would this be a good idea?

[selkec]

I currently are running rti150 fronts, csi5 center and rc65i rears with a HK DPR1005. Im looking for a little more power for the front 3 speakers. I had this idea of using 3 AudioSource AMP100 bridged to make about 160wpc. Does anyone know anything about these amps. I can get them for 75 each shipped to my house. Would this be a good idea?

 

[Seth=L]

I would say it will make a difference. Being that the HK uses a digital switching amp and the audiosource are traditional analog amps the sound will be slightly different and you should have a decent increase in power. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

 

[selkec]

what do you mean by saying it will sound slightly different. Harsh, bright...? I know I probably cant expect too much for what they cost.

 

[Seth=L]

what do you mean by saying it will sound slightly different. Harsh, bright...? I know I probably cant expect too much for what they cost.

Analog transistor amplifiers are usually sonically identical if they are properly designed and manufactured. Most people find the Digital switching amps to be bright, but I don't have personal experience with digital switching amplifiers and receivers.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I currently are running rti150 fronts, csi5 center and rc65i rears with a HK DPR1005. Im looking for a little more power for the front 3 speakers. I had this idea of using 3 AudioSource AMP100 bridged to make about 160wpc. Does anyone know anything about these amps. I can get them for 75 each shipped to my house. Would this be a good idea?

What is happening right now that you are not satisfied with the volume? How loud are you listening to these anyhow?
What is the HK power rating?

 

[no. 5]

What is the HK power rating?

70WPC, ACD.

 

[Seth=L]

70WPC, ACD.

I believe that is two channels driven. Which should be plenty in most scenarios.

Bench test results-

Five channels driven into 8-ohm loads: 0.1% distortion at 30.8 watts; 1% distortion at 47.9 watts

 

[selkec]

My speakers sound fine now. I have just been setting home since Dec 8 with hand surgery and feel like spending a little money. If the audiosource amp100's bridged would make a difference then I may try them since there so cheap.

 

[Seth=L]

Do you have a subwoofer?

 

[no. 5]

I believe that is two channels driven. Which should be plenty in most scenarios.

Bench test results-

Five channels driven into 8-ohm loads: 0.1% distortion at 30.8 watts; 1% distortion at 47.9 watts

oops, my bad.

I got the spec of H/K's website, I just guessed that it was ACD, 'cuz that is what H/K does.

 

[selkec]

I wouldnt call it a sub. Lol its an old cerwin vega lw-12. I know laugh all you want. It isnt the greatest thing. It sets in a corner on the same wall as the couch so you can hear it just fine, (on the couch only). I would love to get a new sub but my room is open to the kitchen and foyer. So its about 37x19 with vaulted 9 to 15ft ceilings. So I imagine I would need a pretty big sub to actually fit the room.
I just figured I didnt have enough watts after looking on the polk forum. Most of them run alot more watts to there polks. I should have the HK DPR 2005 but they sent me the 1005 wth 2005 remotes and manuals and box and I didnt notice it was the wrong receiver till about 2 months later. They pretty much told me I was screwed since I didnt notice sooner.

 

[Nick250]

Don't worry about the receiver too much, I seriously doubt the 2005 would sound any differently. A decent sub would make a big improvement in sound quality however. I think that would be my next upgrade if I were you.

Nick

 

[Jack Hammer]

I currently are running rti150 fronts, csi5 center and rc65i rears with a HK DPR1005. Im looking for a little more power for the front 3 speakers. I had this idea of using 3 AudioSource AMP100 bridged to make about 160wpc. Does anyone know anything about these amps. I can get them for 75 each shipped to my house. Would this be a good idea?

I'd look into a different amp for that purpose. I own an Audiosource Amp100. They are great for powering a second zone or background music, but I wouldn't recomend one for your mains. It has a non-toroidal transformer. The Amp 1/a and amp200 and above all use toroid transformers. You will not get great sound quality using an Amp100 for your mains.

Ubid has the Amp 1/a's every once and a while for about $10 more than the Amp100. This could be a cheap way to do it. Or you could look for a better quality used multi channel amp. You can probaby find something decent that will suit your needs for around $300-400 dollars if you look around.

