Need help choosing a AMP for my front stage

Are you clipping your Denon? If you aren’t using all of its current output, I’m not sure a front stage amp is a good allocation of money.

Do you have a sub?

Russdawg1 said:

Are you clipping your Denon? If you aren’t using all of its current output, I’m not sure a front stage amp is a good allocation of money.

Do you have a sub?

Click to expand...

Naw it's not clipping.

Sorry I didn't post the rest of my set up.

I have pair of surrounds, and two in-ceiling Atmos speakers and a PSA V1510 sub.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

rhelliott2 said:

Naw it's not clipping.

Sorry I didn't post the rest of my set up.

I have pair of surrounds, and two in-ceiling Atmos speakers and a PSA V1510 sub.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Hmm.

What are you trying to achieve with a front stage amp then?

Amps make a very small difference in the sound of a complete system.

Upgrading your 2.4’s to 5.4’s would be a much more audible upgrade. Or even adding a second sub.

But if you just want an amp, I recommend Parasound’s NewClassic line or Outlaw Audio.

Russdawg1 said:

Hmm.

What are you trying to achieve with a front stage amp then?

Amps make a very small difference in the sound of a complete system.

Upgrading your 2.4’s to 5.4’s would be a much more audible upgrade. Or even adding a second sub.

But if you just want an amp, I recommend Parasound’s NewClassic line or Outlaw Audio.

Click to expand...

I wish I could get towers. I just don't have the space.

I would like more volume while watching movies. I normally watch around -20 from reference. I'm afraid if I go higher than -20 I'll get distortion or clip my amp.

I'm a noob to this.



Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

-20 is not that loud. But if you must, research Outlaw 5000 or Monoprice Monolith 3. I was deciding between the two and ended up purchasing the Outlaw.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

rhelliott2 said:

I wish I could get towers. I just don't have the space.

I would like more volume while watching movies. I normally watch around -20 from reference. I'm afraid if I go higher than -20 I'll get distortion or clip my amp.

I'm a noob to this.



Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Oh man, if you aren’t even at Reference, your amplifier has plenty of juice left. Crank it up!

Those Chanes are efficient, you can’t be using more than like 3 watts at those levels.

Give it a try tonight and let us know. You’ll know when it clips or distorts, but believe me your ears will will bleed before your amp starts crapping itself.

tinman143 said:

-20 is not that loud. But if you must, research Outlaw 5000 or Monoprice Monolith 3. I was deciding between the two and ended up purchasing the Outlaw.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

True, -20 isn't THAT loud but I have a limiter set at -20....my kid likes to turn it all the way up sometimes. My kid is gonna learn the hard way that he should not touch stuff that he isn't allowed to.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Russdawg1 said:

Oh man, if you aren’t even at Reference, your amplifier has plenty of juice left. Crank it up!

Those Chanes are efficient, you can’t be using more than like 3 watts at those levels.

Give it a try tonight and let us know. You’ll know when it clips or distorts, but believe me your ears will will bleed before your amp starts crapping itself.

Click to expand...

Ok will do thanks!

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

i’m also new to all this but i’ve got the denon x3400h too and crank it to usually -15.0 to -10.0 but sometimes i go up to 0.0 ref and it handles it perfectly!

obviously different speakers (88db sensitivity infinity 253’s) but i’m sure you’ll be fine.

also i set my vol limiter to 0.0 because of the kids since -20.0 was not loud enough for some content

rbfastback said:

i’m also new to all this but i’ve got the denon x3400h too and crank it to usually -15.0 to -10.0 but sometimes i go up to 0.0 ref and it handles it perfectly!

obviously different speakers (88db sensitivity infinity 253’s) but i’m sure you’ll be fine.

also i set my vol limiter to 0.0 because of the kids since -20.0 was not loud enough for some content

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info!

I have one question re the limiter. If you set the limiter to -20 and set the volume to -20, does that artificially limit any additional headroom for output during peaks in the movie? If so, I can see where that would be unsatisfying and send you on a quest for more. Try this: Set the limiter to -10, then set the volume to your typical -20. Does it sound better? Giving 10 dBs of headroom should make the experience far more dynamic and enjoyable.

