[farscape66]

I am looking for setup advice. I send the MC-12 outputs into a Denon 3802 through its External In Connection. I have the Denon Volume control permanetly locked on 0 DB. I then use the MC-12 to control volume. Is this the right thing to do? Should I set the Denon at some other volume other than 0 DB? Recommendations?

 

[Philip Brandes]

Quote:

Originally posted by farscape66 I am looking for setup advice. I send the MC-12 outputs into a Denon 3802 through its External In Connection. I have the Denon Volume control permanetly locked on 0 DB. I then use the MC-12 to control volume. Is this the right thing to do? Should I set the Denon at some other volume other than 0 DB? Recommendations?

You should set the Denon in another room--all it's doing is bringing the sound quality of your $9000 processor down to that of a $1000 receiver. It adds nothing to your system. Get a quality power amp with sufficient output to drive the Divas in your listening space. If you don't already have both sides and rears, get the additional speakers you need (do NOT try a single rear speaker, you need two). At that point you should have all the equipment in-place to really benefit from your MC-12.


Cheers,

Philip Brandes

 

[3090]

I agree with Philip. What exactly are you trying to accomplish? If you're trying to use the amps in the Denon, where you set the volume control is a moot issue because all you are doing is accessing the amps (I think only two are accesible) through the main-in inputs and controlling volume with the MC-12.

 

[farscape66]

I have Diva R3 side speakers, and rear speakers also. I bought the Denon because it provided 7 channels at 110 watts. At the time having all this in one box was my preference to several separate power amps. Sine I live in an apartment 100 Watts is all I really need.

____

Can you recommend a 7 channel power amp around the 100 watt range? All of the ones I have seen have far too much power for my needs.

___

Is the Denon really that bad?

 

[phyre3]

The denon is not horrible but it would be nice to have an amp that would let you get all or most of the performance of the MC12. The thing is that even though you don't need more power it can't ever hurt even if you don't turn it up. A more powerful amp many times can sound better and has better control over the speaker even at lower volumes.

 

[farscape66]

All 7 power amps within the Denon are directly accessible through the External In RCA connections. I only use the Denon as my power amp, for these basic reasons: 1) it has 7 channels, 2) price, 3) 110 Watts is more than enough for my apartment.

____

My next step would be a Bryston or Lexicon multi channnel amp, but after buying the MC-12, I have no funds for that right now. I am just trying to setup the Denon to maximize what I have for now.

 

[quattro98]

I also live in a small apartment so size and heat output were important considerations for me. I chose the Lexicon LX-7. It is very small as far as amplifiers go and doesn't heat up my entire apartment. It has a 12V trigger so you can have it automatically turn on and it looks nice too (I replaced a Harman/Kardon AVR7000 which I was using for center channel and surround amps). If you get rid of your receiver (I gave mine to a friend), you will also have to factor in the cost of a separate tuner if you listen to the radio.

 

[phyre3]

Makes sense and is a perfectly valid reasons.


An interim step to a Bryston or something would be the Anthem PVA 7 I believe it is. It is like 1500 list price and has 7 channels and doesn't have a ton of power but is a solid piece.

 

[3090]

9B-ST

 

[LarryChanin]

farscape:


The Denon receiver is a fine product for its market niche, and recently my neighbor took my recommendation an bought one for casual listening in his new family room. I hasten to add that he is driving those tiny Bose cubes (which I definitely did not recommend) a far cry from Divas. I notice that the Denon is rated for 6 ohm loads, your 4.1s are spec’d at 6 ohms, but your R3’s are spec’d at 4 ohms. Aside from the obvious quality mismatch between the Denon and the flagship Lexicon, it seems that there’s a very real possibility that you would eventually run into trouble trying to drive 7 Diva speakers at reasonable levels.


Without meaning to beat a dead horse, I would think that at the best the Denon can only be viewed as an immediate stop-gap measure in your current 5-channel apartment situation.


Larry

 

[Philip Brandes]

Farscape,


Yes, the Denon really is that bad. You are filtering $9K signal through sub-$1K worth of electronics, and you ARE compromising the signal quality you paid big bucks for. Look closely at those power ratings--is it really delivering 110 watts all channels driven with FULL FREQUENCY RANGE, or is it spec'd for 1000 kHz on up (the usual fudge tactic for mass market manufacturers)? As others have pointed out, having more power available is not a drawback.


If funds are an issue, the best amp bargains are in the used market. Amps get very little wear and tear--either they work or they don't, so they are the safest components to buy used.


Cheers,

Philip Brandes

 

[gordf]

7 channel B&K around 2300 check audiogon,

2 five channel EAD PM 500's, around 1600 for both (I use these and they are steps ahead of the B&K,l notice the difference even just for the side surrounds in a 7.1 setup)


I used to use a denon and the B&K is twice as good as that and the EAD is three times as good as the B&K. Lexicon/Bryston is very clear but a little too clinical. (this depends on your speakers though)

 

[farscape66]

I will start working on finding a six or 7 channel amp and sell the Denon when I find one. I also have a Golden Tube Audio Runnig at 80 watts (Bridged Mono). I use the Golden Tube for the Center Channel and the Denon for the other 6 channels, so I really only need a 6 channel amp, since I am not using one of the Denon's 7 channels.

 

[quattro98]

Do you have any kind of budget in mind for a new amp? This will make it easier for people to make recommendations or point you towards any bargains they see.

 

[Andy Lammer]

Using the Denon to power your mains and centre will be a sonic letdown.

For my HT system, when I upgraded to a Lexicon MC-1, I used the Lex's pre-outs to my beastly EAD PM2000 5x400 amp to power my mains and centre only.


While waiting for the "right-amp" on the used market to come my way, I used my Denon AVR-3801 to power my 4 surrounds. I set the Denon's volume at 0, set levels via the Lexicon, and all was fine. I really could not complain about the Denon's amp quality for running my surrounds.

... but do treat your front stage with better amplification.


- Andy

 

[farscape66]

Just founs several Parasound Multi channel amps on ebay and Audiogon. Are the better than the Denon 3802? Anyone know anything about them? Looking to spen 1K or less on something better than the 3802. I need at least 6 channels, as the Golden Tube is doing fine for the center channel for now. So I only need 6. 80-100Watts is fine.

 

[xp800]

Quote:

Originally posted by farscape66 Just founs several Parasound Multi channel amps on ebay and Audiogon. Are the better than the Denon 3802? Anyone know anything about them? Looking to spen 1K or less on something better than the 3802. I need at least 6 channels, as the Golden Tube is doing fine for the center channel for now. So I only need 6. 80-100Watts is fine.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the Anthem PVA7. It's 120x7. It's been reviewed along with the AVM-20, and the combo has gotten gret accolades. There was one up for sale for $990 (I'm not sure what retail is):

http://marketplace.consumerreview.co...uery=retrieval


A friend has the AVM-20 and the MCA-5. It's awesome. As an 'interim' amp, it would blow away the Denon. And I'm a Denon fan. If you go to www.sonicfrontiers.com you can find the reviews of the PVA7.


- Dieter