Jack

 

[selkec]

Thank you for all your replys. I think I will not get the amps now. Ill just save up for a while. Then get me a good sub and I been looking at the Emotiva amps. They look nice and not too high priced for a good amp

 

[Seth=L]

Thank you for all your replys. I think I will not get the amps now. Ill just save up for a while. Then get me a good sub and I been looking at the Emotiva amps. They look nice and not too high priced for a good amp

Once you get a real sub you will thank yourself. Is the Cerwin Vega passive? Meaning it doesn't have it's own amplifier.

Also, when watching movies at high volumes you will be using about 3-10 watts during most times, I wouldn't worry much about an external amplifier right now.

So get a sub, set the receiver's x-over to 80 or 90hz, and set all the speakers to small and you have yourself a more dynamic sound system.

 

[wire]

I'd look into a different amp for that purpose. I own an Audiosource Amp100. They are great for powering a second zone or background music, but I wouldn't recomend one for your mains. It has a non-toroidal transformer. The Amp 1/a and amp200 and above all use toroid transformers. You will not get great sound quality using an Amp100 for your mains.

Ubid has the Amp 1/a's every once and a while for about $10 more than the Amp100. This could be a cheap way to do it. Or you could look for a better quality used multi channel amp. You can probaby find something decent that will suit your needs for around $300-400 dollars if you look around.

Jack

Agreed
Look around Audiogone or some pawnshops for a good used amp . Adcom goes cheap once and while , try and stay away from Kenwood and lowend stuff like that .

 

[wire]

Once you get a real sub you will thank yourself. Is the Cerwin Vega passive? Meaning it doesn't have it's own amplifier.

Also, when watching movies at high volumes you will be using about 3-10 watts during most times, I wouldn't worry much about an external amplifier right now.

So get a sub, set the receiver's x-over to 80 or 90hz, and set all the speakers to small and you have yourself a more dynamic sound system.

That would help also , look for end of the year specials in your area , 1 or 2 year old models the stores want to get rid of , I bought a RW-8 just over a month ago for $150 cdn at a local klipsch dealer in my area ( happy with it ) .

 

[selkec]

thanks for all the info guys. Even though my fronts are not small set them to small anyway? I read I should do this but dont quit understand it. Whats the point of having towers then? I might as well sell them and get bookshelf then. To me it seems like they would sound no different than bookshelfs if set to small. I dont know. Guess I dont quite understand the concept yet.

 

[wire]

thanks for all the info guys. Even though my fronts are not small set them to small anyway? I read I should do this but dont quit understand it. Whats the point of having towers then? I might as well sell them and get bookshelf then. To me it seems like they would sound no different than bookshelfs if set to small. I dont know. Guess I dont quite understand the concept yet.

Someone here should be able to help you out with that .
To me the towers should give you better lower midbass and lows . I dont know about the settings in these new recievers ( I setup my girlfreinds HK , thats all i know and after she listin to my systems , hers is not very musical ) .

 

[Seth=L]

thanks for all the info guys. Even though my fronts are not small set them to small anyway? I read I should do this but dont quit understand it. Whats the point of having towers then? I might as well sell them and get bookshelf then. To me it seems like they would sound no different than bookshelfs if set to small. I dont know. Guess I dont quite understand the concept yet.

OK, we get signal and mainscreen turn on!

Here is some education on audio frequencies. The average human hearing range is 20hz-20,000hz (more oftenly written as 20hz-20khz or Kilohertz). Subwoofers augment the lowest bass frequencies that your other speakers typically cannot, and it has a dedicated amplifier designed to produce the dynamic power needed for true low end bass. A true subwoofer is one that reaches the audible depths of 20hz, which is more felt than heard and is not localizable. I believe localization becomes difficult around 80-100hz, meaning not able to determine were the bass is coming from. This is good because most people only have one subwoofer and don't want to know were the sound is coming from.

Subwoofers have cross-overs and receivers have cross-overs, the process of adjusting them is called "bass-mangagement". Typical Subwoofers have variable cross-overs that can be adjusted from 40hz on up to 200hz (hertz). The reason we adjust the cross-over on either is to have the subwoofer pick up the frequencies that the front speakers can't or don't need to play. The receiver most give the speakers more power for lower bass, so reducing the amount of bass they are playing reduces strain on the receiver's amplifiers, allowing the receiver to give more power to the other frequencies.

Setting the cross-over in the receiver to around 80hz, setting the speakers to small, and setting the subwoofer's cross-over to the max setting (typically 200hz) will allow your receiver to rest easy and get rid of bass cancelations from multiple sources of the same frequencies (i.e. your sub and speakers).

I think that about covers it.