Help w Revel Studio 2 speaker match w/ amplifier

[PENG]

Why would people get a 150WPC x 3Ch NOT FULLY Balanced amp for $1650 when they can get a 200WPC x 5Ch ATI clone FULLY BALANCED amp for $1600?

I might see a point if the Odyssey amp is cheaper and has the same power output.

ATI has been around for 30+ years. How long as Odyssey Audio been around? Will Odyssey be around in 20 years?

The Outlaw has no fuse to change. The Odyssey has fuse.

Again, I believe you can do worse with fully differential if the manufacturer won't bother to ensure the components such as power transistors are perfectly matched, hand pick etc. It could be a case of a little gain offset by a little loss.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Again, I believe you can do worse with fully differential if the manufacturer won't bother to ensure the components such as power transistors are perfectly matched, hand pick etc. It could be a case of a little gain offset by a little loss.

That is a great point. Got to do it right or don't even do it at all.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You have to get permission from the purists/audiophiles first.

Oh gods, it would take an act of congress or worse.

I think Parasound has gain controls on their amps. They recommend setting the gain to 100%, which is the way I like it.

 

[PENG]

That is a great point. Got to do it right or don't even do it at all.

I am not concern about ATI, but would probably stay away from low cost fully differential amps.

 

[PENG]

Oh gods, it would take an act of congress or worse.

I think Parasound has gain controls on their amps. They recommend setting the gain to 100%, which is the way I like it.

Yep I also left mine at 100% all the time, i.e. bypass, pure direct, blablabla..

 

[Irvrobinson]

Again, I believe you can do worse with fully differential if the manufacturer won't bother to ensure the components such as power transistors are perfectly matched, hand pick etc. It could be a case of a little gain offset by a little loss.

Yeah, me too. It is also very expensive to use more complementary pairs of output transistors too. Mismatch the pairs' impedance by even a small amount and you'll have the pair with the lowest value carrying most of the load. I've often wondered just how parallel some of these output sections really are.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I am not concern about ATI, but would probably stay away from low cost fully differential amps.

Excellent point indeed.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yep I also left mine at 100% all the time, i.e. bypass, pure direct, blablabla..

You know if I could get Dynamic EQ with bypass, pure direct, and blablabla, I would definitely do that.

Unfortunately for me, I can't get Dynamic EQ with bypass, pure direct, and blablabla.

Wait, actually, yes, I can in fact get Dynamic EQ with Bypass (Audyssey Bypass L/R). Man that was close.

 

[PENG]

You know if I could get Dynamic EQ with bypass, pure direct, and blablabla, I would definitely do that.

Unfortunately for me, I can't get Dynamic EQ with bypass, pure direct, and blablabla.

Wait, actually, yes, I can in fact get Dynamic EQ with Bypass (Audyssey Bypass L/R). Man that was close.

I was going to call you out on the DEQ+L/R bypass as I remember what you said before, did you do a quick edit??

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I was going to call you out on the DEQ+L/R bypass as I remember what you said before, did you do a quick edit??

Yep. Did a quick edit and corrected myself.

Hence the "Man that was close" comment.

 

[RichB]

Oh gods, it would take an act of congress or worse.

I think Parasound has gain controls on their amps. They recommend setting the gain to 100%, which is the way I like it.

Here is the Parasound amp gain controls in the Halo line:

The A21 has gain controls where the max is THX.
The A31 has gain control where the max is THX + 6DB.
The A51 has no gain controls.
The JC-1 has no gain controls.

- Rich

 

[slipperybidness]

Regarding hiss and ATI in particular, one thing that seems odd to me is that my lowly AT602 has gain controls, as does the 1202, yet they are absent on the more expensive series (at least last I checked). Am I alone in favoring amps with gain controls?

Gain controls aren't really necessary. They are a luxury and they add more flexibility to get the gain structure dialed in.

Thus, I LIKE gain controls but it isn't necessarily a deal breaker if the amp doesn't have them.

Any amp that I DIY will have gain controls.

Any amp that I buy, I will start out with gain at 100% and leave it there, unless there is a problem that I need to tune out.

 

[slipperybidness]

Why would people get a 150WPC x 3Ch NOT FULLY Balanced amp for $1650 when they can get a 200WPC x 5Ch ATI clone FULLY BALANCED amp for $1600?

I might see a point if the Odyssey amp is cheaper and has the same power output.

ATI has been around for 30+ years. How long as Odyssey Audio been around? Will Odyssey be around in 20 years?

The Outlaw has no fuse to change. The Odyssey has fuse.

First ADTG loves RBH, then becomes an RBH dealer.

Next, he'll probably become an ATI dealer

 

[ski2xblack]

Gain controls aren't really necessary. They are a luxury and they add more flexibility to get the gain structure dialed in.

I agree that the utility of gain controls is negligible for the bulk of speakers out there.

Us crazy old horn farts, on the other hand, kind of need them. In my case, I only require maybe 12-15db gain from the amps before the whole house starts to quake. At low levels using high sensitivity speakers, if there is hiss (poor s/n on signal into the amp) you bet your bippy you'll hear it, so gain controls are pretty much required.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

First ADTG loves RBH, then becomes an RBH dealer.

Next, he'll probably become an ATI dealer

I do like ATI. But probably not happening.

The odds of RBH selling MCH amps are probably better.

I also think the ATI-built Outlaw 200W & 300W MCH amps are a lot more cost effective - $1600 vs $3600 for 200WPC x 5CH (new vs new) or $1600 vs $2700 (ATI b-stock).

Oh, I also recommend Denon AVR to everyone. The odds of me becoming a Denon dealer is about 0%.

 

[Rudy Wong]

Well this discussion has been quite robust so thanks for all of your input. To go with the Revel Studio and Voice 2 I ended up getting the Classe 5300. I was all ready to pull the trigger on an ATI6003 (a Three channels of course) when I ended p getting this amp for about 65% off of retail which is $9K.

Hopefully it will be a good match w my speakers!!!!
Thanks

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Well this discussion has been quite robust so thanks for all of your input. To go with the Revel Studio and Voice 2 I ended up getting the Classe 5300. I was all ready to pull the trigger on an ATI6003 (a Three channels of course) when I ended p getting this amp for about 65% off of retail which is $9K.

Hopefully it will be a good match w my speakers!!!!
Thanks

Should be great match. Congrats.

 

[PENG]

Hopefully it will be a good match w my speakers!!!!
Thanks

That should be a good match for a lot of speakers. 5 channel is a little over kill for your 3 speakers but for the 65% off retail I would probably do the same. I assume it's a demo or used? Still a good deal regardless as long as it has a good warranty on it.

 

[RichB]

I use the Parasound A31 for the center and surrounds and I find that HT content does out of idle, probably remaining in class-A (about 5 watts). It remains cold. Two channel is another matter. The Salons drop to 3-ohms and I can heat up the A21 during spirited listening.

That is a great deal on the Classe 5300. It is pretty.
You might want to listen hard for a while and make sure the fan is not an issue.

That amp should be great with the Revels. Enjoy!

- Rich