Drive all 5.1 speakers with Power Amp

[RMK!]

Denon 3805 as Pre?

I have a Denon 3805 and have ordered a Sunfire Grand Cinema I 200 watt, 5 channel amp (used). I was planning on running my fronts and center channel with the Sunfire and the rear speakers with the Denon. Since I have towers front and rear, I'm wondering if it might be better to run all of the speakers with the Sunfire and use the Denon as a pre amp only. Then, when and if I go to a 7.1 setup, I could use the Denon for the Surround speakers in that setup. It seems to me that driving all of the speakers with the same amp would have potential advantages and no downside. Comments?

My speakers are Monitor Audio GR 60 Mains, Silver Center and Silver 6's in the rear.

 

[racquetman]

ya, good idea

I think that's the way I would run it. You're getting the dedicated amp, may as well let it do its job. You won't have to mess around with balancing the channel levels as much using only the amp. That was the issue I ran into when I was using two different receivers in a 7.1 setup. I had a Rotel RSX-1055 driving five channels and a Sony receiver driving the back surrounds. I didn't like having to mess with the both of them, especially when not much is happening in the back surrounds usually.

 

[RMK!]

Denon 3805 as Pre?

I think that's the way I would run it. You're getting the dedicated amp, may as well let it do its job. You won't have to mess around with balancing the channel levels as much using only the amp. That was the issue I ran into when I was using two different receivers in a 7.1 setup. I had a Rotel RSX-1055 driving five channels and a Sony receiver driving the back surrounds. I didn't like having to mess with the both of them, especially when not much is happening in the back surrounds usually.

Alandamp,
Thanks for the feedback. Seems like the common sense approach. I find myself listening to more 5 channel (SACD/DVD-A) music and I think as you said, the EQ would be harder to get right with two amps.