2 different AMPS OK or NOT

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xterra77
xterra77 Posts: 47
edited March 2008 in Electronics
Hi
Need help i have a chance to pick up a used HK PA5800
amp 80W x5 to power 2 FXI5'S for surrounds and 2 CSi3's
For my rears.My anthem 225x3 would power my RTi10's and my CSi5.I will be usind my avr HK230 as a preout.Is
this ok using 2 different amps.
Thanks
Post edited by xterra77 on
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited March 2008
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    It's perfectly normal to use different brands of power amps. It is the speakers that you want to match as much as possible.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited March 2008
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    You should be fine. With a single amp (and sound signature) running your front sound stage, that would be the main criteria. I've had different amps running front and rear/surrounds, and it wasn't noticeable.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited March 2008
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    You're fine.
    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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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited March 2008
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    Oh no...don't do it :p

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • mulveling
    mulveling Posts: 505
    edited March 2008
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    Should work fine, just remember to re-calibrate the level settings for each channel in your receiver (SPL meter would come in handy here) - different amps often have different input sensitivities.
    Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010
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  • xterra77
    xterra77 Posts: 47
    edited March 2008
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    Ron Temple wrote: »
    Oh no...don't do it :p

    Hi Ron
    I always thought using 2 different amps was not good,but
    in this case i am using a HK amp,i would assume it is ok
    since with no amp i would still be using my HK avr for rears and surrounds!!!
    Why do you think i should not?
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited March 2008
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    No problems. I had a HK PA5800 for a few years and used it along with other amps many times.
    Venom
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited March 2008
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    xterra77 wrote: »
    Hi Ron
    I always thought using 2 different amps was not good,but
    in this case i am using a HK amp,i would assume it is ok
    since with no amp i would still be using my HK avr for rears and surrounds!!!
    Why do you think i should not?
    Look at my sig...does it look like I have a problem running multiple differing amps ;). There are differences, the Carver is more laid back than the Luxman (which is why it's running my surrounds) and the bridged Audiosource is very neutral. It works well for me. Would I benefit from a single amp or identical models? Probably...but, no one's complaining at my house.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • jwhitakr
    jwhitakr Posts: 568
    edited March 2008
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    dkg999 wrote: »
    You should be fine. With a single amp (and sound signature) running your front sound stage, that would be the main criteria. I've had different amps running front and rear/surrounds, and it wasn't noticeable.

    Completely agree on this ... I have had different amps running my surrounds versus running my center/front/left channels, and did not notice any difference while watching movies.
    Ron Temple wrote: »
    Look at my sig...does it look like I have a problem running multiple differing amps ;). There are differences, the Carver is more laid back than the Luxman (which is why it's running my surrounds) and the bridged Audiosource is very neutral. It works well for me. Would I benefit from a single amp or identical models? Probably...but, no one's complaining at my house.

    I, like Ron, also run different amps for my center and for my fronts. I do notice a difference between the amps, but at this time my money is going toward upgrading my speakers instead of upgrading my amps. Eventually I will upgrade my center amp because I think it will sound "better" (better is a subjective term) to have identical amps, or at least amps from the same manufacturer and same model line, running the front soundstage.

    If you are going to get a good deal on the amp you are looking at, I'd say go for it!
    My HT
    HDTV: Panasonic PT-61LCX65 61" Rear Proj. LCD
    AVR: Harman Kardon AVR 235
    Video: 80GB PS3, Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD
    Fronts: Polk Audio RTi8
    Center: Polk Audio CSi3
    Amp: Emotiva LPA-1
    Surrounds: Polk Audio R150
    Sub: HSU STF-3

    The only true barrier to knowledge is the assumption that you already have it. - C.H. Dodd
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited March 2008
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    Put me in the boat with some of the others, I run different amp on my fronts, than I do on center and surrounds. Setup sounds awesome. Just tweak the settings in your pre/pro or AVR and you're good.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited March 2008
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    I'm looking at using 2 completely different amps for a bi-amped setup.

    One amp is a discrete power amp, the other is an older integrated amp. The integrated will run the tweeters and the power amp the woofers.

    So you can even run different amps on the same speaker, assuming you set it up right.
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,675
    edited March 2008
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    I think that tube sound for upper bi amp range is great and SS for lower range bi amping.

    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • just_visiting
    just_visiting Posts: 40
    edited March 2008
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    xterra77 wrote: »
    Hi
    Need help i have a chance to pick up a used HK PA5800
    amp 80W x5 to power 2 FXI5'S for surrounds and 2 CSi3's
    For my rears.My anthem 225x3 would power my RTi10's and my CSi5.I will be usind my avr HK230 as a preout.Is
    this ok using 2 different amps.
    Thanks


    Your Anthem amp is the MCA 30 right? If it is then its NOT 225x3. Its 180X3.
    Display: Sony XBR3 46"
    Pre/Pro: Marantz AV7005
    Amplifiers: Anthem MCA20 / Anthem MCA30
    CD: Pioneer Elite PD59 / Sony XA20ES / Denon 755AE
    DVD: Denon 3930CI
    BD: Pioneer Elite 05FD
    Sat: Bell TV 9241HD
    Game: Sony PS3 60GB
    Media Streamer: WDTV Live Hub
    Power Console: Panamax 5300PM
    Speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio v.3
    Subwoofer: SVS 16-46PC+

    Preamp: Parasound P3
    Amplifier: BAT VK60 Tube
    Sacd: Sony 777ES
    Power Console: Ultralink PGX-500
    Speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio 20 v.5
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  • xterra77
    xterra77 Posts: 47
    edited March 2008
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    just_visiting wrote: »
    Your Anthem amp is the MCA 30 right? If it is then its NOT 225x3. Its 180X3.

    I did not recieve it yet but yes the mca 30.
    i noticed that afterwards all channels driven is 180.
    How do you like it.
    You have 2 anthems do you have them on 1 outlet,because costumer service told me that if i get 2
    i could run them on 1 15amp outlet.seems strange to me.
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  • just_visiting
    just_visiting Posts: 40
    edited March 2008
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    xterra77 wrote: »
    I did not recieve it yet but yes the mca 30.
    i noticed that afterwards all channels driven is 180.
    How do you like it.
    You have 2 anthems do you have them on 1 outlet,because costumer service told me that if i get 2
    i could run them on 1 15amp outlet.seems strange to me.



    I love them!!! I have them on 1 outlet. I've had them for the last couple of yrs and do not have any problems. For your info, I decided to go with both a MCA20 and MCA30 as suppose to a single MCA50 due to the power distribution. I wanted 200X2 minimum for my fronts instead of 180X5. I have my MCA30 pushing my centre and rears.
    Display: Sony XBR3 46"
    Pre/Pro: Marantz AV7005
    Amplifiers: Anthem MCA20 / Anthem MCA30
    CD: Pioneer Elite PD59 / Sony XA20ES / Denon 755AE
    DVD: Denon 3930CI
    BD: Pioneer Elite 05FD
    Sat: Bell TV 9241HD
    Game: Sony PS3 60GB
    Media Streamer: WDTV Live Hub
    Power Console: Panamax 5300PM
    Speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio v.3
    Subwoofer: SVS 16-46PC+

    Preamp: Parasound P3
    Amplifier: BAT VK60 Tube
    Sacd: Sony 777ES
    Power Console: Ultralink PGX-500
    Speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio 20 v.5
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