HELP NEEDED: Receiver Suggestions

[toobryant]

I am in the market for a receiver... first off I will let you know my situation. I have an XBOX 360, PS3, and a 50" LG Plasma... I also have 4 Cerwin Vega CLS-215's (got them for cheap and I like the way they sound) that I plan on using in a surround sound set up. I am in college so I am on a tight budget... I want to spend no more than $300 on the receiver... I also need it to be able to work in conjunction with this:

http://www.pyleaudio.com/itemdetail.asp?brand=&cat1=Pro Audio&cat2=Powered Amplifiers&model=P3001AT

I know it is at the bottom of the barrell in terms of quality but I got it for cheap and I want to be able to use it.

So... under $300 and I want to be able to hook the pyle amp up to it to power the speakers.

Thanks a lot guys.

Tyler

 

[toobryant]

Could I hook this up to the Pyle?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9246602&type=product&id=1218067378938

 

[Seth=L]

I'm not sure why Pyle calls that a "pre-amplifier" but it's really a stereo receiver. So to answer your question, no, you cannot use it in conjunction with another receiver because it's a receiver too.

I would advise staying away from Sony receivers at virtually any budget, especially since you are probably going to running all your speakers full range. Pioneer's VSX-819, Onkyo's TX-SR507, and a couple Marantz receivers available at accessories4less.com would be excellent options.


I'd choose this Marantz above all the rest if you can live with a quality refurbished receiver. It's got more power than anything in it's price range while maintaining some fairly useful features such as HDMI. Strangely it's the same price as the model below it right now, so I would act quickly as this is probably an overstock price they are promoting right now.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARSR5002/Marantz/SR5002-receiver-90w-x-7ch-HDMI-home-theater-surround/1.html



More concerning the Pyle:

The power ratings are attained by the PMPO rating factor, see here for how useless this rating is. It's likely a good variety of home audio receivers have more power than this thing does, pass on the good deal you got to someone else and don't bother yourself with that piece of equipment.

 

[toobryant]

So if I bought the Marantz what kind of options would I have in terms of external amplifiers?

 

[skers_54]

So if I bought the Marantz what kind of options would I have in terms of external amplifiers?

The Marantz has pre-outs for all 8 channels, so you could hook up any external amp that has rca inputs directly to it. Honestly, I don't think you'll need an external amp. CV's are very sensitive, so they don't require much power in order to get loud. I have the Marantz 4001 and it has no problem powering my speakers (which are 10 dB less sensitive than typical CVs) to ear-bleeding levels.

 

[njedpx3]

Marantz external amp options

So if I bought the Marantz what kind of options would I have in terms of external amplifiers?

The Marantz models : SR8002, SR7002, SR6003, SR5003, SR5004, SR6004, AV8003 have pre-outs so you can connect any external amp or amps you want too. Most people need a power amp to drive their front speakers if they have (1) low sensitivity speakers (around 85 dB or lower), (2) have speakers with a low nominal impedance ( 4 ohms takes twice the power of 8 ohms), and/or (3) like really loud sound A good power amp is the Behringer EP2500 which provides two channels of 450 watts per channel into 8 ohms. as low as $284.95 from B & H Photo ( good place to buy; I havebought from them several times) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/280617-REG/Behringer_EP2500_EP2500_2_Channel_Rackmount.html Only downside of this model is it is rack mount;if the visual display bothers you.

The Marantz models listed above all Pre-Out 7.1 so you add exteranl amps to any or all of your speakers, other than just your fronts, but most sound and power comes from the fronts. Most sub woofers are amplified already so you wouldn't add another amp to a sub.


Good luck .. Marantz makes great AVRs

 

[toobryant]

Okay... thanks guys, so you don't think I will have any problem powering the 4 cerwin vega cls 215's with just the receiver?

What kind of advantages would there be with external amplifiers?

Can anyone post up a link to a thread that I could read on receivers and external amp power, I would much rather read it than ask you guys a question you have probably answered 100 times.

Thanks a lot,

Tyler

 

[njedpx3]

Wow those Cerwin Vega 215s are bad boys

Okay... thanks guys, so you don't think I will have any problem powering the 4 cerwin vega cls 215's with just the receiver?

What kind of advantages would there be with external amplifiers?

Can anyone post up a link to a thread that I could read on receivers and external amp power, I would much rather read it than ask you guys a question you have probably answered 100 times.

