Adding Power Amp to Denon AVR 4308

[m5isa540]

I purchased a Denon 4308CI and like the sound with my Definitive BP10B's and CLR2002 (which will be sold tomorrow). I am in process of purchasing a set of Paradigm Studio 100's plus CC590 center and assume this configuration will sound even better. I like the Denon because it has all the bells and whistles (HDMI 1.3 !!!) that seem to elude B&K, Rotel, and others in this price range. I want to add a 150W-200W 5.1 power amp to the Denon 4308 to help drive the Paradigm's. Has anyone put a 150w-200w power amp on the Denon, was there a significant improvement?

 

[audioholix]

I purchased a Denon 4308CI and like the sound with my Definitive BP10B's and CLR2002 (which will be sold tomorrow). I am in process of purchasing a set of Paradigm Studio 100's plus CC590 center and assume this configuration will sound even better. I like the Denon because it has all the bells and whistles (HDMI 1.3 !!!) that seem to elude B&K, Rotel, and others in this price range. I want to add a 150W-200W 5.1 power amp to the Denon 4308 to help drive the Paradigm's. Has anyone put a 150w-200w power amp on the Denon, was there a significant improvement?

I had denon 987, and hook up crown802 from the pre-out Front L/R to run my other Bose 502, but pre-out give you very little volts, so thing is amp have at least double watts than speaker to get full dynamic. example if you have 100 watts speakers I will recommend 250 watts each channel Amp. That way when you want to get loud, turn the power amp on and you can adjust the volume with you Denon Avr-4308 you won't disappoint .... have fun bro

 

[AdrianMills]

I had denon 987, and hook up crown802 from the pre-out Front L/R to run my other Bose 502, but pre-out give you very little volts, so thing is amp have at least double watts than speaker to get full dynamic. example if you have 100 watts speakers I will recommend 250 watts each channel Amp. That way when you want to get loud, turn the power amp on and you can adjust the volume with you Denon Avr-4308 you won't disappoint .... have fun bro

Where do you people keep on coming from?

m5isa540, unless you drive the 4308CI to clipping (and I'd be surprised if you could while keeping your hearing) the sound will be the same with or without an external amp. By all means buy one if you want one but don't do so because you think it will sound better, because it won't.

And BTW, a 150 to 200W power amp will add next to nothing in headroom compared to the 4308, nada, zero, zilch, nil. You'd need a 300W @ 8ohms just to get 3dB of headroom above the 4308.

 

[rnatalli]

Adrian hit it right on the head.

 

[Midcow2]

Arrrrg! Did you consider upgrading Def Techs

I purchased a Denon 4308CI and like the sound with my Definitive BP10B's and CLR2002 (which will be sold tomorrow). I am in process of purchasing a set of Paradigm Studio 100's plus CC590 center and assume this configuration will sound even better. I like the Denon because it has all the bells and whistles (HDMI 1.3 !!!) that seem to elude B&K, Rotel, and others in this price range. I want to add a 150W-200W 5.1 power amp to the Denon 4308 to help drive the Paradigm's. Has anyone put a 150w-200w power amp on the Denon, was there a significant improvement?

Did you consider ungrading to higher level Def Techs ? example: BP7000SCs and CLR3000 ?

Remember Power is logrithmic going from 100W to 200W only provides a 30% gain.

Having said that if you want a good power amp ,look at the Emotiva XPA-2 reatail $799. 2-channel 250RMS inbto 8 ohms or 500RMS into 4 ohms.


Also remember the Paradigm Studio 100s are pretty effcient, Sensitivity - Room / Anechoic 91 / 88 dB and probably don't need more power.

 

[Davemcc]

I agree that there doesn't seem anything to gain adding an amp to the 4308 with the Studio 100's. They appear to be a relatively easy 8 ohm, 88/91 dB load. The purpose of adding external amps is to properly drive low impendence/low sensitivity speakers that receiver's amps aren't designed to handle. Or just to look cool, it's your money.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Has anyone put a 150w-200w power amp on the Denon, was there a significant improvement?

I'm sure a lot of people use external amps, but only a few are warranted.

For example, GlocksRock uses an external amp because his CLR3000 has a minium impedance of 2.1 ohms and his BP7001SCs have a minimum impedance of 3.3 ohms.

I don't know about the Paradigm Studio 100s, but the Monitor Series v.5 towers have a minimum impedance of 4.16 ohms, so in this case, your 4308CI is more than you'll ever need and you will not hear any difference in sound quality.

 

[Midcow2]

I don't use external amp and have...

I'm sure a lot of people use external amps, but only a few are warranted.

For example, GlocksRock uses an external amp because his CLR3000 has a minium impedance of 2.1 ohms and his BP7001SCs have a minimum impedance of 3.3 ohms.

I don't know about the Paradigm Studio 100s, but the Monitor Series v.5 towers have a minimum impedance of 4.16 ohms, so in this case, your 4308CI is more than you'll ever need and you will not hear any difference in sound quality.

CLR3000 - same minimum impedance of 2.1 ohms.
BP7002s - .1 ohm lower minimum impedance of 3.2 ohms.

And they have no problem at a very high volume level

 

[m5isa540]

I guess I opened a can of worms with this one! Thanks to all for the imput. I think I can live without a power amp. I was just curious.

 

[fmw]

I guess I opened a can of worms with this one! Thanks to all for the imput. I think I can live without a power amp. I was just curious.

Don't let it bother you. The audio business is loaded with more myths and misinformation than any other 10 businesses combined. Adrian is correct with what he says. But you can bet there are thousands who will say the exact opposite. That's audio. So no need to worry about it.

 

[mazersteven]

I guess I opened a can of worms with this one! Thanks to all for the imput. I think I can live without a power amp. I was just curious.

No "Can of Worms" here. Just a learning experience for everyone. Thanks for bringing your situation to the forum.

 

[AdrianMills]

I guess I opened a can of worms with this one! Thanks to all for the imput. I think I can live without a power amp. I was just curious.

Your question was a valid one and my comment, "Where do you people keep on coming from?" was directed at that audioholix dude not you. It's his type of misinformation that encourages people to spend money with false expectations.

I've nothing against buying kit for the sake of it though; if you want an external amp and you have the money, get it. I'm considering buying some myself; kit is good, kit is fun, but buy it with open eyes.

 

[PENG]

I guess I opened a can of worms with this one! Thanks to all for the imput. I think I can live without a power amp. I was just curious.

I have the front preouts of my 3805 connected to a 200 WPC amp that drives my 87 dB min. 4 ohm Veritas. I did it just because I have the amp. I heard no difference in sound with or without the amp so I decided to compare the currents delivered by either to the speaker to see if there is any quantitative differences.

Source:
Track one of Telarc's Copland Appalachian Spring at around 2m30s to 2m:50s

Player: DVD3910

Denon 3805 receiver only:

Volume setting: -3
SPL from 2 meter:105 dB when the bass drum hit

Current RMS: 2.81A
Current Peak: 11.7A

Denon 3805 with the 200 WPC (350 4 ohms) amp connected:

Results were virtually the same. No audible sign of clipping/distortion in either case.