Recommended 7 channel x200w Amp

kuntasensei wrote: »

I've got two Parasounds (HCA-2003 and 1206) and an Adcom (GFA-5503) in the closet that say otherwise. $1,300+ worth of no freakin' warranty right there, taking up space, not to mention what I spent trying to have them fixed. Just sayin'!

That's an easy fix... you need better karma! joke. Your situation is rare, but a reality nonetheless and worth consideration for the the OP.

rdb2001 wrote: »

Reliability of a car is not subjective like this hobby. I dont care how you spin it, it is not the same. Hyndai and Kia have for the most part been at the bottom when it comes to reliability and Acura is always at the top.

May want to ask JD Power about that.
Budget and entry brands like Hyundai, Kia and Scion have been stepping up their game greatly the last few years...so much so that they have surpassed a lot of those "premium" brands in reliability ratings.

ZLTFUL wrote: »

I had $25k to spend. Wanted to pay cash and not have to worry about a payment. $25k cash won't buy you a new Lexus, Infiniti, etc etc. But it will buy you a new Sonata.
Or it will buy you a certified pre owned Acura with extended warranty.

25k cash will not buy you a new acura either. But it will buy you a used car from any of those premium brands. I guess you were looking at new vs used options.

It's amazing how quickly this thread got sidetracked and became about cars. :razz:

sarvic wrote: »

this was another possibility:
http://us.marantz.com/us/products/pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=AVSeparates&ProductId=MM8077

sarvic wrote: »

I probably won't be getting a receiver yet for my theater room til next year sometime. If I had to get one now, it would be probably the Denon AVR-4520 although I did look at that Pioneer SC-68. The Marantz AV8801 looked nice but i'd need an amp for that one.Just looking into my options is all.

Looking at those choices, do you plan to go 9.2 or 11.2 at some point? If not you could go with the Marantz AV7701 pre (refurb $1199 @ Acc4Less) + MM8077 7-ch (used $1500 @ ebay) both for $2699 total shipped.

The LSiM speakers are rated at 8 Ohms (center measured 3.5 Ohm min), w/ 88 dB efficiency. The MM8077 should be fine given that the speakers will be crossed over at 80Hz I would guess., it did fine at 4 Ohm test: http://www.hometheater.com/content/marantz-av8801-surround-processor-amp-mm8077-amplifier


If the OP plans to run full tilt, that B-Stock Outlaw 7700 for $1799 might be the ticket for a few hundred more.



as far as cars.....a new Hyundai Equus vs. used top of the line Lexus, Benz, Acura, BMW, Infiniti, Audi would seem like an easy choice for many...go with the proven used lux brands. However, with the improved quality of the Korean brand and the value over competing new models some might take a test drive.

cfrizz wrote: »

I would NOT be risking my expensive speakers on "should be." I would rather spend the extra money and get more power to cover everything. It's better to have the power and not need it rather than need it (after damage is done) and not have it.

Wait a minute.....We are talking about critical audio components for a critical audio listener correct? There is nothing in the specs of the LSiM line or the MM8077 that would state that they won't work together. Especially given the fact that a person with a critical ear will have the control of the volume. The same hold true for a more rubust amp.....


Nevertheless, by looking at third party test one an see that the Polks dop down some in impedance and the Marantz was tested at 4 Ohms.....all values that the manufactures don't really list.

tonyb wrote: »

Testing an amp for a 4 ohm load is a short process. The manufacturer may not list it as 4 ohm capable because in practical use it's a much longer time span the amp has to run at 4 ohm loads which it may not be able to handle. A sign of a not very robust power supply if you ask me.

It depends on which testing you are talking about. The testing run by reviewers maybe short, but the test required for FTC is not. Amplifiers that would be capable of driving into 4 ohms in real world conditions without a problem may fail during the preconditioning required for the FTC testing. Since 4 ohm claims for continuous power in the US would be based on FTC claims, it would not be listed then.

I have not seen the full impedance and phase angle by frequency plot for any of the LSiM series, so it is hard to know for sure how hard they are to drive. I would tend to take Polk at their word that these speakers are not too hard to drive. (At PolkFest they drove a full set of seven off a Marantz receiver at volumes as loud as I would ever need.) Having one dip to 3.5 ohms is not inconsistent with any normal nominal 8 ohm speaker as long as the phase angle is reasonable in that range. Unless you plan to listen to test tones in that range at loud volumes, it is unlikely to cause any problems.

moodyman wrote: »

Please enlighten us as to what "inferior" parts Emotiva uses...

Time to make my popcorn and settle in for a "fun" friday night debate

Attachment not found.

sarvic wrote: »

So has anyone tested both the Outlaw 7700 and the Sunfire 7201 to compare either one?

Yes my buddy has the Outlaw and I have the Sunfire in my dedicated room. Sunfire is going to be easier to handle, other than that they both perform very well. It's really a choice of which you want. I also owned the Outlaw monoblocks and performed really well for me. Both have a very good sound, produce tons of power, and should do exactly what you need. Outlaw will have good customer service, my buddy had to send his in for repair once.

If you decide to go ICEAmps then consider D-Sonic or Wyred4Sound. I have a 1000S on my fronts and at 525wpc it produces tons of power in a small chasis. With the IceAmps you can custom configure the modules as you desire. 250/500 for the front stage, less power for rear/surrounds. Cost will be a tad more, but you certainly have the budget for it.

sarvic wrote: »

What do you mean by "easier to handle"?

I am guessing he is referring to the weight. The Outlaw is 93lbs while the sunfire is 43lbs.

The Sunfire was the only 5 channel amp that I could lift at the time that I got it, which is why I got it. It has powered all of my speakers beautifully and stays nice and cool.