anthem or parasound

You know your speakers are VERY easy to drive..........Why do you feel you need 200w/channel ?

+1
Save some $s and buy something in the 125wpc range. RF-83s are very sensitive speakers - one watt nets you 100db for the L/R fronts. You'll probably never use more than 20 watts unless you have a stadium to fill with sound.

Not for me to tell you what to buy. But if you did decide that 125 watt / ch was sufficient, the UPA-7 seems like a good deal.

Seems you can afford more expensive amps though if you want.

I think you'll find most on here will tell you 200w/channel is overkill. As far as the difference Between Anthem and Parasound.......well it's like trying to decide between Kate Beckinsale and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Doesn't really matter which one you get.......your going to be very happy in the end

Take a look at the two companies, which company will be easier to reach in the event of service. Parasound is fairly close to you, San Fransico and is a small company with great personel. Anthem is part of a large corporation, who knows what you have to do to get service.

I think your Signature tell's the story on your post

The MCA 50 is a sweet Amp.......i'm sure you'll enjoy the many years of service it will give you.

I was a Parasound fan long before I was the rep. I became the rep because I am a fan of Parasound. No one has been able to show me any amp manufacturer that can offer a better amp for the dollar as Parasound can. No one has shown me a company who has better customer service than Parasound. Parasound is on my signature because I am proud to be associated with Parasound. 98% of the people on AVS are outside my territory whether or not they buy Parasound doesn't effect me, I recommend Parasound because in many cases it delivers the best bang for the buck.

I agree, he does love what he rep's. But in this one instance, he is correct. Parasound is a better "Bang for Buck" then Anthem amp. If it was pre/processors I would go with Anthem, depending on the need.

As a side note, I just ordered an Integra 40.2 pre/pro and I don't rep Integra. It will paired up with my Parasound 5125

My Ada 6150 did a much better job on my speakers than a Parasound 1206. Both are 6 channels, similar power, etc... My parasound would turn off and on during loud peaks where the Ada was always smooth. I purchased both used and near the same price. Personally I would buy an amp that can drive a 2 ohm load just in case the impedance dips on the Klipsch.

Hello,
While I love my HCA-3500 and HCA-2205AT, with the Speakers the OP is using, I really do question the need for a 200 Watt 5 Channel Amplifier.

If not happy with the Klipsch's and or planning on using different less efficient Speakers in the near future, then it would make more sense.
Cheers,
AD

if he can afford a better amp, then he can afford much better speakers than Klipsch. just my .02

What's wrong with Klipsch? At least they are efficient.

I am now on an all B&W 600 speaker setup (not including the sub.) Very inefficient But it's sounding ok.

I have two Anthem Statement P2's and an Anthem PVA5 all collecting dust, all replaced by three Emotiva UPA-7's. In my case I needed to increase the number of channels and could have gone with Anthem PVA 7's but why? The Emotiva works just as well. I've gotten passed the need for the "status" of owning over priced amplifiers. You might as well save the money to put into something else, room treatment possibly or what ever else your listening room could use.

mk

125 watts may be more power than people suspect, especially as it's supposedly all channels driven continuous rating.

Even if, say, you had 200x7, assuming both had the same dynamic power, your real world gain in SPL would not be much.

Hello,
I certainly have nothing against Klipsch. Rather, the need for a 200 Watt Amplifier with them.

Models like the Cornwall, Klipsch Horn, and others are Audio Classics. Part of what makes them great is you can use a tiny Tube Amplifier and get 100 db's without breaking a sweat.
Cheers,
AD

Because horns are made for trucks,tugboats,and the like. That's why.

I never said anything was wrong with them...but they are not exactly expensive speakers (the model he has at least) and if he is going to put $2000.00 into an amp, i think he would get much better results out of getting new speakers and sticking with an Emotiva UPA 7 at 125wpc just my .02

Agreed 100%. All the expensive amps in the world will not make speakers sound good, no matter how efficient. Better speakers would help a lot more.

out of ALL the speakers I have owned over the years.... my Martin Logans were by far and away the best sounding speakers. I long to get a pair of Ascent i's one of these days...

second runner up would have been my Thiel's...but no bass at all on those. not that it's important since I have subs..

but...and i'll probably take major sh*t for this one, for all around duty and excellent HT sound I still love my Onix Rockets. Great for music, movies, etc. now...not the best speakers in the world for sure, but certainly one of the best looking and for overall valueerformance I can say they are VERY tough to beat.

that was almost a "coffee through the nose moment" you caused there...


true dat... $2k worth of would actually make a difference...

with his existing speakers, he'd be better off lighting cigars with that $2k if he's going to use it to buy an amp... at least it would provide some use that way...

ya I gotta agree with you there. Klipsch RF83's are just not the greatest speakers. They kinda remind me of Cerwin Vega's in the 80's...very loud!!!

I have heard them, and they are pretty good (lots of bass) however like I said and I mean this honestly.... with those speakers a 2000.00 amp (in fact on pretty much any speakers IMHO) would be a waste. either enjoy your speakers, get a reasonably priced Emotiva amp (I don't like a lot of their products but their amps are top notch) or get better speakers.

no scat thrown from this direction...

the way that the endgame played out doesn't mean that those rockets weren't/aren't exactly what you described...

Oh really?

Come post back here in a few years and let me know how your Emo amp's are doing. It's got nothing to do with "Status" as you called it. It's buying a product you know is of good quality and will last for many years.

And who say's the amps are "overpriced"........you bought them for a reason. Knowone on this website can claim Emo amps have lasted 10+ years.........can they? Sure Emo amps are cheeper, but i'd be shocked if one lasted 10 years. I believe, when it comes to electronic's......you get what you pay for.

I don't have any Emotiva equipment, but I do have a Parasound HCA 2205AT that lasted all of 5 years. First right front channel started making strange sounds and then quit. Now left front is doing the same. So, I've got myself a $2200 paper weight. Is it worth repairing. Hell no. I could buy an Emotiva XPA5 for what Parasound wants for repairs and shipping. Closest dealer is over 125 miles from where I am and then the charge is $125 to assess the problem + parts. After talking to Parasound they stated repair cost at ~600 to 800 dollars. My last Parasound product. Not while Emotiva is in business anyway. I auditioned the Anthem and Parasound in my room before buying either. If I has to do it all over I would have gone with the Anthem with hindsight. Now there's Emotiva and thats the route I would go. I would not but one of there processors, but their amps seem to make most people here quite happy. I would rather take that price gamble than one of the others. I can buy a few Emo amps for the prices of either the Anthem or a Parasound. Easy decision for me, of course YMMV. Good luck and enjoy whichever you choose.

Because Klipsch's Horn tweeters really start distorting when pushed hard and really benefit from a good amp to keep them smoother in the upper regions...

That is the reason so many people think that Klipschs are harsh.....

They may be effecient, but that doesn't mean that they won't benefit from an external amp when driven to higher spl's...

I have a difficult time believing that a better amp would relieve some of the issues of the Klipsch horn tweeter at loud volumes. How exactly would a bigger amp do this?