Pairing the right separates: Integra DHC-80.2 and Arcam FMJ P777 - Opinions please!!

[Ottawa]

Hello,

I've read a bunch of threads and believe that I am reasonably caught up with enough of the terms and technology of Hi-Fi to make a decent decision. But, before I make that decent decision, I am hoping for some "sound" advice and any opinions you can offer.

My internal debate on which separates I should buy for my home theater (graduating from an all-in-one receiver) was essentially narrowed down by two main influences. 1, Money and 2, advice from the Hi-Fi store manager.

I'll start by telling you that I am still considering two options.

1) Arcam FMJ P777 power amp paired with the Integra DHC-80.2
2) Integra DTA-70.1 power amp paired with the Integra DHC-80.2

I'm told by the store manager that the Arcam P777 "is significantly superior and will have a lot more finesse and control". But I'm not sure what that means. It is about $500 more for option 1. In your opinion, would it be a better choice, or not really noticeable?

My main concern with option 1, might not turn out to be much of a concern, is that the Arcam is a 7 channel power amp. That means I can't bi-amp my front speakers. With the 9 channel Integra, I could do that. What do you guys and gals think?

Any advice would be helpful. I'm just hoping to make a purchase that'll last a good 5 or so years.

Thank You in advanced.
Sincerely,
Kevin

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hello,

I've read a bunch of threads and believe that I am reasonably caught up with enough of the terms and technology of Hi-Fi to make a decent decision. But, before I make that decent decision, I am hoping for some "sound" advice and any opinions you can offer.

My internal debate on which separates I should buy for my home theater (graduating from an all-in-one receiver) was essentially narrowed down by two main influences. 1, Money and 2, advice from the Hi-Fi store manager.

I'll start by telling you that I am still considering two options.

1) Arcam FMJ P777 power amp paired with the Integra DHC-80.2
2) Integra DTA-70.1 power amp paired with the Integra DHC-80.2

I'm told by the store manager that the Arcam P777 "is significantly superior and will have a lot more finesse and control". But I'm not sure what that means. It is about $500 more for option 1. In your opinion, would it be a better choice, or not really noticeable?

My main concern with option 1, might not turn out to be much of a concern, is that the Arcam is a 7 channel power amp. That means I can't bi-amp my front speakers. With the 9 channel Integra, I could do that. What do you guys and gals think?

Any advice would be helpful. I'm just hoping to make a purchase that'll last a good 5 or so years.

Thank You in advanced.
Sincerely,
Kevin

Well, your first concern should be the store manager's personal bias as he has a financial interest in what you end up[ buying. So, take it with a large grain of salt.
Second, what speakers do you have, what setup are you after, how large is the room, how loud do you listen to audio of any kind: movies, music.
Do you have a subwoofer? BluRay player for the lossless audio decoding?
There is nothing wrong with a good receiver and bi-amping passively is foolish, period.
Maybe with some of these answered we'll be able to help better.

 

[jeannot]

I'm told by the store manager that the Arcam P777 "is significantly superior and will have a lot more finesse and control". But I'm not sure what that means.

It means he makes more profit on it. Majority of sales people are deaf accountants. If the Arcam was $200 cheaper, its sound would be inferior.

Nothing beats an A/B test... I know it's almost impossible these days.

I'm just hoping to make a purchase that'll last a good 5 or so years.

You share that hope with the rest of us, who upgrade every 2-3 years.

 

[GranteedEV]

Option C: None of the above

A denon 4311 with the amps shut off in the settings is probably the top choice for a pre-pro right now.

And both those amps look lame and overpriced

 

[Ottawa]

Hi mtrycrafts,

Thank you for your input. Here are some of the answers to your questions.

Speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio Series (60 v5 fronts, 20 v5 rear, CC-690 center, Sub 15) = 5.1 setup
Room Size: Currently 10 x 20. Soon to be 30 x 20
How loud is hard to answer. I have a Yamaha RX-V3900 and normal listening is -30db. Movie listening is - 10db
Blu Ray: Oppo BDP-83

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Room Size: Soon to be 30 x 20

How loud...Movie listening is - 10db

How high is the ceiling? 10ft? 12ft?

