New To Forum - Need Amp Guidance

[Eric Julien]

I consider the Parasound Halo and Anthem MCA series and ATIs bang for the buck type of amps. For higher quality, I would recommed Bryston and Classe that are more expensive but still within your budget.

If your main goal is top notch HT enjoyment, and must have separates, then any Marantz prepro will do. If you want the system to double for serious two channel and/or multichannel music enjoyment and you can imagine better sound base on price, specs and good reviews, then stick with the AV-8802A that I recommended before.

I had considered the Classe amps and thought I may have reached the point of diminishing returns. I like to buy high quality and keep it for a while. I do watch some movies. However, I listen to more music than anything else. I have a small SACD and DVD-Audio collection. I'm not a fan of MP3's. FLAC at the very least.

 

[Eric Julien]

Theoretically, balanced I/Os should offer better signal to noise (S/N) ratio. In practice, based on a few lab measurements I read, the differences were negligible but I suppose they used relatively short lengths of interconnects. Quite often you will find that unbalanced I/Os actually had slightly better S/N ratios in professional reviews.

So lack of balanced inputs (or both inputs and outputs for preamps) should not be an issue unless you have long runs of interconnects, but more expensive gear will typically come with both balanced and unbalanced I/Os whether you use them or not. I do think it is a good feature to have regardless.

For S8 speakers, you will easily pass the point of diminishing return with most amps/preamps such as the Anthem MCA and Parasound Halo lines. Since you have the budget, I would suggest a flag ship AVR plus a Halo A31, or 3XJC1. If you must have separates, I would recommend the AV8802A, Halo A21 (or A31) and a low cost multichannel amp for the surrounds.

Peng,

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of equipment do you have?

 

[PENG]

Peng,

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of equipment do you have?

I have the AV8801, MM8003 and MCA20 for HT. I had an Adcom 555 for the centre for a long time but got rid of it as it was getting ridiculous to have so many amps just for 7 channels. This system is almost strictly for HT but I do use it occasionally for multichannel SACD and DVDA. 99% of the time I use my two channel systems for music. I have Cambridge Audio, Marantz, Bryston and Parasound amps and a Denon AVR for those.

 

[Eric Julien]

I have the AV8801, MM8003 and MCA20 for HT. I had an Adcom 555 for the centre for a long time but got rid of it as it was getting ridiculous to have so many amps just for 7 channels. This system is almost strictly for HT but I do use it occasionally for multichannel SACD and DVDA. 99% of the time I use my two channel systems for music. I have Cambridge Audio, Marantz, Bryston and Parasound amps and a Denon AVR for those.

Very nice! Thank you! And thank you for the suggestions. It's a jungle of choices out there and you and others are a big help!

 

[PENG]

I had considered the Classe amps and thought I may have reached the point of diminishing returns. I like to buy high quality and keep it for a while. I do watch some movies. However, I listen to more music than anything else. I have a small SACD and DVD-Audio collection. I'm not a fan of MP3's. FLAC at the very least.

I think either Bryston or Classe will get you well beyond the point of diminishing return. With Bryston you get a 20 year warranty. Some say you pay for it, but I think they probably do believe their products can last that long without needing repair. Almost forgot, if you prefer US made product, consider McIntosh amps too.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have an old Denon receiver, Denon cd burner, and an early APC av power conditioner.
My goal is to get some great separates and replace the cd burner with the Oppo BDP 105. I may want to get into vinyl again.
The issue is probably the same as many on this site. To get the highest quality listening environment possible.

The speakers and room acoustics have the greatest effect on sound quality. Then the quality of the recording.
Everything else takes a back seat.
If you like your speakers, I would not go so high into components.
Certainly you would need a good BD player. If you watch BD movies you need to have the capability to process the audio codecs.
Much beyond that is just audio jewelry.

 

[Eric Julien]

The speakers and room acoustics have the greatest effect on sound quality. Then the quality of the recording.
Everything else takes a back seat.
If you like your speakers, I would not go so high into components.
Certainly you would need a good BD player. If you watch BD movies you need to have the capability to process the audio codecs.
Much beyond that is just audio jewelry.

Thank you! I'm not attached to my speakers. However, I'm not a fan of audio jewelry either. If you have recommendations for speakers, I'm all ears.

