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What 5 channel Amp to add to AVR???

post #1 of 50
12/25/08 at 10:22am
Thread Starter 
My AVR needs more watts as my Front speaker are rated up to 500 and rears circa 250w.

What is a good 5 channel Amp to add, to get more watts/headroom.

Thanks
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post #2 of 50
12/25/08 at 10:30am
If it's playing loud enough without noticable distortion, you don't need an amp.

A stack of pro amps is likely your cheapest option. Disadvantage is amp width, amp fans (in most pro amps,) multiple power cords, and the input jacks (typically 1/4" on pro amps.)

Emotiva is likely the next cheapest option.
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post #3 of 50
12/25/08 at 10:54am
what is your setup...speakers, hardware?
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post #4 of 50
12/25/08 at 7:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by B&W700guy View Post

what is your setup...speakers, hardware?

McIntosh LS 360 Front speakers and line 5.1, with JL113's subs.
My 140 watt per channel AVR (Yamaha 1800) is loud enough for HT.

But I substituted the Yamaha 1800 in my main system (that has 501'S amps) for comparison
and the sound of the 1800, was very thin compared, not a loudness problem.

I thought I might try an external amp, to see if it helps my HT experience.

If I did not try my Yamaha, in my main system I would have never known there was a big difference. Ignorance was bliss, and cheap!
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post #5 of 50
12/25/08 at 10:49pm
Bang for buck, check out NAD. Good quality sound at a decent price. I will say though, a good pre/pro on the front end will make a world more difference than adding an amp. Unless of course, your current amp is woefully underpowered....
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post #6 of 50
12/26/08 at 2:33am
Why not stick with McIntosh, and go with their amps?

I have had a NHT Power5 and an Emotiva XPA-5. I would recommend either one. I am also a fan of Parasound. If cost is an issue you want to look at Emotiva.
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post #7 of 50
12/26/08 at 4:40am
Why not try Class D? The ICE amp based D-Sonic stuff sounds good.
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post #8 of 50
12/26/08 at 4:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Decepticon07 View Post

Why not stick with McIntosh, and go with their amps?

I have had a NHT Power5 and an Emotiva XPA-5. I would recommend either one. I am also a fan of Parasound. If cost is an issue you want to look at Emotiva.

I have multiple Mcintosh systems, but I was hoping to keep costs down.
They Do Build Great Amps! But there source products, can be easly bested from other companies unless you want your system to look streamline. As I did.


I will look into all the companies mentioned.
Thanks!
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post #9 of 50
12/26/08 at 6:26am
Another option is to go used. Check out Audiogon.

I use a Carver A753 THX 3 channel amp that I bought new and an Acurus A250 2 channel amp that I picked up used.

I've been happy with both.
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post #10 of 50
12/28/08 at 2:09pm
Quote:


McIntosh LS 360

Sensitivity (2.8V/1M) 88 dB
Nominal Impedance 4 ohms
Power Handling 600 w


What price range are you looking for?
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post #11 of 50
12/28/08 at 2:21pm
How about Emotiva? They seem to know what they are doing, and have quite a loyal following along with some great reviews. And they are on sale right now. I have my eyes on their 3 or maybe their 5 channel amp.

http://www.emotiva.com/
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post #12 of 50
12/28/08 at 6:58pm
As a recent convert to Emotiva, I can completely endorse their amps.

I added an XPA-2, 2 channel @ 250 watts ea to drive my B&W 803D's. I purchased these speakers, wanting invest the most I could in quality speakers, but had to hold off purchasing some good power to run them. I auditioned them on Mcintosh, and Parasound Halo, which were both first class, but money shortages held me up. An old Adcom 545, 100 w/ch kept them plodding along.

10 days ago, sprung for the Emotiva, hooked it up, and within 5 seconds of Norah Jones, my wife said, "Wow, what an amazing improvement in all aspects of the sound!" Does the Emotiva perform as well as the Parasound & Mcintosh? Really hard for me to say, I would stick my neck out and say it gets 95% of the way there, and at 1/4 the cost or less.

So pleased with the Emotiva, I am committing on an XPA-5 to run the other B&Ws in surround mode, giving me full 250 watts of high current power for my fronts, and 200 watts for the others.

PS: Running them all through recently purchased Denon 4308ci, using it for all its features, through the pre-outs.

Finally getting my set up the way I wanted, at 1/4 the price.
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post #13 of 50
12/28/08 at 7:00pm
PS: since you are looking for 5 channels, with those fronts you have, I suggest the XPA-2 in the fronts as I did, with an XPA-3 for the others. All for $1300. You will not regret it.
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post #14 of 50
12/28/08 at 7:24pm
What cables do you use too hook up rec too the amp,can't find them anywhere.
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post #15 of 50
12/28/08 at 7:42pm
I use Monster Interlink 400 Bandwidth balanced, Audio interconnect RCA cables. Check the Monster web site. You'll want this type for any external amp connection from a receiver or processor, unless you use balanced XLR cables, which are found mostly on pre/pros.
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post #16 of 50
12/28/08 at 7:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by candysking View Post

I use Monster Interlink 400 Bandwidth balanced, Audio interconnect RCA cables. Check the Monster web site. You'll want this type for any external amp connection from a receiver or processor, unless you use balanced XLR cables, which are found mostly on pre/pros.

the amp i was looking at had normal speaker hook ups, but the hook up from the rec to the amp was rca from rec to something that looked like a mini plug on the amp input.
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post #17 of 50
12/28/08 at 9:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by candysking View Post

As a recent convert to Emotiva, I can completely endorse their amps.

I added an XPA-2, 2 channel @ 250 watts ea to drive my B&W 803D's. I purchased these speakers, wanting invest the most I could in quality speakers, but had to hold off purchasing some good power to run them. I auditioned them on Mcintosh, and Parasound Halo, which were both first class, but money shortages held me up. An old Adcom 545, 100 w/ch kept them plodding along.

