What 5 channel amp should I buy?

mark g. nelson · March 2002

I have thought about adding a 5 channel amp to my system. I'm very happy with my system, but I worry about pushing my receiver to hard. With a better power supply that has some head room I think my system will be complete.

What 5 channel amps to you guys recommend. I have looked at the following:

Adcom 7500 - 150x5 8ohm, 225x5 4ohm. I have a connection that will sell me this amp for $800 new.

Outlaw Audio's new 755 - 200x5 8ohm, 300x5 4ohm. This will run me $ 1299 + s/h.

My System:

RT2000p mains
CS1000p center
RT1000i rears
PSW1200 Sub
Panasonic SuperFlat 36"
Pioneer Elite VSX-29TX
Pioneer DVL-909 DVD/LD combo
Panasonic SVHS VCR

Thank You for any help you guys might have.
Mark

hoosier21 · March 2002

First of all I have no experience with either, I can only tell you I have seen around the net.

Adcom = is slightly harsh and has/had build quality issues
Outlaw = only good things written

Like I said all this is hear say, I have no proof.

fabian1 · March 2002

I dont know if you have the new Yamaha rxv 2200 but its a smoothie, and has all the latest technology, check it out bang for bucks nothing beats it, Regards Fabian

dean/klipschead · March 2002

Adcom used to have a little bite on top - but that was back when they used bipolar transistors. They have since went to MOSFETS which are very smooth.

The Adcom is a winner. If you can really get the 7500 for $800 then this is an absolute no brainer. Them Canadians know how to build amps.

Besides - the Outlaw stuff breaks my first rule of audio:

Thou Shalt Not Buy An Ugly Component

http://www.adcom.com/main/gfa_7500.htm

rskarvan · March 2002

Mark,

Can you share your Adcom connection with the rest of us?

Thanks.

Aaron · March 2002

Bryston makes me horny. Gotta love those Canadians.

Aaron

mark g. nelson · March 2002

Thanks for all your reply's.
My connection for the adcom is my local Ultimate Electronics. There is a guy named paul that knows his stuff. Should be the manager in my opinion. I buy all I can from him, and I send all my family and friends to him. He keeps track of how much business I throw him and then Lets me have things on a cost + basis when it adds up. I would be screwed with out his discounts.
Ulitmate sold Polk years ago. But when CC started selling they dropped Polk for Boston. Paul is a Polk head and wishes they would come back.
Paul also said they have had problems with adcom Pre/Pro's but not the Amps.
Is there any other brands I should check out.

dean/klipschead · March 2002

Well there are always other good choices - and if you're not going to consider the cost/performance issue than you can look at:

B&K - which makes some very good stuff. About $1.5K

If you got the money then you can crank thinks up another notch and go with Bryston. About $3K

Buy the Adcom

DarqueKnight · March 2002

The Adcom is a winner. If you can really get the 7500 for $800 then this is an absolute no brainer. Them Canadians know how to build amps.

Dean,

I thought Adcom was an American company based in New Jersey?

Speaking of Canadian amps, I've been thinking of getting a Bryston 14B-ST amp (500 watts into 8 ohms) to drive my SDA 1.2TL's.

Anyone here with any experience with Bryston amps?

Steve@3dai · March 2002

If you're looking for an integrated amp/decoder might check out the Arcam AVR-200. That is what I am gonna buy one of these days...

- Steve

dean/klipschead · March 2002

Adcom is in Marlboro New Jersey

Wow - and all these years I thought they were Canadian.

I own the Bryston 3B-ST. That's the amp I want to put on some LSi9's

mark g. nelson · March 2002

I think I will go get the Adcom. I called Paul and he can get me 12 month free financing.
What cables do you guys use for the pre-outs. (stereo,Digital)

Mark

dean/klipschead · March 2002

Oh no! A cable question!

The kiss of death on any forum.

I use TMC's (Truly Balanced XLR/XLR between my Bryston and SFL-1)

TMC makes a real nice cable.

Buy them here new. Kind of Pricey.

http://www.the-music-cable.com/

You can also bid on a new set or two new sets here:

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?cablintr&1015898404&auc&3&4&
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?cablintr&1015901926&auc&3&4&

Another alternative is to just go to www.audiogoN.com and cruise through the cables section and pick up a good deal on some used ones.

If you get tired of thinking - just get a set of Monster M550i's. It's a very good cable for the money.

wangotango68 · March 2002

please stop the cable train before it gets out of control.

scott:cool:

jmierzur · March 2002

When I was shopping for separate amp/pre-amp combinations, I listened to every manufacturer available locally.

For the performance/price combination, I decided on Rotel. At the time of purchase, my selection (RB-980BX) was on the Stereophile C list of components. This was icing on the cake. The latest version of the amp is the RB-1070.

I also have purchased the RMB-1075. I continue to use the 980 for the front main L+R speakers (will not be replaced until it dies or I can afford a Sim Audio, Classe etc. amp) and use the 1075 for surround channels.

These amps power:

LSi9 front
LSiC center
FX500 surround (will be upgraded to LSi series in future)

These amps are truly high current designs.

Polk speakers are very efficient. Please keep in mind that the amp will only sound as good as the input signal provided. Do not allocate all of your money to a massive amp. 120 high current watts per channel is sufficient unless you have a VERY large room. I have never turned the volume past the 11:00 am position for any speakers (Monitor 10, RT20p and LSi9) I have owned.

A 120 watt per channel amp with a high quality source (pre-amp, pre-amp processor etc.) will perform better than a 200 watt per channel amp with a mediocre source.

Prior speaker arrangement:

RT20p
CS400i
FX500

juice21 · March 2002

lemme know when you are parting with your fx500's...;) i may be able to help with your LSi purchase...

joe logston · March 2002

dose bryston make a 6 channel amp i know they make a 5 channel, or do you have the get 2 -3 channel amps do you have there web site handy. thanks dean
ps i know that bryston is a awesome amp period

billlb · March 2002

MARK: You got a real nice system, I just think you also need more power. I could be wrong but I also heard that adcom has had problems and maybe on there way out. It's worth checking into. I presently own a sherbourn 5/1500 amp and it is quite simply amazing. For you that don't know of there quality---The main man was the big boy from McIntosh need I say more. The owner wanted to come out with quality merchandise at an affordable price. The amp is 5 mono amps built in one chasis and is an easy 80# plus. It is really amazing and has plenty of headroom. It retail for approx. $2000.00 and is underprised. You should be able to pick this up on audiogon or e-bay for maybe $1000-$1200. Just my humble opinion to help you out. Have fun.

goingganzo · March 2002

i cant say the time style turning in my recever caues i can turn it in circles and have any one herd a b&k amp i saw a 7270 for about 2k and you can get the pre for about the same on line

mark g. nelson · March 2002

Thanks for the info.
Mark

What 5 channel amp should I buy?

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