Greetings! I've been running an M&K 150THX system (paired with an MX-350 sub) for about ten years now using a variety of receivers in dedicated, relatively small spaces. I'm currently powering the speakers using a Denon AVR-2809 with Audyssey in full swing (which sounds fantastic, by the way). The system is being used about 90% for movies and TV and about 10% for gaming. I listen to essentially no music at all on the system. We recently purchased a bigger house and my system is now in an "open kitchen area" which really comprises the kitchen space, the dining room, and the living room (i.e., one big 'ol room). Because the room is so much larger than my prior room (which was essentially dedicated to the living room), I've noticed that I need to turn the sound on the Denon up to about -9 or -5 in order to watch movies at a "normal" volume level when listening to lossless blu-ray tracks. While everything sounds great, I'm concerned that I'm asking the Denon to do more than it should be doing given the larger room and the 4 Ohm rating of the speakers. As such, I'm considering adding an external amplifier and have been looking at either a new Emotiva (200 x 5) or a used Outlaw or Rotel from eBay (or AVS classified, I guess). My question is two-fold: 1) Am I "hurting" the Denon receiver by having to turn the volume up so loudly to listen at normal movie volumes, and 2) will I hear an increase in quality of audio using external amplifiers given that the Denon would be used as a pre-amp?
I'm not able to nor interested in spending thousands on separates - my budget simply doesn't allow for that. Thoughts.....?
I'm not able to nor interested in spending thousands on separates - my budget simply doesn't allow for that. Thoughts.....?
