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New speakers or new power amp?

post #1 of 11
3/18/11 at 2:04pm
Thread Starter 
I'm in a situation where I'm not sure what to do. In about a year I am having a new house built. The new house will have a theater room. My main concern is the amp(receiver) and speakers. I use Paradigm Studio 20's and Studio CC570 as my front 3 speakers. The receiver is a Pioneer Elite VSX23-TXH. I am considering two options. Option one is to replace the Studio 20's with Studio 100's. Which should add more midrange punch and overall dynamics. Option two is to keep the 20's and add a 200 watt 3 channel amp(Emotiva XPA-3). Which should also improve midrange punch and overall dynamics. The problem is that I can only afford to do one of the two options. Which one do you think will have the biggest impact?
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post #2 of 11
3/18/11 at 2:17pm
IMHO...
get your home built and run wiring (hopefully with conduit). Install your existing system and upgrade as desired/necessary after you've moved in. You may not have to "upgrade" anything.

OTOH, you could provide room dimensions if you just have upgradeitis. Suggestions can be provided. Keep in mind... suggestions provided "today" may be outdated a year from now.
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post #3 of 11
3/18/11 at 2:25pm
A new amp will not add more midrange punch and overall dynamics, whatever that means. If your current receiver is adequate to drive your speakers, which I suspect it is, adding a new amp will do approximately nothing in the real-audible-impact department, though it might help in the I-really-like-my-new-amp department. (If your current receiver isn't up to the job, upgrading the amp is a no-brainer.)

Upgrading to 100s isn't really likely to do anything for your midrange either, but depending on your subwoofer and where your crossover is set, it might improve your bottom end somewhat. (Though I suspect going to 60s will probably suffice for that.)

My advice would be to move into the new place first. Then get a pair of 100s on trial and see if you like what they do for you. But you might also want to consider what is likely your best option of all: room treatments.
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post #4 of 11
3/18/11 at 2:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman View Post
IMHO...
get your home built and run wiring (hopefully with conduit). Install your existing system and upgrade as desired/necessary after you've moved in. You may not have to "upgrade" anything.

OTOH, you could provide room dimensions if you just have upgradeitis. Suggestions can be provided. Keep in mind... suggestions provided "today" may be outdated a year from now.
I agree. Nothing more to add.
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post #5 of 11
3/18/11 at 2:51pm
Who knows?
You may install your existing system in your home/room a year from now and it may have too much punch.
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post #6 of 11
3/18/11 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the reality check. I suppose I'll save the extra monies for whatever is needed after the current system is in place at the new house. Room design, lighting and wiring should keep me pretty busy.
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post #7 of 11
3/19/11 at 11:45am
I think the Studio 100s have the potential to add a lot more "punch", but unfortunately they have an impedance curve that isn't very friendly to receivers, 2.5-4 ohms for a fairly wide swing through the upper bass/midbass.
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post #8 of 11
3/26/11 at 2:54pm
Better speakers will always produce substantial returns; it is highly unlikely that you could hear any difference between your receiver and any "better" one.
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post #9 of 11
3/27/11 at 7:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pmalter0 View Post
.. it is highly unlikely that you could hear any difference between your receiver and any "better" one.
Perhaps, if the typical "...they all sound the same if..." qualifiers are assumed.
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post #10 of 11
3/27/11 at 10:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ianick View Post
I'm in a situation where I'm not sure what to do. In about a year I am having a new house built. The new house will have a theater room. My main concern is the amp(receiver) and speakers. I use Paradigm Studio 20's and Studio CC570 as my front 3 speakers. The receiver is a Pioneer Elite VSX23-TXH. I am considering two options. Option one is to replace the Studio 20's with Studio 100's. Which should add more midrange punch and overall dynamics. Option two is to keep the 20's and add a 200 watt 3 channel amp(Emotiva XPA-3). Which should also improve midrange punch and overall dynamics. The problem is that I can only afford to do one of the two options. Which one do you think will have the biggest impact?
The Studio's are very good speakers (not sure which iteration you have). Are the dimensions of your future-to-be HT room a good deal larger than your present arrangement?
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post #11 of 11
3/31/11 at 2:26am
.
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