 

[Jaybeez]

The speakers and room acoustics have the greatest effect on sound quality. Then the quality of the recording.
Everything else takes a back seat.
If you like your speakers, I would not go so high into components.
Certainly you would need a good BD player. If you watch BD movies you need to have the capability to process the audio codecs.
Much beyond that is just audio jewelry.

I've read this POV more than once and believe it to be true.

 

[herbu]

How about this? What would be the best bang for your buck equipment, not considering a budget?

Eric,
I think I've been where you are. "Normal", consumer grade stereo stuff all my life. Finally reach a place where budget is available for just about anything I want, so start studying and shopping for a top-of-the-line Home Theater.

Here's what I think...
With a large budget, the "best bang for your buck" is the point beyond which you cannot actually hear a difference. Now you're paying for aesthetics, improvements in inaudible specs, or simple bragging rights.

From your earlier comments, it seems you're willing to move into the aesthetics and bragging rights areas. I can tell you in that world, $30k will barely scratch the surface of the obscene stuff available. But in the world of what you can actually hear, you are placed to be among the best.

For speakers, have you looked here: https://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/towers-of-power-a-look-at-the-best-super-speakers.97720/

 

[Eric Julien]

Eric,
I think I've been where you are. "Normal", consumer grade stereo stuff all my life. Finally reach a place where budget is available for just about anything I want, so start studying and shopping for a top-of-the-line Home Theater.

Here's what I think...
With a large budget, the "best bang for your buck" is the point beyond which you cannot actually hear a difference. Now you're paying for aesthetics, improvements in inaudible specs, or simple bragging rights.

From your earlier comments, it seems you're willing to move into the aesthetics and bragging rights areas. I can tell you in that world, $30k will barely scratch the surface of the obscene stuff available. But in the world of what you can actually hear, you are placed to be among the best.

For speakers, have you looked here: https://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/towers-of-power-a-look-at-the-best-super-speakers.97720/

Thank you Herbu! Sounds like I'm already in a good place. There is no need to head into the obscene world of audio porn. I very much appreciate your wisdom.

I believe, as you do, that it all comes down to what you can hear that makes a difference, not how much you paid. I do believe that aesthetics do play a roll in all of this. However, paying 10's of thousands of dollars for the aesthetics is not worth it, for me.

As for the $30k budget, I actually have quite a bit more. There is just no need to spend it on something I cannot hear, nor inaudible specs I will probably not care about any way. Gene and Hugo do a great job of steering us clear of the "snake oil".

This is a journey. And I'm grateful to those who have cleared the path ahead for others.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thank you! I'm not attached to my speakers. However, I'm not a fan of audio jewelry either. If you have recommendations for speakers, I'm all ears.

Wish I could but I don't recommend speakers.
Others here who audition and listen to many speakers may, I just stick with the JBLs I have. My trees are dying, no $$$ on them

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thank you Herbu! Sounds like I'm already in a good place. There is no need to head into the obscene world of audio porn. I very much appreciate your wisdom.

I believe, as you do, that it all comes down to what you can hear that makes a difference, not how much you paid. I do believe that aesthetics do play a roll in all of this. However, paying 10's of thousands of dollars for the aesthetics is not worth it, for me.

As for the $30k budget, I actually have quite a bit more. There is just no need to spend it on something I cannot hear, nor inaudible specs I will probably not care about any way. Gene and Hugo do a great job of steering us clear of the "snake oil".

This is a journey. And I'm grateful to those who have cleared the path ahead for others.

I don't think you mentioned you and family are into movies. If so, perhaps a projector is in order?
Good subs matter too.

 

[Steve81]

I do believe that aesthetics do play a roll in all of this.

Aesthetics undoubtedly plays a role in our perceptions. However, there's more than one way to skin a cat. With the kind of budget you're talking about, you can build a custom room to suit your tastes with a dedicated equipment closet to hide all the electronics. From there, it matters a lot less if you're using a high dollar Bryston/Krell/Mark Levinson, a more affordable ATI, or even some el cheapo Crown amps.

 

[Eric Julien]

Aesthetics undoubtedly plays a role in our perceptions. However, there's more than one way to skin a cat. With the kind of budget you're talking about, you can build a custom room to suit your tastes with a dedicated equipment closet to hide all the electronics. From there, it matters a lot less if you're using a high dollar Bryston/Krell/Mark Levinson, a more affordable ATI, or even some el cheapo Crown amps.

Thank you Steve81. The custom room idea was already shot down by the family. I'll keep trying, though.