How to make a RX-V2400 in to a Z9...

[RX-V2400]

<font color='#000000'>A previous thread relating to the RX-V2400's volume control and volume levels led to me recounting how I had set up my RX-V2400 system to effectivly make it into a Z9. It seemed to me this issue merited a thread of its own.

I just adore my RX-V2400. Its preamp and DTS effects and processing is supurb. It is also a great deal at $999 list ($675 street). But this great econiomic price is made at the expence of power. Anyone who has compared the RX-V2400 to the $4000 Z9 knows that for that extra three grand what you get is little more than a bigger power supply. The power supply in the RX-V2400 is not &nbsp;big enough to drive 5 or 7 channells all at the same time at the levels required in a big room or for classical music recordings. That is why the rated 125wpc can only equate to a poor 170wpc dynamic power or headroom.

But there is a simple solution - an upgrade if you will that turns any RX-V2400 in to a (sort of) Z9.

Most of us who have recently gone to souround sound have moved up from stereo and have an old stereo amp laying around in the garage. To make a RX-V2400 into a sort of Z9, do what I have done and add the old stereo power amp to the preout of the RX-V2400 to drive the two main chanells, leaving the 2400's power supply to handle the souround sound, which it can do nicely. (You must of course, this is a given, use a powered sub-woofer).

I'm using the power amp from my old strero NAD7600 which is rated at 150wpc but has a massive power supply and gives dynamic power (bust power at the peaks when required) of 600wpc. This sytem with my matching Yamaha 250w powered sub gives a top end system that I rate at least equal to the Z9. It can handle demanding stereo recordings (usings Neo6 miusic) and DVD Audio with power to spare and movies really do sound just like a modern THX movie theater.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has done a similar thing. Happy listening.</font>

 

[jdueitt]

<font color='#000000'>Great trick RX-V2400, &nbsp;you and I are on the same wavelength. &nbsp;I too love the performance of the RX-V2400 but craved more power. &nbsp;For some time now I have studied the reviews for the Outlaw M-200 Monoblocs and gave them a try on front three channels. &nbsp;What the heck, you get to try them out for 30 days!! &nbsp;What an outstanding combination! &nbsp;These Outlaw units are great. &nbsp;I put them on my bench and tested them using a function generator with different waveforms and monitored the input and output with a dual trace scope...perfect!. &nbsp;I did numerous sweep tests and ran mega amplitude tests using my Ivie RTA and SPL units with both pink and white. &nbsp;Performance was right on. &nbsp;These are great A/B and switch into G at 80 Watts. &nbsp;These things easily go out to 300W at 4 OHMs with great distortion specs. &nbsp;Very quiet A/B Bi-Polars and G MOSFETs. &nbsp;I dumped my Krell 150 due to needing to add air conditioning to my room while using it. &nbsp;I've owned Class A for many years (I'm an old tube guy-engineering type). &nbsp;The new Bi-Polars manufactured today are outstanding!! &nbsp;The Yamaha 2400 and the Outlaw Monoblocs with those humongous pancake toroid transformers are a great marriage!! &nbsp;These things stay cool!! &nbsp;Others out there might give it a try...and you can save a few thousand in the process.</font>

 

[GeorgeM]

<font color='#000000'>This thread get me thinking a bit (can't you smell the smoke rising from my head???). &nbsp;

I have a Threshold Stasis Model S-200 power amp driving a pair of Apogee Duetta's that I seldom use anymore. &nbsp;Do you think it would be overkill to use this amp to power the front speakers (Definitive Tech Mythos One's) as part of a HT seven-speaker system? &nbsp;(RX-V2400 is the receiver).

-GeorgeM</font>

 

[zipper]

<font color='#000000'>I have been pondering the same idea for the future. I have a Yamaha 3300 &amp; am considering Axiom m60's(or 80's) in the near future. I am wondering,if I buy a couple monoblocks for the mains,am I wasting the power of the 3300,or will it serve my surrounds &amp; center that much better since it is not taxed to drive the mains?

&nbsp;Also,when adding outboard amps,how do you tell the Yamaha not to drive the mains with the receivers' amp? The only option for mains is &quot;large,small&quot;. I don't want to risk damaging the receivers' amp by driving it with no load.</font>

 

[jdueitt]

<font color='#000000'>In all probability you do not need a load on your front 3300 mains (the 2400 does not), however just to be on the safe side you should consult your manual for instructions. &nbsp;You will probably find a section labeled &quot;Connecting to an external amplifier&quot; which is on page 20 of the 2400 manual. Now of course this came from the 2400 manual as an example. &nbsp;You will probably find it if you look in the 3300 manual. &nbsp;If not in your manual you should be able to contact Yamaha on the internet--they will respond. &nbsp;As for your surrounds and other speaker outputs, this should offer far more head room and greater dynamic power and performance to those speakers since &nbsp;the shared power supply no longer will be required to simultaneously power the main speakers.