10 days ago, sprung for the Emotiva, hooked it up, and within 5 seconds of Norah Jones, my wife said, "Wow, what an amazing improvement in all aspects of the sound!" Does the Emotiva perform as well as the Parasound & Mcintosh? Really hard for me to say, I would stick my neck out and say it gets 95% of the way there, and at 1/4 the cost or less.

So pleased with the Emotiva, I am committing on an XPA-5 to run the other B&Ws in surround mode, giving me full 250 watts of high current power for my fronts, and 200 watts for the others.

PS: Running them all through recently purchased Denon 4308ci, using it for all its features, through the pre-outs.

Finally getting my set up the way I wanted, at 1/4 the price.

+1 for the Emotiva amps.

And yes, I own one, the UPA-7.

Why pour money into amps that don't do anything better or differently than the Emo amps? When I tell friends what I paid for it, I see the gears in their mind working to figure out a way to get one for themselves.

Can't really blame them, they know what an improvement its made to my setup.
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post #18 of 50
12/28/08 at 9:28pm
D-Sonic 2000-5 IcePower amp.
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post #19 of 50
12/29/08 at 1:28pm
Quote:


I use Monster Interlink 400 Bandwidth balanced, Audio interconnect RCA cables. Check the Monster web site. You'll want this type for any external amp connection from a receiver or processor,

http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=133

I would stay away from monster anything. You can get better for cheaper, look at monoprice or bluejeanscable.
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post #20 of 50
12/29/08 at 2:11pm
What the hey does Interlink 400 Bandwidth balanced mean?

Just curious.
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post #21 of 50
12/29/08 at 2:15pm
Quote:


What the hey does Interlink 400 Bandwidth balanced mean?

Advertising.
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post #22 of 50
12/29/08 at 7:07pm
Titus.. NO universal answer on your question but lots of opinions. The 3 multi channel amps I've owned and used for a year or more at different periods of my life have been Sherbourn, Gemstone and Sim Audio. All 3 were/are excellent performers with my personal experience driving various speakers such as Paradigm, Dali and Dynaudio. I'm not sure of the synergy with the McIntosh LS 360's and I've never heard them, but I think any of the amps I mentioned would drive them quite well. The Sim and Gemstone are rather neutral and the Sherbourn is a tad on the warm side. Much Luck!
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post #23 of 50
12/29/08 at 7:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougWinsor View Post

Advertising.

*
Must be the same guy who came up with the oxymoron 'direct-reflecting' theme, eh?
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post #24 of 50
12/29/08 at 7:43pm
Bandwidth balancing is an important concept in cabling. If your bandwidth is unbalanced, your cables may tear out of their jacks due to the poor weight distribution. This will not only damage the jacks, but will result in poor sound due to the electrons not flowing properly.
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post #25 of 50
12/29/08 at 9:04pm
Thread Starter 
I will try the Emotiva xta-5 since its so cheap. No down side.
Would using 2 amps with different power, throw off my synergy
LS speaker line = 40ohms

PS
Doug W. Even as a big time Mcintosh owner, I like your posts even though others do not.
Most of what you say has been proven in my home experiments.
I like the Mcintosh looks but all of there items are not built with quality.
Amps good, Speakers better, then what you would expect.
Sources terrible. Quality control bad. I have had knobs fall off twice, Resale is great, if you buy it right.
I look at it like furniture. Like my Sonus Faber speakers. Breaking in. and cables do not make a difference. Your mind adapts to the sound.
Mcintosh even admits this when asked about speaker wire.
Ron C will tell you what is used in the speaker and recommend inexpensive speaker wires.
I do have a 36 year old 1700 hybrid MAC recevier that still works today.
Those were the days!
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post #26 of 50
12/29/08 at 11:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelJHuman View Post

Bandwidth balancing is an important concept in cabling. If your bandwidth is unbalanced, your cables may tear out of their jacks due to the poor weight distribution. This will not only damage the jacks, but will result in poor sound due to the electrons not flowing properly.

*
If you aren't busy you should consider contacting some of the uber cable makers, and possibly one shyster speaker manufacturer we all love to pan so often.

I think you may have a very lucrative career in ad writing awaiting you.
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post #27 of 50
12/30/08 at 12:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Knucklehead90 View Post

*
If you aren't busy you should consider contacting some of the uber cable makers, and possibly one shyster speaker manufacturer we all love to pan so often.

I think you may have a very lucrative career in ad writing awaiting you.

Not at all busy, I was laid off.

But I was thinking of studying underwater basket weaving in my leisure time
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post #28 of 50
12/30/08 at 7:15am
Thread Starter 
Any current coupon codes for Emotiva?
Its already so cheap, I am worried that I am paying for what I will get.
A boxed, 4 way toaster.

Thanks
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post #29 of 50
12/30/08 at 12:31pm
no coupon codes , just pull the trigger on the amp, be amazed
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post #30 of 50
12/30/08 at 1:10pm
Some of the Emotiva Amps, including the XPA-5 are on sale (well at least until tomorrow). The XPA-5 (5 chan, 200 wpc) is only $700 with free shipping until then.

Hard to beat that.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelJHuman View Post

Bandwidth balancing is an important concept in cabling. If your bandwidth is unbalanced, your cables may tear out of their jacks due to the poor weight distribution. This will not only damage the jacks, but will result in poor sound due to the electrons not flowing properly.

You were doing very well until you got to "electrons flowing properly". That part suffers from a serious techno-babble deficiency and is far to comprehensible. I would have inserted something about "quantum probability fluctuations resulting in insufficient dead cat waveform emulation."
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