X3800H with amplifier question

[wutdarut]

Hello,

I am new to this, so go easy please lol.

I have a few options I’m considering for my AV equipment. One critical question that I can’t seem to understand because I’ve read conflicting things is:

If I buy a X3800h, can I buy a 3 channel amp to connect to it for extra juice for the LCR channels and just use the normal outputs for the surrounds/heights? Or is that if I use an external AMP I need to go all or nothing and all my speakers will need external amps? (I think I will also need an amp for the 2 extra height channels)

I’m debating between X3800h with a nice ATI 3 channel amp for the fronts, or an Arcam 21 which will need a 4 channel amp for the heights.

Running 7.2.4 with KEF R7s and a R2C as front speakers.

 

[lovinthehd]

You can use external amps on any channels you like. I would use an external amp of significantly more power if you're going to that expense, I'd get at least 200wpc or more while you're at it. Another question is do you really need an external amp for your use?

What you've probably read is about the dedicated pre-amp mode on the Denon, which relates to a lower distortion level at particular voltages which isn't particularly important. The pre-outs on Denons are always live, tho, so connecting external amps is quite easy.

 

[ban25]

Hello,

I am new to this, so go easy please lol.

I have a few options I’m considering for my AV equipment. One critical question that I can’t seem to understand because I’ve read conflicting things is:

If I buy a X3800h, can I buy a 3 channel amp to connect to it for extra juice for the LCR channels and just use the normal outputs for the surrounds/heights? Or is that if I use an external AMP I need to go all or nothing and all my speakers will need external amps? (I think I will also need an amp for the 2 extra height channels)

I’m debating between X3800h with a nice ATI 3 channel amp for the fronts, or an Arcam 21 which will need a 4 channel amp for the heights.

Running 7.2.4 with KEF R7s and a R2C as front speakers.

I have R11s and R3 surrounds with an R2C in the center. You will be fine with just the X3800H. No external amp needed.

 

[wutdarut]

You can use external amps on any channels you like. I would use an external amp of significantly more power if you're going to that expense, I'd get at least 200wpc or more while you're at it. Another question is do you really need an external amp for your use?

What you've probably read is about the dedicated pre-amp mode on the Denon, which relates to a lower distortion level at particular voltages which isn't particularly important. The pre-outs on Denons are always live, tho, so connecting external amps is quite easy.

I am going to get an ATI 1825 AMP that has 200 watts to each of the 5 channels. That should be plenty I think.
Thanks, I thought you had to use the preamp mode to use an external amp, glad that is not the case!

 

[wutdarut]

I have R11s and R3 surrounds with an R2C in the center. You will be fine with just the X3800H. No external amp needed.

How far do you sit from your speakers and what is your room size? I am about 12 feet away in a 18x20 room.

 

[lovinthehd]

I am going to get an ATI 1825 AMP that has 200 watts to each of the 5 channels. That should be plenty I think.
Thanks, I thought you had to use the preamp mode to use an external amp, glad that is not the case!

On some Denons you can turn off some of the amp circuitry with the dedicated pre-amp mode. It's gotten a bit more fuss than needed in terms of normal levels of amp sensitivity/use. That amp priced similarly to the Monolith 5ch made by ATI?

This is a nice tool to help determine amp needs http://www.hometheaterengineering.com/splcalculator.html

 

[wutdarut]

On some Denons you can turn off some of the amp circuitry with the dedicated pre-amp mode. It's gotten a bit more fuss than needed in terms of normal levels of amp sensitivity/use. That amp priced similarly to the Monolith 5ch made by ATI?

This is a nice tool to help determine amp needs http://www.hometheaterengineering.com/splcalculator.html

Wow good call out…it’s actually priced closer to the 7 channel monolith.

 

[ban25]

How far do you sit from your speakers and what is your room size? I am about 12 feet away in a 18x20 room.

My primary listening position is 12' in a 30'x26'x10' room.

 

[lovinthehd]

Wow good call out…it’s actually priced closer to the 7 channel monolith.

Same general design it's been said (but don't know). If you can get 7ch of amp instead of 5ch of amp, that's possibly useful down the line....altho I usually just go for 2ch amps myself (several of them, tho not these particular series of amps)

 

[PENG]

Wow good call out…it’s actually priced closer to the 7 channel monolith.

I would get one of the NC502MP based, buckeyamps that come in 2, 4, 6, or 8 channels. Way better than the ATI amp in terms of performance/power output ratios/price ratios.

@DigitalDawn is now a dealer, or you can buy directly from Buckeye Amps - Hypex NCORE and Purifi 1ET400A

He doesn't provide unbalance outputs but a low cost monprice cable will do the job nicely because the Denon can output more than 4 V (I am doing that, no issues).

 

[wutdarut]

I would get one of the NC502MP based, buckeyamps that come in 2, 4, 6, or 8 channels. Way better than the ATI amp in terms of performance/power output ratios/price ratios.

@DigitalDawn is now a dealer, or you can buy directly from Buckeye Amps - Hypex NCORE and Purifi 1ET400A

He doesn't provide unbalance outputs but a low cost monprice cable will do the job nicely because the Denon can output more than 4 V (I am doing that, no issues).

View attachment 61329

Awesome! Going to look into that!