one more amp question

One over-simplified amp answer: yes.

Did you check on a new Outlaw 7700? It's not Ultra II THX, but is very nice. I am getting it for myself!

Agree on the "no". Thought they were somewhat slow.

I don't get this guy,passes on a Cinova,that does HT in spades,yet is looking at spending 2 g's on a mediocre amp.Maybe he should stick with an AVR and Bose speakers.:rolleyes:

Any 7 channel amp that's at least 100wpc @ 8 ohm from any of the respectable companies usually given on this website (B&K, Rotel, Adcom, Parasound, Sunfire, etc) will drive your speakers without risk of damage. So if that's all you want then just pick one. But what many here are trying to help you do is steer you into something that will also maximize the sound quality and your enjoyment of your system.

I personally think a 5 channel + 2 channel (if you find it necessary) is a better route for you to take, but it's your choice.

I have Aragon 2004 two channel amp and would love to hear how the 2007 plays. Can't really give advice based on the 2 channel amp, but if this 2007 is anywhere close the performer the 2004 is, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

I've gone through many amps in my setups and the 2004 stays, nothing have beaten it yet and I doubt anything will unless I move into the big name territory; Krell etc.

You got ripped off, the Emotiva MPS-2 can do 200wpc x 7 and is only $1699!

garnier wrote: »

Yes, I checked theirs too, but Emotiva MPS-2 wouldn't be available until May at the earliest; and it has about 20 dB less S/N ratio. Isn't it better if S/N ratio is high?

I can't comment on those particular amps since I have no experience with them, but one thing i've learned over the past year by hanging out on this forum and upgrading all my equipment is that specs aren't everything.

Dontcha know all that matters with amps is specs, none of this subjective "sound quality" crap. Same with speakers, I mean common who buys speakers for sound quality? Its all about frequency response, and impedance, and sensitivity.

Seriously though I can't understand guys who only focus on specs, especially when they upgrade speakers. I mean cmon compare the RTi6 to the LSi9 specs wise, they are similar, but they don't sound the same do they? Same goes with amps, albeit to a smaller degree.

Oh well, im out of these amp discussions, one to many for me. If you need info use the search function, or many of these questions can simply be answered with a google search.

Exactly; no two amps are alike. That's why one can't simply compare two amps, Outlaw and Emotiva, for example, based on their prices!

bbeacham wrote: »

When my subscriptions expire on these 2 magazines I am not going to be renewing. They are to stuck in the past with all their 2 channel tube amps and turntables.

Vinyl is making a big comeback. I believe tubes will be here to stay also.

I don't think tubes and turntables are in the past. I have tubes but don't roll, a turntable is in the future because I think vinyl is the future.

Digital is a step above 8 tracks and cassettes but I don't think it is the top shelf. It seems like every other year there is a "new" format. DD, 5.1, DTS, Neo, etc, etc. I looked at a piece that must have had 50 different "sound processor" modes. Who wants to listen to Tool in the Notre Dame Cathedal?
I think for HT we chase the latest and greatest and spend enormous amounts of money for that. That's why I gave up on it. My HT is at least 6 years behind the times and I'm happy with it.

I've decided to spend my money on 2 Channel music. Uncolored, unprocessed and much more enjoyable to me. I grew up with vinyl, I wish I still had all those albums!! It is going to cost a fortune to go forward into the past. I've heard some affordable vinyl rigs and to me there is no comparison.

Go tubes and vinyl.

Hawkeye wrote: »

I don't think tubes and turntables are in the past. I have tubes but don't roll, a turntable is in the future because I think vinyl is the future.

Digital is a step above 8 tracks and cassettes but I don't think it is the top shelf. It seems like every other year there is a "new" format. DD, 5.1, DTS, Neo, etc, etc. I looked at a piece that must have had 50 different "sound processor" modes. Who wants to listen to Tool in the Notre Dame Cathedal?
I think for HT we chase the latest and greatest and spend enormous amounts of money for that. That's why I gave up on it. My HT is at least 6 years behind the times and I'm happy with it.

I've decided to spend my money on 2 Channel music. Uncolored, unprocessed and much more enjoyable to me. I grew up with vinyl, I wish I still had all those albums!! It is going to cost a fortune to go forward into the past. I've heard some affordable vinyl rigs and to me there is no comparison.

Go tubes and vinyl.

Hello Hawkeye. I want to both agree with you, and respectfully suggest that there is something very good about the new digital audio formats. I will also state up front that - and this perhaps is stating the obvious; listening experiences are very subjective and personal.

I am a musician (and avid music listener). Any guitar player today will tell you that there is still no substitute for a good tube amp. I have no direct experience with tube amps for home stereos, but I will assume that the same sentiment applies and is accurate.

Vinyl records, particularly the "audiophile" master recorded ones, are very warm and rich sounding and there are some people who still swear by them. I have mixed opinions about this particular issue, but I will agree that good audiophile vinyl discs sound better than some CD recordings. The practical matter of scratches and size also factor in to vinyl for me, so that's where my mixed opinion comes in.

But, the newer audio formats, SACD and DVD-Audio - with much wider dynamic range and sampling rates than "ordinary" CDs, sound excellent to me.

Listening to a well recorded true 5 channel mix SACD disc, like Billy Joel's 52nd Street and Elton John's Trumbleweed Connection (which are two discs I happen to have), playing through my 5.1 surround system, sounds fantastic. My 20 year old son agrees. (FYI, I'm 50).

Add to that the ability to apply some DSP to ordinary CDs (in my case, via a Yamaha RX-V620), and the listening experience is definitely enhanced.

When it comes to watching/listening to DVD movies, Hi-Def cable, or a concert DVD movie, the digital surround sound experience is really terrific. Factor in the newer "lossless" audio formats that are coming out with the new Hi-Def (Blu-Ray) format, and I have to think that multi-channel digital surround sound has the distinct advantage over traditional analog audio.

So while I do concur that a vinyl record in pristine condition playing through a high end (tube) stereo system will sound fantastic, I believe digital sound "can" be better - with the proper equipment and a high quality source - like SACD, TrueHD, etc. Use a tube amp with a digital preamp setup, and you could be in sonic heaven.

Regards.