upgrade receiver or Amp?

[gholt]

I have the following gear:

AVR Onkyo AVR-702
BR Panny 605k
PJ Panny Ax-200U
Spk RBH T1SE (L / R / C)
RBH 1010p (2) (Sub)
RBH 61 SE (4) Surrounds
DVR Philips 3176
Amp (2) Onkyo M-501 (For L / R / C)

So, I have been looking at both amps and receivers to upgrade next. Some of the new receivers have some great features with the new audio and video enhancements.

Ideally, I think it would be best to have both. But, with my receiver being 5 generations old, it doesn't have HDMI, but it does have a good amplification and sounds OK.

So, my dilemia is will the new receivers be sufficient to run the speakers I have. The T1 are very efficient. So, they may not need full power. They are rated to run up to 500 W. So, I was thinking that it might be good to put a 300 watt amp on them, or is that false thinking and I should just get a quality receiver. Ideally, I would like to keep within $1,500 for either a recever or a combinatiion of receiver and amp (for the front three channels). So, any advice you could recomend would be appreciated.

 

[agarwalro]

I think your setup will definitely benefit from having a pre-pro and dedicated amp arrangement rather than an AVR. Further, there is no reason to limit the amp power based on the speaker rating. Since you will be calibrating, etc. having a more powerful amp will ensure that there is sufficient headroom for the speakers. That said, there is no point getting a 1000W/channel amp either since that would be overkill and a pointless expenditure.

If the M-501s have sufficient power for the fronts and work fine, there is no reason to get rid of them. I suggest moving them to power the four surrounds and adding a different dedicated amp for the fronts.

Integra DTC-9.8 makes for an excellent pre-pro, reviewed here. I believe the street price for it is about $1200.

For the frontstage amplification, do you have a preference for amp technology? Class A, Class AB, Class T, etc.?

 

[gholt]

I think your setup will definitely benefit from having a pre-pro and dedicated amp arrangement rather than an AVR. Further, there is no reason to limit the amp power based on the speaker rating. Since you will be calibrating, etc. having a more powerful amp will ensure that there is sufficient headroom for the speakers. That said, there is no point getting a 1000W/channel amp either since that would be overkill and a pointless expenditure.

If the M-501s have sufficient power for the fronts and work fine, there is no reason to get rid of them. I suggest moving them to power the four surrounds and adding a different dedicated amp for the fronts.

Integra DTC-9.8 makes for an excellent pre-pro, reviewed here. I believe the street price for it is about $1200.

For the frontstage amplification, do you have a preference for amp technology? Class A, Class AB, Class T, etc.?

The M-501 are rated at 150 w / ch. So, I think they would be fine for the surrounds.

I will look at the Integra. I never thought of those. I'm also not too familiar with the difference class of amps. The only ones I have looked at have been the Emotiva amps. What would be a good match with the T1s. Are they all a good match, or do all of them have strength and weaknesses?

 

[agarwalro]

The only ones I have looked at have been the Emotiva amps. What would be a good match with the T1s. Are they all a good match, or do all of them have strength and weaknesses?

As you have noticed all Emotiva amps have good specs and good rep on the AH forum. Unfortunately, I do not have any hands on experience with them, so I will deffer to someone else on this.

 

[gholt]

As you have noticed all Emotiva amps have good specs and good rep on the AH forum. Unfortunately, I do not have any hands on experience with them, so I will deffer to someone else on this.

Are there others that would be as good as the emotiva that would make a good fit for a 3 channel amp?

 

[agarwalro]

For switching amps, www.wyred4sound.com and equivalent but less costly, www.d-sonic.net (Both based on B&W Ice Power implementations).

Some folks feel this ATI is the same as Outlaw and their OEM supplier, http://www.ati-amp.com/at3000.html

Also look into, Rotel. They make some great gear.

Last but not the least, used gear from, Parasound, Adcom, Bryston, Anthem, NAD, etc.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Get a super receiver, Onkyo top model.

You already have some amps, why not getting an up-to-date super receiver.

An Onkyo TX-NR906 perhaps, for only $1,250.
Or a TX-SR876 for only $900 or so.

These two are very powerful receivers that will honor very respectably your speakers.

For a bit more info, check in here: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56441

Bob

 

[gholt]

You already have some amps, why not getting an up-to-date super receiver.

An Onkyo TX-NR906 perhaps, for only $1,250.
Or a TX-SR876 for only $900 or so.

These two are very powerful receivers that will honor very respectably your speakers.

I have looked at these. I just thought it would be better to get more power to the front speakers than these receivers would have. The current amps that I have are only 8 ohm and the speakers are 4 ohm. Also, my receiver isn't 4 ohm stable with the surrounds running at 8 ohm. So, I need to do somthing that would remedy the problem. But, if they can do a split with a set of speakers that are 4 and 8 ohm that would be good.

 

[Lordoftherings]

I have looked at these. I just thought it would be better to get more power to the front speakers than these receivers would have. The current amps that I have are only 8 ohm and the speakers are 4 ohm. Also, my receiver isn't 4 ohm stable with the surrounds running at 8 ohm. So, I need to do somthing that would remedy the problem. But, if they can do a split with a set of speakers that are 4 and 8 ohm that would be good.

OK, just get a couple of Emotiva XPA-1 then. That should take care of your power concern.

Or get the Onkyo TX-SR876 for $900, and add to that the Emotiva XPA-2 for $800, or the Emotiva XPA-3 for $600. And sell your old receiver and old amps. This way, you'll be below your budget, and you'll be up to date with the latest, and you'll gain much more power too. How much more simple and a better value than that do you really need?

* And did you know that these Onkyo receivers produce over 350 watts RMS in 2-channel stereo
with 4-ohm loads? And they give you over 150 watts with all 7 channels driven into 8 ohms?
These figures are true (with 1% THD).

Bob