If you really are dying to get a new amp, the Outlaw 5000 is the most cost-effective quality mid-fi amp.

As to your son ... he breaks it, he buys it. That said, program a macro into your remote that sets the limit at -20 every time the system is turned on (and/or off). Then, when you want to watch an action movie, have another macro (well hidden) that sets it to -10 (or higher). One button, you are happy camper and your son does not get the option of destroying your speakers (assuming you turn it off when you are done).

RayGuy said:

I have one question re the limiter. If you set the limiter to -20 and set the volume to -20, does that artificially limit any additional headroom for output during peaks in the movie? If so, I can see where that would be unsatisfying and send you on a quest for more. Try this: Set the limiter to -10, then set the volume to your typical -20. Does it sound better? Giving 10 dBs of headroom should make the experience far more dynamic and enjoyable.

Click to expand...

pretty sure the limiter on the denon/marantz just means you can't turn the volume past that number. It's to protect from kids/jerks walking by and flicking the volume knob all the way to the right. I have mine set at 80 and still get db's louder than that (90's to 100ish peaks) according to my soundmeter at stil lower numbers (usually listen to movies between 65-75 depending on the mix)

khcoach said:

pretty sure the limiter on the denon/marantz just means you can't turn the volume past that number. It's to protect from kids/jerks walking by and flicking the volume knob all the way to the right. I have mine set at 80 and still get db's louder than that (90's to 100ish peaks) according to my soundmeter at stil lower numbers (usually listen to movies between 65-75 depending on the mix)

Click to expand...

Well, that is a better design (and simpler to implement) than I was envisioning. In that case, if you are getting 100dB peaks, I am at a loss to understand your need for a new amp (those speakers are only rated to 100 watts)...

RayGuy said:

Well, that is a better design (and simpler to implement) than I was envisioning. In that case, if you are getting 100dB peaks, I am at a loss to understand your need for a new amp.

Click to expand...

ya the OP shouldn't need one. If he wants to go louder he just needs to turn the volume up past the -20 (same as 60) limiter he set. I have a much less powerful AVR (NR1607) and more power hungry speakers (Emotiva T1/C1 fronts) than him and could still run them at the loud setting as i listed (mid 60's to 70s). I did add a power amp to the T1's recently but really haven't noticed a difference sound wise, just hoping for those times where the towers might have dipped on the AVR (it says 4ohm are fine in manual but doesn't give an actual rating). The Chane's the OP has shouldn't need that, based on their specs though from all I've learned on this site.

All I can say is to get the Outlaw in house and try it out. It will certainly give you more watts (all channels driven). The question really is, do you need those extra watts? Only your ears can make that determination.

Make sure you can give it plenty of ventilation. Add a fan, if placed in close quarters. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-Front-Exhaust-Receivers-Components/dp/B078PQJSRY?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B078PQJSRY

rhelliott2 said:

tinman143 said:

-20 is not that loud. But if you must, research Outlaw 5000 or Monoprice Monolith 3. I was deciding between the two and ended up purchasing the Outlaw.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

True, -20 isn't THAT loud but I have a limiter set at -20....my kid likes to turn it all the way up sometimes. My kid is gonna learn the hard way that he should not touch stuff that he isn't allowed to.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

FWIW I set mine -10 because my kids use to do the same. It’s fine.

rhelliott2 said:

I would like more volume while watching movies. I normally watch around -20 from reference. I'm afraid if I go higher than -20 I'll get distortion or clip my amp.

Click to expand...

-20 is 1/100th power. You're using literally betwen a half and a whole watt per channel lol

Crank it up!

-10 is 1/10 power
-9 is 1/8
-6 is 1/4
-3 is 1/2

I don't have kids but I've set my limiter because my universal remote goes up a lot quicker on the volume than the one that comes with teh AVR so's easy to jump up real quick if not paying attention or it gets pressed accidentally via being sat or stepped on (small dog). I can't really see myself ever needing to actually play it at 80 or above either in my condo so figured it's a good enough setting.