Thinking about going the way of separates

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mutelight
mutelight Posts: 1,054
edited March 2008 in Electronics
I am currently using the Pioneer AVR in my signature which I have been happy with but I am noticing compression during somewhat loud playback. I have heard many good things about the Emotiva amps and was looking into one of them, then for the time being, use my current AVRs pre-outs to feed the amp.

Basically I am looking for help from all you great people here for some guidance and advice. I was considering purchasing one of the Onkyo AVRs with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MA, etc. as well. So essentially I am going in all sorts of directions here.

Would either of these upgrades allow for a fairly significant increase in sound quality, soundstage, being able to hear layers, depth, etc on my Monitor 70s, 40s, and CS2? Would it even be worth it? Thanks so much in advance!
// Panasonic AE8000 // Pioneer SC-57 // Polk Audio RTi A9 // Polk Audio CSiA6 //
// Polk Audio FXi A6 // SVS PB12-NSD Subwoofer // Logitech Harmony Ultimate // Pro-Ject Debut III //
// Oppo BDP-103 // Microsoft Xbox One Day One Edition // Sony Playstation 4 1TB SSHD // Nintendo Wii U //
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited March 2008
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    If I remember right the 1015 has pretty robust and good quality amps in it. I think I would try adding a separate amp first and seeing if that makes a significant positive change. If it does, then you could decide if you want to keep the 1015 and use one of the new generation of HD DVD players with 7.1 analog out for the new HD audio formats, or move to an AVR or pre/pro with those decoders in it.

    And of course once you do that you will want to upgrade your speakers :p
    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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    Start off with getting one of the new Emotiva XPA amps. That should make a big difference in your system. It might be all the upgrade that you want to do. But if not, you will then be in a position to upgrade your receiver right to a prepro, or another receiver if you wish.
    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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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited March 2008
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    Don't do it man!
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  • mutelight
    mutelight Posts: 1,054
    edited March 2008
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    dkg999 wrote: »
    If I remember right the 1015 has pretty robust and good quality amps in it. I think I would try adding a separate amp first and seeing if that makes a significant positive change. If it does, then you could decide if you want to keep the 1015 and use one of the new generation of HD DVD players with 7.1 analog out for the new HD audio formats, or move to an AVR or pre/pro with those decoders in it.

    And of course once you do that you will want to upgrade your speakers :p

    I have been quite happy with the 1015 compared to other AVRs I have had in the past, I am just looking for a boost in regards to filling out the sound. In regards to multi-channel decoding I would want a pre or an AVR that supports the format since I am using the PS3 as a BD player.
    cfrizz wrote: »
    Start off with getting one of the new Emotiva XPA amps. That should make a big difference in your system. It might be all the upgrade that you want to do. But if not, you will then be in a position to upgrade your receiver right to a prepro, or another receiver if you wish.

    I was considering the Emotiva LPA-1 as an initial step then worrying about the processing later. Overall I take it you think I should skip the Onkyo AVR (all in one solution) and go the incremental upgrade route?
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Don't do it man!

    Why do you say that? Haha. Is it because this is the first step to pouring all of my money into beaucoup bucks gear?
    // Panasonic AE8000 // Pioneer SC-57 // Polk Audio RTi A9 // Polk Audio CSiA6 //
    // Polk Audio FXi A6 // SVS PB12-NSD Subwoofer // Logitech Harmony Ultimate // Pro-Ject Debut III //
    // Oppo BDP-103 // Microsoft Xbox One Day One Edition // Sony Playstation 4 1TB SSHD // Nintendo Wii U //
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited March 2008
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    mutelight wrote: »
    I was considering the Emotiva LPA-1 as an initial step then worrying about the processing later. Overall I take it you think I should skip the Onkyo AVR (all in one solution) and go the incremental upgrade route?

    That would be my vote -- skip the AVR altogether.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited March 2008
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    I'm saying that if your receiver which you say you are happy with has preamp outputs for separate amplification, get the 200wpc new Emotiva XPA amp.

    That will give you enough power now & in the future for any speakers that you might get.

    If not then get either a new receiver with preouts or go straight for a prepro/amp combo & be done with it.
    mutelight wrote: »
    I was considering the Emotiva LPA-1 as an initial step then worrying about the processing later. Overall I take it you think I should skip the Onkyo AVR (all in one solution) and go the incremental upgrade route?
    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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  • mutelight
    mutelight Posts: 1,054
    edited March 2008
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    Great, thanks so much for the input gentlemen!
    // Panasonic AE8000 // Pioneer SC-57 // Polk Audio RTi A9 // Polk Audio CSiA6 //
    // Polk Audio FXi A6 // SVS PB12-NSD Subwoofer // Logitech Harmony Ultimate // Pro-Ject Debut III //
    // Oppo BDP-103 // Microsoft Xbox One Day One Edition // Sony Playstation 4 1TB SSHD // Nintendo Wii U //
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    Movie and Game Collection
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,640
    edited March 2008
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    I agree with EarlyB.

    Get a dedicated surround processor/decoder that fits your connectivity requirements. Using an AVR in this role only is just silly.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited March 2008
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    It looks like it time to just stop thinking about it...
    Jake
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited March 2008
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    Skip the AVR, get the amp for now and add a pre/pro later when the True Dolby crap sorts itself out.
    Venom
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