Receiver and amp pick for full 7.2.4 Atmos setup

[Epetti]

Hi. I'm looking for sanity check before pulling the trigger on a receiver for my upcoming home theater setup.

I'm planning on a full 7.2.4 speaker setup. Because we're at a new model cycle for Denon it felt like a perfect time to buy.

I was looking at getting the Denon AVR-X4300h. From what I can tell there are no future proofing format features in the X4400h that would give any reason to get the newer one. And it supports full 11 channel pre-out so there's nothing in the 6300/6400 or 7200 other than power differences that would make those upgrades worth it.

For power I was going to supplement with Emotiva. Either use XPA-7 and the receiver itself for the last four channels, or the new XPA-11 assuming it's not under powered for the 8 surrounds. Since they're the same price any thoughts on the better route to go there?

Does this seem like a reasonable future proof and powered enough setup as a foundation? Anything else I should be looking for?

Thanks in advance.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd use a couple Crown XLS amps myself and save some money or maybe a Monoprice Monolith 7ch if you want something a bit nicer looking and want just one box. Sounds like a decent plan otherwise to me.

 

[agarwalro]

Without knowing the speakers, it is foolhardy to assume your new 4300H is insufficient.

 

[lovinthehd]

Without knowing the speakers, it is foolhardy to assume your new 4300H is insufficient.

Except it can't amplify all 11 ch....

 

[agarwalro]

Except it can't amplify all 11 ch....

Correct. It doesn't alter my sentiment.

 

[lovinthehd]

Correct. It doesn't alter my sentiment.

But alters the fact the avr alone can't do the whole job, sentimentality or no. I've been happy with my 4520 alone for even up to 9ch, but would need an amp to do 11ch. Just went back from 9 to 7ch myself due some speaker changes....

 

[agarwalro]

But alters the fact the avr alone can't do the whole job, sentimentality or no. I've been happy with my 4520 alone for even up to 9ch, but would need an amp to do 11ch. Just went back from 9 to 7ch myself due some speaker changes....

Should the OP get a 2 or 3 or 5 or 7 channel amp? Should it be 100W/ch or 500W/ch.?

 

[Epetti]

I pulled the trigger on the 4300. I'm leaning now toward getting the Emotiva XPA-3 to supplement. It makes sure there's more than enough power for LCR, and covers the two channels that had no power at all. Then, if it's not sufficient when I finally pick my speakers, I can upgrade the amp and add more channels easily.

 

[lovinthehd]

Should the OP get a 2 or 3 or 5 or 7 channel amp? Should it be 100W/ch or 500W/ch.?

Hard to know with the little info so far....

 

[agarwalro]

I pulled the trigger on the 4300. I'm leaning now toward getting the Emotiva XPA-3 to supplement. It makes sure there's more than enough power for LCR, and covers the two channels that had no power at all. Then, if it's not sufficient when I finally pick my speakers, I can upgrade the amp and add more channels easily.

Edit: I just realized you're intending to use the XPA-5 (I assume, not XPA-3) for LCR and two unamplified Height channels. That would be overkill for height channels.

Original:
The XPA-3 won't get you to 7.2.4 config. You'll additionally need a 2 channel amp for Height speakers.

See Amp Assignment function:

 

[Epetti]

Maybe I assumed too much of the flexibility of amp assignments in the 4300. My intention was to use the XPA-3 For LCR and use the 4300 for height. I assumed you could reassign those amps to any channel so if I wasn't using the internal ones for LCR I could use them for height instead.

 

[agarwalro]

Maybe I assumed too much of the flexibility of amp assignments in the 4300. My intention was to use the XPA-3 For LCR and use the 4300 for height. I assumed you could reassign those amps to any channel so if I wasn't using the internal ones for LCR I could use them for height instead.

That would make sense from a customer perspective, not for D&M.

The fully assignable amps are in the receivers a step or two up.

 

[Epetti]

Ugh. Thanks for the heads up. That's why I ask here. Conceptually the plan still holds. I'll just need to find a cheaper amp solve for the height channels.

 

[agarwalro]

Can use something like this for the unpowered Height channels,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NMUE2P4

 

[PENG]

If you really need the additional power of a 200W amp, then the Monolith 5x200 is a simple solution. If you don't need that 1 to 2 dB more output then just add one of those low cost 2x75W amp and you won't know the difference.

More power only makes a difference if the extra power is actually used.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Can use something like this for the unpowered Height channels,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NMUE2P4

That's a pretty good find. So 4 Ch would only be about $200. Very economical. $800 Denon + $200 Russound = 11Ch = $1,000.

47% off on the Denon and 48% off on the Russound. Not bad at all.

Let the Denon power the 7Ch and let the Russound power the 4Ch.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I just noticed this $100 Monoprice 2Ch amp on Amazon.

- 8 ohms: 100W x 2Ch RMS, 200W Peak
- 4 ohms: 150W x 2Ch RMS, 300W Peak
- 2 ohms: 250W x 2Ch RMS, 500W Peak

Only problem is you need to get the XLR to RCA cable and the $25/pair Speakon-Banana speaker cable.

https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-300-Watt-Studio-Audio-Amplifier/dp/B011JNVIYI/ref=sr_1_227?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1506706974&sr=1-227

https://www.amazon.com/MCSPROAUDIO-Gauge-Speaker-Cables-CABLE/dp/B01FSVOO7U/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1506707563&sr=1-3&keywords=speakon+to+banana

https://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Patch-Cable-Cords/dp/B0010XUZRE/ref=sr_1_10?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1506708123&sr=1-10&keywords=GLS+xlr+to+rca+cable

 

[Epetti]

Very nice finds. Thank you.

 

[agarwalro]

I just noticed this $100 Monoprice 2Ch amp on Amazon.

- 8 ohms: 100W x 2Ch RMS, 200W Peak
- 4 ohms: 150W x 2Ch RMS, 300W Peak
- 2 ohms: 250W x 2Ch RMS, 500W Peak

https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-300-Watt-Studio-Audio-Amplifier/dp/B011JNVIYI/ref=sr_1_227?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1506706974&sr=1-227

That's a good deal too!

I'm in the OP's camp with being frustrated that LCR amp modules are hardwired. There's just no sense in getting a high end AVR to have that feature.

 

[PENG]

That's a good deal too!

I'm in the OP's camp with being frustrated that LCR amp modules are hardwired. There's just no sense in getting a high end AVR to have that feature.

Which AVR would you consider high end? For me that would be the AVR-x7200wa, RX-A3070, MRX-1120 and some Euro models such as Arcam's top models.

AVR-x4300H, X6300H, SR7011 etc would be mid range.