Help me choose an amp

[tomd51]

Almost forgot this one:

PureAV Home Theater Power Console PF30 - $89.81

Less outlets (8) and features than the PF31, but has the 'switched' feature that would give you the auto-on/auto-off feature as well for a bit less money... -TD

 

[darien87]

The first few will give you what you need from a protection standpoint, but the reason I listed the Belkin PureAV PF31 is that not only does it give you a wealth of outlets (11), it also provides a few options for remote and switched turn-on of some outlets. This allows you to plug the amp into one of these designated outlets (4 available) and when the receiver is powered on, the PF31 senses this and activates these outlets. There are also cheaper options out there that do auto-on sense switching, but this is one of those all-in-one solutions that gives you lots of options and provides great protection and does so cleanly, that I can attest to personally... -TD

Man, you just love spending my money don't ya Tom? I just bought the Belkin PF31 from Buy.com. That one you had the link for on Amazon was charging $50 for shipping!!! Buy.com had a $10 off Google checkout special going, so I went with that. I'll probably have it by the end of the week. I was using a Monster power center I got from Radio Shack for about $75. I'm sure this Belkin unit will be better though.

I just got finished arranging my components in my new entertainment center. Now I gotta move everything around all over again to make room for the amp. I had the power center in a closed cabinet, but I like the looks of the Belkin, so I may have to move that one down with the rest of the components.

OK. I am NOT buying anything else................. for a while anyway.

 

[tomd51]

It's a vicious cycle...

If you think about it, though, why spend a substantial amount of money on electronics and not protect them or have them only do some of what you want?

Both of these purchases are worthwhile, neither of them are frivolous or esoteric. Then again, that's easy to say for me, I'm not spending dime one... But if it's any consolation, I, as well as others, have gone through the same thing when upgrading/adding on components. You just wonder when it is going to end?

The smart ones just accept it for what it is... -TD

 

[highfihoney]

There are products made that you can plug directly into the power recepticles on the rear of your receiver,then plug your amps into them for remote turn on/off function,i know of two manufacturers who made these.

Mcintosh & Adcom,you would have to buy either of them used as neither manufacturer makes them any longer,the Mac unit is the SCR3 & the Adcom unit is the ACE 515,i have both models & of the two the adcom is a more versitile unit.

Member MIKEC was looking into remote power options & im pretty sure he scored something pretty cheaply to acomplish the task,ya might want to shoot him a pm.

 

[dhead1]

Believe me when I tell you that 200wpc is NOT pointless! This is how I got hooked on separate amplification. I added a 205wpc Parasound 1500A amp to my system & it was the best improvement I have ever made to my system.

I now have a 405wpc Sunfire 5 channel amp for all my speakers! I will never have a system without separate amplification ever again & the minimum I will have will be 200wpc.

Forget about it being loud, what it will give you is better clarity, better separation between instruments, better bass, & tons of headroom when you are in the middle of an action sequence. It will also go louder than you will ever be able to stand it.

What does the term"headroom" mean?
Thanks,
Duane

 

[ski2xblack]

'Headroom' refers to dynamic power available for musical peaks and crescendos. Dynamic power is what is on tap above and beyond RMS power ratings. The demands music places on your amp could easily require considerably more output for short bursts, often at much higher power levels than the garden variety receiver can typically provide. Your average receiver will have less headroom than a separate amp due to lesser internal power supply, and sharing of juice from the power supply to drive other things than the amplifier. As an example, I have a 50 watt/chan Yamaha stereo receiver (RX-396) and a 50 watt/chan NAD power amp (2100X). The dynamic power of the Yammie is about 80 watts@8ohms, 120 watts@4ohms. The dynamic power of the NAD is 150 watt@ 8ohms, 250 watts@4ohms. Despite their equivalent RMS ratings, the extra headroom of the NAD makes a huge difference, and results in a much more realistic, dynamic presentation.

 

[scarb0r0]

Does anybody have any suggestions to a good stereo amplifier that can really make the power and bass come out of a pair of Cerwin Vega CLSC-12 towers? The best options is to have not only a bass control knob, but also a loudness control to boost the overall system and especially the bass. Anyone know any good receivers for a reasonable price?