Regards,
JD</font>

 

[zipper]

<font color='#000000'>Thanks JD. I appreciate the info. I don't have the manual for my unit but will look online.</font>

 

[RX-V2400]

<font color='#000000'>Zipper: Exactly - the 2400 like most other recievers only has one power supply to service all chanells. By driving the main speakers with a stereo amp or a couple of mono blocks, which is great for sound quality in its self, it leaves so much more power for the souround which is much improved. And all at so little cost as stereo amps are really cheap now and most of us have them laying around unutilised from the old stereo days, which was the point of my original post.

I was going to sell my NAD to a local bod for $150 then decided to add them to the 2400. I am so amazed at what my RX-V2400 is now doing with my NAD 2600's driving the front. It adds a whole new dimension to the sound and really increased the detail and sound stage as well as giving all the headroom needed for the really high dynamics.</font>

 

[zipper]

<font color='#000000'>Cool!! I'm gonna do it.</font>

 

[Kilwox]

<font color='#000000'>I've often thought of adding a power amp to help with the mains, but unfortunatlely I don't have any old gear lying around. Maybe this is an advantage, because I can start from scratch and buy new. &nbsp;

I'm soon upgrading to a pair of B&amp;W 705 bookshelves for my front pair, and I'm wondering what sort of amp all of you think I should look at? &nbsp;What sort of power should I be looking at? &nbsp;Is it in my best interest to match the power of an additional power amp to the rated power of the RX-V2400, or should I buy as much power as I can afford?

My first thought was a Rotel stereo amp, 200W/ch. &nbsp;What else is our there for me, keeping in mind my budget of ~$1000.</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Those new B&amp;W's you're looking at can be real power mongers. &nbsp;I would suggest a 2 channel from either B&amp;K or Rotel at the price point you are at. &nbsp;Do not worry about &quot;matching&quot; the rated power output of an external amp to that of your receiver, it makes no difference. &nbsp;Furthermore, a 100x2 B&amp;K or Rotel will be much more powerful than any of the 2400's 120 watt (maximum rated output with one channel driven) channels. &nbsp;None of the 2400's channels can sufficiently drive those B&amp;W's. &nbsp;

best,

</font>

 

[main]

<font color='#000000'>A previous thread relating to the RX-V2400's volume control and volume levels led to me recounting how I had set up my RX-V2400 system to effectivly make it into a Z9. It seemed to me this issue merited a thread of its own.

I just adore my RX-V2400. Its preamp and DTS effects and processing is supurb. It is also a great deal at $999 list ($675 street). But this great econiomic price is made at the expence of power. Anyone who has compared the RX-V2400 to the $4000 Z9 knows that for that extra three grand what you get is little more than a bigger power supply. The power supply in the RX-V2400 is not &nbsp;big enough to drive 5 or 7 channells all at the same time at the levels required in a big room or for classical music recordings. That is why the rated 125wpc can only equate to a poor 170wpc dynamic power or headroom.

But there is a simple solution - an upgrade if you will that turns any RX-V2400 in to a (sort of) Z9.

Most of us who have recently gone to souround sound have moved up from stereo and have an old stereo amp laying around in the garage. To make a RX-V2400 into a sort of Z9, do what I have done and add the old stereo power amp to the preout of the RX-V2400 to drive the two main chanells, leaving the 2400's power supply to handle the souround sound, which it can do nicely. (You must of course, this is a given, use a powered sub-woofer).

I'm using the power amp from my old strero NAD7600 which is rated at 150wpc but has a massive power supply and gives dynamic power (bust power at the peaks when required) of 600wpc. This sytem with my matching Yamaha 250w powered sub gives a top end system that I rate at least equal to the Z9. It can handle demanding stereo recordings (usings Neo6 miusic) and DVD Audio with power to spare and movies really do sound just like a modern THX movie theater.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has done a similar thing. Happy listening.</font>

thats a neat trick! but not for a beginner, got a rxv2500 shouldnt i just buy an regular amp up to 1oowatts to drive what the subs or fronts or surrounds??

 

[mike c]

thats a neat trick! but not for a beginner, got a rxv2500 shouldnt i just buy an regular amp up to 1oowatts to drive what the subs or fronts or surrounds??

yes, you can just buy an external amp, and you wouldn't have to calibrate the separate volume control on an integrated amp.

but the original poster (2000 years ago) was trying to save money, and he spent none because he already had that extra amp lying around.