With an Ext Amp do I need a Powerful AV Receiver ??

buccidiego · June 2010

I'm working on geeting all the gear for my HT. Just got a Parasound 2205AT.
Heard a lot of good things about it...

Now I need to pull the trigger on an AV Receiver.

After reading some reviews/comments/other people experiences, I got attracted by the Elite line from Pioneer.

I have some doubts though... Pioneer have just released the new line of Elite Receivers. I will need pre-outs to be able to connect my extarnal amp, right?

So the ones with pre-outs are the SC-37, SC-35, VSX-33 and VSX32.

The main difference I see on the SC series is that they are more powerful (140wpc to the 110wpc of the VSX), and also have the ICE amp.

If I already have an Ext Amp (2205AT), is there any need for a more powerful AVR? Or I can just go with the smaller ones?

Is there a way to use the power of both the AVR AND the External Amp to drive my front speakers RTi12 ?
If there is a way, then getting more power may be beneficial?

Any recommendation/thought?
Thanks

buccidiego · June 2010

Does anybody have opinions on the Pioneer Elite Series? and on the new models?

Ron Temple · June 2010

My thinking is that if the amp goes down, then I want the AVR to be able to stand in until I get it fixed or replaced. I've been considering the SC series in lieu of a dedicated pre/pro for some time due to my speakers representing a real load and the ICE amps would be a real plus.

That said, I've been using an HK for a pre/pro that I paid less than $250 for for 4 years and other than having to swap out a couple, has been doing the job very well. However, I've been swapping in 2 channel amps whenever I've had an issue with these old/used suckers.

BlueFox · June 2010

Ron Temple wrote: »

My thinking is that if the amp goes down, then I want the AVR to be able to stand in until I get it fixed or replaced.

Yes indeed. I was just getting ready to post that.

Of course, I already had the AVR before I bought the amp, so it is a no-brainer for me. However, I can understand if someone might be reluctant to spend the money for a spare that might never be used.

bluecomet · June 2010

I would buy a receiver that has all the bells and whistles you want on it and let the amp do the work. The receiver is really just a pre-amp in a HT setup when using a HT amplifier. At least that is how I think of it. I use a Lsi speaker HT system so I need the 4 ohm amp. If you are using 8 ohm speakers then I could see you wanting a powerfull AVR. The thing is if you are spending the money on a Power HT amp then any AVR is not really going to be what you want and you will eventually buy or fix the amp. Any descent AVR putting out 100 watts or more would hold you over in case something happens to your amp. I would make a check list and find out what you want in a HT sytem and then find the receiver that has pre outs and fits the bill. Just my opinion.

buccidiego · June 2010

So this means that I can not add the Power from the AVR and the Ext Amp together to drive the RTi12, right? I have to run them with one OR another, correct?

Those speakers are rated at 500 wpc, are the 220wpc from the 2205AT or the 140wpc from the Elite enough? Will I need more than that?

Probably what I need os to get the Elite AVR with 7x140 wpc and then a 2 channel 500wpc external amp to run my RTi12, replacing my 5 x 220wpc...I don't know

Ron Temple · June 2010

buccidiego wrote: »

So this means that I can not add the Power from the AVR and the Ext Amp together to drive the RTi12, right? I have to run them with one OR another, correct?

Those speakers are rated at 500 wpc, are the 220wpc from the 2205AT or the 140wpc from the Elite enough? Will I need more than that?

Probably what I need os to get the Elite AVR with 7x140 wpc and then a 2 channel 500wpc external amp to run my RTi12, replacing my 5 x 220wpc...I don't know

Don't confuse the power handling capability of a speaker with the need to provide that much power. My 1Cs are also rated to 500 watts, but when the needles on my Carver are bouncing between 100-150, the drivers are bouncing and my eyes are watering. I'm afraid to give it more gain. I put the SPL meter on it once and I was getting peaks in the 110db range. What you want is high current and plenty of headroom for dynamics, but in real world application you won't be tapping the Parasound's max output.

dekuda · June 2010

I just ordered the Marantz sr7002 for half price on Amazon. They also have the Marantz sr 8002 for half price. I also have the RTi12's like you which I am cyrrently powering a Carver TFM 35x with. I will audition a Parasound HCA 1500 to drive the fronts and see if there are any improvements. I have read over 100 pages of review for the Marantz SR7002 and SR 8002 on avs(google sr7002 sr8003) and believe this will be a good pre for me and will use the avr amp to power my center and surround. I went with the Marntz because of features(latest codec, music quality which many said beat the Pioneers and the half off price at Amazon with free shipping and being a authorized dealer with a 3year warranty. I had a Marantz in the past and in my opinion they are better in music quality than Denon,Pioneer and Nad.

___________________________

Yamaha RX-V2600 AVR
Carver TFM35X Amp
Rotel RCC-1055 Cd Player
Pioneer BD320 Blue Ray
Samsung 52” LCD
Mains Polk RTi12’s
Center Polk CSi5
Rears Infinity Alpha 25ES
Subs Mirage Omni S 10’s (2)

buccidiego · June 2010

Those Marantz are pre/pros or are AV Receivers? Which is the difference?
I would use one OR another in my HT right? Or I can use both?

buccidiego · June 2010

The issue that I see with the Marantz is that it seems that they cannot handle 3D signal yet??

kawizx9r · June 2010

Real quick to explain a few things;
A preamp or processor component simply controls the volume/inputs/etc. and decodes/processes formats such as Dolby Digital/etc. for home theater (where applicable).

An AVR (aka receiver) on the other hand will have a built-in pre/pro AND amplifier. Honestly, if you've already got an external amp I'd suggest in purchasing a dedicated pre/pro. There's just something about the quality of audio reproduced by separate components that can't easily be matched by AVR's. I'm not saying that it's not possible, you'll simply have to dish out some extra $$$ for a good AVR.

Though I will have to agree that if your amp does go down, it'd be nice to have an AVR to power your speakers in the meantime.

Really, it's all up to you to decide what you want out of your rig.

-Freddy

kawizx9r · June 2010

And as another suggestion, hold off on the 3-D for now!

You'll need a newer model AVR if you want to to hook it up with a 3-d capable blu-ray player (utilizing HDMI 1.4).

With an Ext Amp do I need a Powerful AV Receiver ??

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