Will I gain anything?

[Good4it]

I am using a Yamaha RX A1050 AVR is there anything to gain by using a pre AMP? What?

 

[lovinthehd]

No particular point as your receiver already has a pre-amp section. What?

 

[j_garcia]

I think you'd have to drop a lot of cash to truly get better performance, so I'd agree with lovinthehd. What?

 

[Good4it]

Thanks guys. I used the wrong term. I meant an external amp.

 

[lovinthehd]

Hard to know if you'd gain anything from an external amp as you don't mention any reasons you might need more power....are you running into clipping/distortion issues now?

 

[Good4it]

No just looking for better sound.

 

[j_garcia]

Well unless you're looking to crank it up louder than current without clipping, then no you won't hear a significant improvement either.

 

[lovinthehd]

What speakers? Might play with this http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

 

[mtrycrafts]

No just looking for better sound.

Speakers and room acoustics is where you can improve to gain better sound.

 

[PENG]

As always, it depends on if your speakers are currently under powered for you application. Please enter the proper info into the calculator HD linked and post the results. Depending on the sensitivity and impedance specs of your speakers, the results may have to be adjusted.

 

[M Code]

Just a suggestion..
The RX-A1050 has a Speaker Impedance mode for 6 or 8 Ohms, be sure this is set to 8 Ohms to deliver higher power, headroom and better dynamics..

Just my $0.02..

 

[Good4it]

It’s set to 8 Ohms and my speakers are ft. Philharmonters and rear Mini Philharmoniters.

Great speakers! Forgot to add SVS PB 2000 sub.

 

[RichB]

I know this is bucking the prevailing thinking but yes there can be a benefit at 1 watt. I will soon be completing my comparison of the Yamaha RX-A820 to the same system using a separate ATI AT522NC amplifier.

A friend and I had no problem in single-blind-tests (SBT) distinguishing between the two when level matched as best we could to approximately .1 DB. The improvements were wider soundstage, quieter background, cleaner upper end.

Power usage was between 2 and 6 watts. Neither amp was close to clipping.

In this case, the comparison was between the Oppo BDP-105D driving an amp directly and the same source through the RX-A820 so it is not a comparison of just amplifiers, it includes the pre-amplification and volume control in the Yamaha.

- Rich

 

[j_garcia]

I know this is bucking the prevailing thinking but yes there can be a benefit at 1 watt. I will soon be completing my comparison of the Yamaha RX-A820 to the same system using a separate ATI AT522NC amplifier.

A friend and I had no problem in single-blind-tests (SBT) distinguishing between the two when level matched as best we could to approximately .1 DB. The improvements were wider soundstage, quieter background, cleaner upper end.

Power usage was between 2 and 6 watts. Neither amp was close to clipping.

In this case, the comparison was between the Oppo BDP-105D driving an amp directly and the same source through the RX-A820 so it is not a comparison of just amplifiers, it includes the pre-amplification and volume control in the Yamaha.

- Rich

Via analog to the Yamaha? Wider soundstage with which config? Amps can have a small sonic signature, but not like what you're describing IMO.

 

[RichB]

The difference you are hearing could be the DACs IMO, not the difference in amplification. I haven't really heard a receiver with better DACs than the Oppo.

Both use the Oppo-105D DACs. The analog outputs are sent to the AT522NC and the Yamaha RX-A820 the volume levels are matched so the same signall. After level matching, the speaker wires are moved.

The Yamaha is in Pure Direct mode, so no processing. All that is used is the preamp volume control and the FL/FR amps.

- Rich

 

[j_garcia]

which config sounded wider? I have heard differences with different amps but not to the level that you describe. Significantly lower noise floor for sure you can hear, but a noticeably wider soundstage isn't one I'd expect.

 

[RichB]

which config sounded wider? I have heard differences with different amps but not to the level that you describe. Significantly lower noise floor for sure you can hear, but a noticeably wider soundstage isn't one I'd expect.

The AT522 was wider because there was better instrument separation and dynamics. But, of course, different and extra preamplification with the Yamaha. I was never pleased with the Yamaha unit driving the Revel M20's. Dispite their size, they are only about 85 DB efficient and have a load that dips below 4 ohms. Stereophile recommends a good amp rated for 4 ohms.

- Rich

 

[TLS Guy]

No just looking for better sound.

That almost always means better speakers.

 

[PENG]

I know this is bucking the prevailing thinking but yes there can be a benefit at 1 watt. I will soon be completing my comparison of the Yamaha RX-A820 to the same system using a separate ATI AT522NC amplifier.

A friend and I had no problem in single-blind-tests (SBT) distinguishing between the two when level matched as best we could to approximately .1 DB. The improvements were wider soundstage, quieter background, cleaner upper end.

Power usage was between 2 and 6 watts. Neither amp was close to clipping.

In this case, the comparison was between the Oppo BDP-105D driving an amp directly and the same source through the RX-A820 so it is not a comparison of just amplifiers, it includes the pre-amplification and volume control in the Yamaha.

- Rich

I predicted the result in my post#17 in your other thread didn't I? The thing is, average power between 2 and 6 watts is a lot. Say the average is 6 WPC, the RX-A820 would most likely be clipping during the music peaks of 15 dB or more. If you sit closer so that you will be listening to the same SPL but at power outputs of 0.5 to 1 WPC, then you are going to have trouble telling the difference. The M20 is just too much for the anemic RX-A820 in anything but a small room for near field listening.

 

[j_garcia]

The AT522 was wider because there was better instrument separation and dynamics. But, of course, different and extra preamplification with the Yamaha. I was never pleased with the Yamaha unit driving the Revel M20's. Dispite their size, they are only about 85 DB efficient and have a load that dips below 4 ohms. Stereophile recommends a good amp rated for 4 ohms.

- Rich

Difficult to drive speakers likely will be more likely to exhibit this behavior IMO. When I was running a full set of 5 4 Ohm speakers (which dipped to 2.6 Ohms min), no receiver could handle them. Moving the front 3 to external amplification also gave me a more dynamic presentation as well, but that's because the receiver was essentially struggling with the load and the amps weren't. I went from the Marantz 8300 to Marantz MA-500 monoblocks, which were within 20W of the receiver's rating, but the sound was noticeably improved. I attributed that to the fact that each had its own power supply.