Multi Channel Amp

jakelm · May 2007

I'm trying to grasp a good idea on what would be a step up from my HK635 in terms of amplification. I have read high and low, but found most amps (in my price range) have equal to or less quality amplification as my HK.

I'm looking for and multi channel amp for at least the front 3 speakers in my HT system, that would be a step up from the HK.

I have found one amp that peaks my interest, a used Adcom GFA 6000. The Adcom is in my price range (~$300-$400) and seems to be in good condition, it has 6 channels. The specs (in terms of wattage to Fr responce) seem to be a bit better than the HK and I have no problem going used. Almost my intire HT is made up of vintage and used.

But in all honesty, with the amount of cash I'm dealing with (WAF), I dont think I will find much that is better than the HK.

Any ideas?

Jake

brijenjas · May 2007

GFA 6000 is only 5 channels, I own one that I will be selling shortly.

100watts @8ohms across the front three channels,
60watts @8ohms back two channels.

150wattts @4 ohms across front three,
100wats @4ohms rear channels.
manual;
http://www.adcom.com/data/manuals/gfa6000manual.pdf

I'm sending you a pm.

Sami · May 2007

If you get 5 channel amp, I would bi-amp the fronts, use the remaining channel on the centre and let the HK do the rest.

McLoki · May 2007

This acurus is in your price range and would be an awesome step up for you. it is a 200x3 amp.

BTW - no affiliation to the seller or the product, but I consider all purchases on Club Polk to be as safe as online gets.

Enjoy,

Michael

Edit - I appologise to all involved parties. I did not see that it was a local sale. (unless south west Mo. is not that far for you....)

TennesseeOutlaw · May 2007

how about a grande cinova 3?

Gaara · May 2007

No offense (I assume you mean the Cinenova Grande 3) but where can you get this amp for $400? Last I checked you could get them used for around $1000 and new for around $1500-$1750.

Jared

jakelm · May 2007

I like Adcom amps.
But I have only heard the 2 channel Adcom.

How do the multi channel Adcoms sound? And how do you all think it would compare to the internal amps of the HK?

I was going to piece meal the set with seperate mono blocks and 2 channel amps, but I would prefer to stay with the same brand and spend less money. Thats why I started looking into multi channel amps.

The Sunfires are very nice, but I think alittle out of my price range.

I did look into the the Acurus, but I would think for the money, the Adcoms would be the prefered way? And also looked into the Rotel, but again..pricey.

I really just want something that will drive my 7b's and front stage with ease and have enough power to drive and upgrade. The 5 channel would work perfect because I have the 4a's as surrounds, they are not that easy to drive and have the same characteristics as the 7's and my center.

jakelm · May 2007

brij, pm sent

jakelm · May 2007

Sami wrote: »

If you get 5 channel amp, I would bi-amp the fronts, use the remaining channel on the centre and let the HK do the rest.

Unfortunatly Sami, my vintage 7b's are not biampable. And I'm not planning on moddifying them for that.

But thanks for all the input.

MSALLA · May 2007

keep your eyes out for an adcom 5503. Most of the time they are over $500 used but I have seen them in your price range.

jakelm · May 2007

MSALLA wrote: »

keep your eyes out for an adcom 5503. Most of the time they are over $500 used but I have seen them in your price range.

Whats the difference between the 5503 and the 6000?

Edit: 3 channel compared to 5 channel. And the 5503 has more wattage.

Are Adcoms high current amps like the HK?

MSALLA · May 2007

jakelm wrote: »

Whats the difference between the 5503 and the 6000?

Edit: 3 channel compared to 5 channel. And the 5503 has more wattage.

Are Adcoms high current amps like the HK?

Plenty of current. 5503 is 200wpc @8 x3

You should jump on that Acurus McLoki was talking about. For $350.00 it's just what your looking for.

Sami · May 2007

jakelm wrote: »

I did look into the the Acurus, but I would think for the money, the Adcoms would be the prefered way? And also looked into the Rotel, but again..pricey.

I wouldn't be so sure. Acurus, if they are anything like their relative Aragon's (both built by Mondial) might be better. I know the Aragon I have is better than any of the Adcom's I have had. B&K could had for cheap, I have AV5000 that I would rate higher than the 5 channel 5400 I had.

I have one Rotel right now (890), it does pretty good job with SDA 1C's although I didn't like it with LSi's and DQ10's that much (it's a bit on the bright side). If you would like to try 2 channel amp, I could ship your way for $220 total but that would only give you 2 channels. I still say use your receiver for surrounds so whether 2 channel is a better choice for you than multichannel, it's debatable. The money you spend on multichannel amp would most likely give you better 2 channel amp and you only use your L/R for music anyways. For movies, the AVR is pretty good by itself.

jakelm · May 2007

Brij has offered me one hell of a deal on the Adcom. I might take him up on it.

As for multi vs. 2 channel. Isn't a multi channel amp just a combination of individual amps like a 2 channel amp? I wouldn't sacrifce anything going with multi channel , would I?

I think any one of those amp would give me a step us from the internal HK amps, agreed?

Although my HK635 is nothing to hang your head over. It does do a great job.

jakelm · May 2007

Micheal, if he were shipping, it would be high on my list.

Sami · May 2007

jakelm wrote: »

Brij has offered me one hell of a deal on the Adcom. I might take him up on it.

Can't really go wrong with one so you should give it a try.

jakelm wrote: »

As for multi vs. 2 channel. Isn't a multi channel amp just a combination of individual amps like a 2 channel amp? I wouldn't sacrifce anything going with multi channel , would I?

