Need for an AMP question

[RodB]

Looking for a little help to determine if I need an amplifier, and if so should it should be 2 channel or 5 channel.

Currently for mostly Home Theater using:
Denon AVR 3805
Fronts-MB Quart QLS830(4 ohm/110-180watt/ 33-32,000hz)
Center- MB Quart QL 330(6 ohm/70-130 watt/ 51-32,000hz)
Powered Sub-NHT SW12
Surround - Don't have yet, but looking at Axion QS8's

I have seen that the fronts require a lot of power to get the full sound out of them and I would like the best sound possible. Thanks for any help.

 

[cfrizz]

Hi Rod. I'm a big believer in separate amplification. And yes your speakers are harder to operate at 4 & 6ohms ratings.

I never knew what I was missing until I added a 205wpc Parasound amp to my system. Now I will never go back to just using a receiver. All of which usually overstate their specs as far as power goes.

I would suggest getting a 5 channel amp of at least 200wpc. This will ensure that your speakers will operate to their full potential because the power is there whenever they need it. (Which is the most important factor for me.) It's better to have it & not need it rather than need it & not have it.

It will also drive any speakers you get now & in the future since you can keep it through all other upgrades to your system, since power never goes out of style!

Good bang for the buck new amps are Emotiva (XPA-5). Outlaw Audio. You can also look on Audiogon for a used amp from Rotel, Parasound, Sunfire, B & K, Adcom, Nad.

Do it once, do it right, sit back & enjoy for years!

 

[croseiv]

cfrizz pretty much nailed it!!!

 

[walter duque]

Hi Rod. I'm a big believer in separate amplification. And yes your speakers are harder to operate at 4 & 6ohms ratings.

I never knew what I was missing until I added a 205wpc Parasound amp to my system. Now I will never go back to just using a receiver. All of which usually overstate their specs as far as power goes.

I would suggest getting a 5 channel amp of at least 200wpc. This will ensure that your speakers will operate to their full potential because the power is there whenever they need it. (Which is the most important factor for me.) It's better to have it & not need it rather than need it & not have it.

It will also drive any speakers you get now & in the future since you can keep it through all other upgrades to your system, since power never goes out of style!

Good bang for the buck new amps are Emotiva (XPA-5). Outlaw Audio. You can also look on Audiogon for a used amp from Rotel, Parasound, Sunfire, B & K, Adcom, Nad.

Do it once, do it right, sit back & enjoy for years!

cfrizz
You're so right, nothing like power. Link below is a great deal, they usualy go a lot higher, between 15-1800.--The 6th channel you can use to bi-amp center speaker or use for passive sub.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1254721185&/Cinepro-Cinepro-3K-6-6-channel

 

[RodB]

Thank you for the advise, I will start looking for a deal.

 

[RodB]

cfrizz
I took your advise and purchased a B&K 7250 Series II 5 channel Amp. I was wondering what kind of RCA cable you would recommend to connect the Receiver to the Amp? Thanks!

 

[mtrycrafts]

... I was wondering what kind of RCA cable you would recommend to connect the Receiver to the Amp? Thanks!

Most any RCA cable from BlueJeans or Monoprice

 

[cfrizz]

Congrats on the amp & I agree with these choices.

Most any RCA cable from BlueJeans or Monoprice

 

[RodB]

B&k 7250

I just received the B&K 7250 and am hooking it up. How do I make sure I don't blow up the speakers with the amp. Fronts are 4 ohm 180W and the center is 6 ohm 130w. Reading the directions on the output level knob wasn't real helpful. Thanks,

 

[PENG]

How do I make sure I don't blow up the speakers with the amp. Fronts are 4 ohm 180W and the center is 6 ohm 130w.

The amp's 4 ohms rating is 375W @1 kHz so it is theoretically capable of blowing your 180W rated speakers. That being said, unless your room is huge, I doubt you can withstand the SPL achievable by driving your speakers to the point of destruction. Before you reach that point, you will likely hear distortion, so to make sure you don't blow up the speakers, listen at SPL that do not result in audible distortion.

 

[cfrizz]

The speakers will only take what they need. The only way to damage them is if you go crazy with the volume knob & turn it up too loud. In which case you will blow your ears as well & won't need an amp!

My amp puts out 405wpc. I doubt that I've even used 25 watts of it at any given time, but then I don't know or think about it. I just know that when my speakers need to go boom with an explosion or crank for the 1812 Overture they do so with no problem or strain.

More speakers get blown by being over driven by receivers that can't give them the power they need when called for.

Just use common sense & you should be just fine.