Adding a second Amp. What would you do?

jbooker82
jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
edited October 2011 in Electronics
I have thought about looking for a second amplifier. I am currently running a Carver A-753X 250wpc x3. It powers my two RTI A7's and CSI A4.

Would you go for a Carver A-500x 250wpc x2 or a Carver A-760x 380wpc x 2? I would probably use the A-500x to power my surrounds. If i got the A-760x i would use it to power my two RTI A7's and use the 3 channel A-753x to power my CSI A4, and FXI A4's.

Will I gain much by go with a 380 wpc for my front two towers over running them at 250 watts now?

Thanks fo your time.
AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
Rear: FXI A4
Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
Post edited by jbooker82 on
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Comments

  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,502
    edited October 2011
    I really wish the industry could come up with a new honest way to define the sustained quality power that an amplifier can deliver into the listning space through a speaker.

    You can talk 2X this and 3X that all day and it's basically meaningless. There are 2X30 tube designs that bury 2X1000 pro audio gear, so the 2X, 3X equations are essentially meaningless.

    What exactly are you trying to accomplish?
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,980
    edited October 2011
    Stick with what you have..
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,687
    edited October 2011
    jbooker82 wrote: »
    Will I gain much by go with a 380 wpc for my front two towers over running them at 250 watts now?

    Not really and you could unbalance your front 3 as well.

    Stay with the 3 channel amp for your front 3. Keep the AVR for your surrounds. If your amp is anything like my Carver its got LED lights on the front. Unless your constantly seeing them go on (which indicates you've maxed out that channel on the amp) you shouldn't need any more headroom/wattage than you have.

    Hell I have a Carver 705x which is a 5 channel that is rated for 125 watts x 5 channels and even my LSi's havent tripped it yet even when listening at near ear bleeding levels.........

    BUT just because you dont need it, doesnt mean you dont want it. I personally want better amplification for my setup but I am going for a 5 channel amp rather than 3 as they are a bit easier to find.

    So to sum it all up, if you want to switch amps go for it, but I would keep the wattage the same for each of your front 3. And doing that with a 2 channel amp + 1 channel amp is a lot harder. So if your thinking of driving all 5 of your speakers with 2 different amps, maybe just sell your current one and get 1 really nice 5 channel amp, though I think your surrounds dont need external amplification.....
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited October 2011
    Well the amp that I have i am completly happy with it. I plan on keeping it. I just thought about getting a second amp to get my surrounds off the AVR.

    That way I would have all speakers being driving off external amplifiers, and I want to keep all the speakers being powered by the same series of carver amps. A-753x, and A-500x, or A-760x

    I was just wonding if you guys would add a a 2 channel amp of the same power 250 x2 for the rears or should I look for a higher powered amp for my front two towers, and use my 3 channel amp for the center and two surrounds. Ethire way the amplifier would be from the same series and have the same spec's. The A-500x would be rated at the same wattage as my current A-753x. The A-760x would be rated at 380 wpc x 2.
    AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
    Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
    Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Rear: FXI A4
    Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
    Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
    IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited October 2011
    Either get another 2 channel 250wpc amp for your rears, or sell it and get a 5 channel amp. You will notice a significant improvement to your rear speakers. They respond to addtl power just as well as the fronts do.

    I have never agreed with treating the rear speakers like second class citizens.
    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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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,687
    edited October 2011
    jbooker82 wrote: »
    Well the amp that I have i am completly happy with it. I plan on keeping it. I just thought about getting a second amp to get my surrounds off the AVR.

    That way I would have all speakers being driving off external amplifiers, and I want to keep all the speakers being powered by the same series of carver amps. A-753x, and A-500x, or A-760x

    I was just wonding if you guys would add a a 2 channel amp of the same power 250 x2 for the rears or should I look for a higher powered amp for my front two towers, and use my 3 channel amp for the center and two surrounds. Ethire way the amplifier would be from the same series and have the same spec's. The A-500x would be rated at the same wattage as my current A-753x. The A-760x would be rated at 380 wpc x 2.

    I wouldn't add another amp to your setup if your happy with your front three. Your speakers are all 8 ohm loads and your AVR should be fine handling just the FXi A4's. Surrounds dont normally need that much wattage unless you listen to lots of multichannel SACD's and even then with those particular speakers I wouldnt worry about it.

    I would think about adding another amp ONLY if you were running towers (like the A9's) AND did lots of SACD listening that utilizes those surround channels lots.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited October 2011
    Yea I deffinatly dont want to cause an imballance between my front 3 speakers. I just thought it would be nice to have external amp power to the 2 surrounds. I was thinking if it would be worth it to upgrade the towers to more power and use my current amp for the center and 2 surrounds. It sounds like keeping the front three powered by the A-753x and getting a A-500x for the surrounds is the way to go.

    I am just going to keep my eye open. See if I can get a good deal some where vs going out and pay a premium to have it now. If I can snag one at a good price then I will.
    AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
    Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
    Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Rear: FXI A4
    Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
    Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
    IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,687
    edited October 2011
    Just get a Sunfire Grand Cinema 450x5 and your pretty much set for life.... till you get 2.......
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited October 2011
    Yea that would be nice, or a Parasound Halo.
    AVR: Onkyo Tx-NR808
    Amplifier: Carver A-753x 250 watts x 3
    Fronts: Polk RTI A7 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Center: CSI A4 (modded by Trey VR3)
    Rear: FXI A4
    Sub: Polk DSW Pro 660wi
    TV: LG Infinia 50PX950 3D
    Speaker Cable: AudioQuest Type 8
    IC: AudioQuest Black Mamba II
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited October 2011
    I would take the Halo over the Sunfire.
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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited October 2011
    Sounds like you got the bug and desparetly need to spend some money. I have the sickness too.
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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    edited October 2011
    Sounds like you got the bug and desparetly need to spend some money. I have the sickness too.
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