You would be paying for those extra channels and since your HK would drive the surrounds and centre w/o a problem, a two channel would be better bang for the buck. For the same price of a 5 channel amp you could step up to a better 2 channel amp IMO.

jakelm wrote: »

I think any one of those amp would give me a step us from the internal HK amps, agreed?

Agreed. I have it's older bigger brother, 7200, and while the power is there it was a step up in sound quality when I first switched to Adcom and then to B&K.

jakelm · May 2007

The only thing that scares me (as I think it scares many people), is to invest money in a piece of equipment for "upgrade" only to find out it is only "just as good" or even "worse" than before.

For instance. I rebuilt an older Hafler dh-200 in hopes that it would out-perform the H/K. And hoping to have it as a seperate stereo amp for music with the HK as pre, but after all the money spent and stinky soldering, I was very dissapointed.

engtaz · May 2007

I run my Denon 4802 with external amps and am very happy with it. Each ext amp has 200 watts a channel.

jakelm · May 2007

After thinking this over, I think I will wait for a more powerfull amp. I was seriously concidering the Adcom Brij was offering, but I dont think this amp would be much of an upgrade from my HK.

I think to make a justified difference in audio quality, I need to find a quality amp with approx 200watts pr chnl x3. The Adcom is very nice, but 75 watts from my HK or 100 watts from the Adcom (with the same specs), I dont see much difference there.

Unless I'm missing something here.

Sami · May 2007

jakelm wrote: »

Unless I'm missing something here.

There should be sonic differences but I'm with you, wait until your budget can get you something better, or per my suggestion try a 2 channel amp. $400 would get you a nice 2ch amp that certainly would be an improvement over the HK.

Phoenix · May 2007

I'm looking for a good three-channel amp to bi-wire and power my speakers. Right now I have the RTI10's as fronts and the CSI3 for the center, I don't want to spend more the 650. so far I was looking at two outlwa mono blocks just to bi-wire the 10's. but if i can find a better deal i will upgrade.
thanks

jakelm · May 2007

Sami wrote: »

There should be sonic differences but I'm with you, wait until your budget can get you something better, or per my suggestion try a 2 channel amp. $400 would get you a nice 2ch amp that certainly would be an improvement over the HK.

I agree about the 2chnl amp, but I am stuck on getting one amp for the 3 front stage speakers. I'm not too excited about mixing amps for the front.

I could always resell the Adcom or use it for something else if it doesnt work out. Maybe a 5.1 outdoor system.....ohhhhh

I'm so confused...lol

Sami · May 2007

jakelm wrote: »

I agree about the 2chnl amp, but I am stuck on getting one amp for the 3 front stage speakers. I'm not too excited about mixing amps for the front.

The sonic difference between the amps should not be that significant when you talk about movies, for music you're not using your centre. Proper calibration and you're good to go.

If the Adcom is coming cheap, you should try it. If it's a 5 channel amp and you can't biamp, just leave the surrounds unused. I'm not electrical engineer and have no clue how that Adcom was designed but using simple logic I would conclude that would leave some of the unused power supply reserve to the front 3.

jakelm · May 2007

Sami wrote: »

The sonic difference between the amps should not be that significant when you talk about movies, for music you're not using your centre. Proper calibration and you're good to go.

If the Adcom is coming cheap, you should try it. If it's a 5 channel amp and you can't biamp, just leave the surrounds unused. I'm not electrical engineer and have no clue how that Adcom was designed but using simple logic I would conclude that would leave some of the unused power supply reserve to the front 3.

Movies are 80% and the only music I am very serious about is SACD. So yes, front stage is very important to me.

I could take a look at the crossover design (again) and see what I can do to bi amp the 7b's. Its a very simple crossover.

That would have 200 watts for left and right mains (6ohms each) and have 150 for center (4ohm)

cfrizz · May 2007

Jake, I think you're on the right track. Get a 200wpc 5 channel amp for all of your speakers & be done with it. 1 box 1 outlet. The 200 watts will make a very noticeble difference & you won't have to worry about upgrading that part of your system for a good long time if at all.

Everyone always short changes the surround speakers. They will sound terrific with the extra juice as well. Especially since you are serious about SACD's!

jakelm · May 2007

cfrizz wrote: »

Jake, I think you're on the right track. Get a 200wpc 5 channel amp for all of your speakers & be done with it. 1 box 1 outlet. The 200 watts will make a very noticeble difference & you won't have to worry about upgrading that part of your system for a good long time if at all.

Everyone always short changes the surround speakers. They will sound terrific with the extra juice as well. Especially since you are serious about SACD's!

Its just a matter of finding one in my price range or waiting for more WAF money.

MSALLA · May 2007

Keep an eye in the used market. I bet it will only be a few days before you find what you want in your price range.
If you are only running your rears off the HK you will be fine. It's always better to buy what you can afford.

jakelm · May 2007

MSALLA wrote: »

Keep an eye in the used market. I bet it will only be a few days before you find what you want in your price range.
If you are only running your rears off the HK you will be fine. It's always better to buy what you can afford.

Agreed.

Right now I am debating on an Adcom 6000 or (for more $'s) a B&K AV5000.

What do you all think?

toddco · May 2007

Im looking for the same thing i think ill end up with Adcom 7 channel and be done with it. It only 2500 Bucks anybody got 2500?

cfrizz · May 2007

Get this with the promise to NEVER upgrade the power again unless it breaks!

And we know that amps don't go out too often.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1183033947

Bill Ayotte · May 2007

cfrizz wrote: »

Get this with the promise to NEVER upgrade the power again unless it breaks!

And we know that amps don't go out too often.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1183033947

Is this the same one Dane committed to for $950?

Multi Channel Amp

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