAC1 -> Bryston BP6 -> Bryston 4B SST2 -> Dynaudio Contour S1.4
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  • superjunior
    superjunior Posts: 1,632
    edited March 2010
    cnh wrote: »
    They real place you'll notice the difference most is in 2 channel.

    But if you're interested in HT...buy a good 3 channel amp for the L/C/R front speakers and power 'everything' else with that Marantz...that unit has decent power!

    cnh

    +1 ^^^ This is how I have my system set up and I'm very happy with it
    panasonic th-50pz85u
    pioneer elite vsx-92txh
    pioneer elite bdp-05fd
    emotiva xpa-3
    monster power hdp 2550
    sa 8300 hd dvr
    sda 2b's
    fronts - rti a9's
    center - csi a6
    surrounds - fxi a6's
    sub - polk dsw pro 600
    harmony one
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  • domflane
    domflane Posts: 653
    edited March 2010
    Find yourself a nice used 5 channel power amp and be done with it. It will bring new life to your HT. What do you primarily use your system for, music or HT? If it's music, you may want to go the separate 2 ch / 3 ch route. I definately recommend external amplification if you can afford it. Almost any decent brand name amp will outperform the amp section of an AVR.
    Home Theater
    RTiA5 - CSiA6 - FXiA6 - PSW650 - Pioneer Elite SC-55 - Carver AV-505 - Sony 46" 120Hz - Monster HP 2400 - Xbox 360 - Playstation 3
    2 Channel
    Polk RTA 15TL - Harman Kardon HK3485 - HK DVD48 - Signal Cable IC's and speaker cables
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