 

[Nick250]

Any Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo AV receiver played in "pure direct" will work just fine and will sound the same as the others once dialed in. Check the receiver specs to make sure it has pre outs so you can add an external amp down the road. Also I suggest buying an external sub if bass is that important to you. That may have all ready been suggested, but I did not go back and re read the whole thread.

Nick

 

[darien87]

Does anybody have any suggestions to a good stereo amplifier that can really make the power and bass come out of a pair of Cerwin Vega CLSC-12 towers? The best options is to have not only a bass control knob, but also a loudness control to boost the overall system and especially the bass. Anyone know any good receivers for a reasonable price?

Dude, you have TWO other threads asking this SAME question!!! Quit hijacking my thread!!!

 

[tomd51]

I think he's under the impression that if he saturates the forum, he'll get the answer he wants. Sadly, it don't work that way... -TD

 

[EJD]

Well, Tom hooked me up with an ad for an Acurus 200x3. So I bought it today. Unfortunately, it's coming all the way from Connecticut,

Good call on the Acurus. Was that the one on HT Spot? That one and one on Agon have been taunting me to buy them for the last couple of weeks.

Looking forward to hearing your impression of it.

 

[darien87]

Good call on the Acurus. Was that the one on HT Spot? That one and one on Agon have been taunting me to buy them for the last couple of weeks.

Looking forward to hearing your impression of it.

It was on AV123 forums, but I think he also had it on Audiogon, because I saw an ad for one and the pics looked identical.

 

[darien87]

I think he's under the impression that if he saturates the forum, he'll get the answer he wants. Sadly, it don't work that way... -TD

Hey Tom, I've got another question for you. I'm not sure how the amp connects to my reciever. It looks like the preamp outs on my 661 are just a single RCA connection for each channel. Is this correct? Will just any 'ol RCA cables do or do I need something special?

I just called Monoprice and the guy told me to just use component cables, since I'm doing 3-channel audio. He said there was no difference between passing video or audio information, as their 75ohm cables. Is this true? If so, cool cuz I've got a few sets of component cables laying around.

 

[tomd51]

You are correct, sir. You'll need one component cable for each channel you plan to run to the Acurus. Assuming you've got the typical RGB component cable, you'll run the FL, C and FR to the corresponding channels on the Acurus... -TD

 

[darien87]

You are correct, sir. You'll need one component cable for each channel you plan to run to the Acurus. Assuming you've got the typical RGB component cable, you'll run the FL, C and FR to the corresponding channels on the Acurus... -TD

Cool. Well at least that's one thing I don't have to buy.

 

[tomd51]

Good call on the Acurus. Was that the one on HT Spot? That one and one on Agon have been taunting me to buy them for the last couple of weeks.

Yep, that was on HTS as well as the AV123Forum. The one from A-gon was the same amp but a different one, which I believe sold pretty quickly. Not terribly surprising considering the feedback from most folks with these amps.... -TD

 

[tomd51]

Cool. Well at least that's one thing I don't have to buy.

See? And you thought I just wanted to spend your money... -TD

 

[dhead1]

'Headroom' refers to dynamic power available for musical peaks and crescendos. Dynamic power is what is on tap above and beyond RMS power ratings. The demands music places on your amp could easily require considerably more output for short bursts, often at much higher power levels than the garden variety receiver can typically provide. Your average receiver will have less headroom than a separate amp due to lesser internal power supply, and sharing of juice from the power supply to drive other things than the amplifier. As an example, I have a 50 watt/chan Yamaha stereo receiver (RX-396) and a 50 watt/chan NAD power amp (2100X). The dynamic power of the Yammie is about 80 watts@8ohms, 120 watts@4ohms. The dynamic power of the NAD is 150 watt@ 8ohms, 250 watts@4ohms. Despite their equivalent RMS ratings, the extra headroom of the NAD makes a huge difference, and results in a much more realistic, dynamic presentation.

Thanks ski2xblack,
I am learning tons from this thread.

Duane

 

[darien87]

Thanks ski2xblack,
I am learning tons from this thread.

Duane

Hey!! NO learning from MY thread dude!!! Just kidding. I'm glad I'm not the only one getting useful info here.

Man, this little thread of mine is up to 8 pages!!! I'm cool.

 

[cfrizz]

That's what these forums are all about!

BTW Nice system you have there! Always good to see a fellow Polkie!

Thanks ski2xblack,
I am learning tons from this thread.

Duane