Thanks a lot,

Tyler

The Cerwin Vega CLS 215s are very power efficient at 97dB sensitivity. That means most normal ( 90-100 watts) per channel would drive thme very loud.

However, caution, I tried reading to find out if the dual 15" subwoofers were powered and nowhere does it say they are powered. If they aren ot internally powered, which it appears they are not, then yes you should plan on some external amps.


Dual 15” 3-Way Tower
(Preliminary specifications subject to change.)

Simply the biggest, baddest tower on the market, the CLS-215 features two cast frame high excursion 15-inch woofers and delivers earth-shaking bass down to 24 Hz. With guaranteed “eviction notice” performance, the CLS-215 also features a 6.5-inch mid-range speaker and a 1-inch soft dome tweeter coupled to a proprietary waveguide.


• Frequency Response: 24 Hz - 20 kHz
• Peak Power: 500 watts
• Sensitivity (1w/1m): 97 dB
• 6.5" midrange with Fiber Impregnated Cone
• 1" Soft Dome Tweeter with Ferro Fluid
• Dual 15" Cast Frame High Excursion Woofers
• Proprietary Mid and High Frequency Waveguide
• Fuse Protection
• Elegant Black-Ash Enclosure

DIMENSIONS
Dimensions (HxWxD): 48" x 16.5" x 19"

Weight: 106 lbs


You can add an external amp/s and if needed power all of them with more power, add two Behringher EP2500 amps at a cost of $284.95 each from B & H Photo ( they can handle a peak power of 450 watts into 8 ohms)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/280617-REG/Behringer_EP2500_EP2500_2_Channel_Rackmount.html


Now a simple concept of power amps ( really simple; if too simple sorry)


Normal

AVR

inputs -- pre out --- internal amp --- speakers


With Power Amp

AVR

inputs -- pre out-----internal amp --................ |
................ +---------external amp ---- speakers



Good Luck!

NJ

 

[toobryant]

Thanks a lot, I've got some reading to do, if anybody has any other suggestions then please feel free to say anything.

 

[toobryant]

Do you think that the Marantz could power two Cerwin Vega CLS-215's with no other speakers hooked up to it without problem?

 

[njedpx3]

There is a good chance!

Do you think that the Marantz could power two Cerwin Vega CLS-215's with no other speakers hooked up to it without problem?

There is a good chance and if it isn't loud enough for you can easily add an external power amp.

Good Luck!

NJ

P.S. - I have a SR8002

P.S.S. - Marantz are easiest to connect with good banana connectors. Monoprice.com or bluejeanscables.com are excellent places to buy your cables online. monoprice is a little less expensive.

 

[toobryant]

But I won't do any harm if I dont have an external amp for a while?

 

[toobryant]

The speakers got a pretty good review at soundstage:

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/cerwinvega_cls215.htm

A 30WPC amp drove the speakers fine... the Marantz puts out 90WPC (right?)... so driving only two speakers I should be fine right? Someone please enlighten me.

 

[Seth=L]

The SR5002 will drive them with no problems. An external amplifier may not even add much to your needs.

 

[skers_54]

The SR5002 will drive them with no problems. An external amplifier may not even add much to your needs.

Exactly. Amplifiers don't care how big the drivers on the speaker they're driving are. Sensitivity (correlated with desired loudness) and impedence will determine if the amp will work with the speakers.

 

[toobryant]

Should I worry about putting to much stress on the receiver?

 

[Seth=L]

Should I worry about putting to much stress on the receiver?

No, I don't think you are going to stress the receiver with those speakers unless you want severe hearing loss.

 

[toobryant]

Okay, last question(s) and I will leave you guys alone...

Do you think that the Marantz could power 4 cerwin vegas cls-215's without too much stress?

And... What are warning signs of the receiver working too hard other than distortion and clipping?

Thank you guys so much

 

[markw]

That receiver might power them to loud levels but, depending on how "loud" "loud" is, it might not do it cleanly, particularly in the bass.

Reproducing bass notes takes much more power to reproduce cleanly as opposed to the mid-range and high frequencies, which are fairly easy on amps.

But, we'll never know fer sure without trying.

Just remember rule # 1 : If it starts to sound, fuzzy, funky, funny or simply bad, turn it down immediately.

 

[njedpx3]

But I won't do any harm if I dont have an external amp for a while?

No it won't hurt the Marantz. Worst case you won't have as loud and bright as sound as you want and are expecting. But you might be pleasantly suprised because the Cerwin Vegas are rated very efficient.