That is my kind of HT room.

& -10dB volume on the AVR sounds like a reference 90dB level to me.

I say if you are going to get an external amp instead of the AVR, might as well go with an amp that does 200 - 300 WPC into 8 ohms RMS.

There are many to choose from. Some people don't like the Emotiva aesthetics, and some do. Others may prefer Outlaw Audio. Or the more "higher-end" brands from Parasound, Sunfire, Anthem, ATI, etc.

BTW, just in case you are wondering, ATI (parent company of Theta Digital) also make some amps for Harman International (Mark Levinson, Lexicon, JBL), Outlaw Audio, and a few other companies.

Here is an ATI AT2007 amp (same as the 200WPC x 7ch LEXICON amp) that you can get practically brand new (condition is 10/10 & 7 yr full warranty) for $2K (listed as $2,200, but you can offer $2K and get it):

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1307317009

Retail price is $4,000, so you are getting 50% off.

It is a truly FULLY BALANCE amp (unlike most amps), and it uses a "fuse-less" technology - no amp fuses like most amps.

Just make sure your stand or rack can handle a good 100 lbs of amp weight.

Oh, and don't mess with the passive bi-amping; it's a total waste of time, cable, effort, and money.

 

[Ottawa]

7 ft ceiling only.

After a listening session with my spearkers, I've narrowed it down to their the Anthem Statement P2 & P5 or the Arcam FMJ P777. More money than what you are suggesting, but I preffer a smoother sound rather than the rough power.

Right now I'm leaning towards Anthem.

Kev

 

[its phillip]

What makes you think those are smooth and the ATI is rough?

 

[Ottawa]

I don't get to hear the ATI, and I'm not about to buy something I can't hear. I didn't mean to say ATI was rough either. I have listened to a few AMPs around $4K retail and most of the sound pretty good. But it's about what I have access to at this point.

 

[Warpdrv]

I have listened to a few AMPs around $4K retail and most of the sound pretty good. But it's about what I have access to at this point.

So if you listen to an amp, what does it sound like..?

Do you connect the speakers to it after your done listening to the amp...?

 

[GranteedEV]

So if you listen to an amp, what does it sound like..?

My amp sounds a bit like this:

Large, juicy with tails removed, stuffed with a little spiced mayonnaise and served on a bed of morsels of tempura pas-sion fruit drizzled with sweet sauce. Enormous steamed gyoza stuffed with pork and minced vegetables arrived with a good dipping sauce. Portions were generous, especially given the quality and the price, and would serve four people as a starter; not that we had any trouble finishing them.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't get to hear the ATI, and I'm not about to buy something I can't hear. I didn't mean to say ATI was rough either. I have listened to a few AMPs around $4K retail and most of the sound pretty good. But it's about what I have access to at this point.

ATI make very expensive amps for Mark Levinson, Lexicon, and JBL.

A lot of people find the sound of these amps to be exquisitely smooth and chocolatey with great finesse, yet extremely potent and powerful when required. Very musical.

However, Athem makes fantastic amps as well, so there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting Anthem amps.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My amp sounds a bit like this:

Large, juicy with tails removed, stuffed with a little spiced mayonnaise and served on a bed of morsels of tempura pas-sion fruit drizzled with sweet sauce. Enormous steamed gyoza stuffed with pork and minced vegetables arrived with a good dipping sauce. Portions were generous, especially given the quality and the price, and would serve four people as a starter; not that we had any trouble finishing them.

Screw the amps, I'm having those instead.

But seriously though, are your amps aged to perfection like mine?

 

[GranteedEV]

No, but my pre-amp ain't half bad. It's got a wonderful peatyness to it.

 

[its phillip]

My amp sounds a bit like this:

Large, juicy with tails removed, stuffed with a little spiced mayonnaise and served on a bed of morsels of tempura pas-sion fruit drizzled with sweet sauce. Enormous steamed gyoza stuffed with pork and minced vegetables arrived with a good dipping sauce. Portions were generous, especially given the quality and the price, and would serve four people as a starter; not that we had any trouble finishing them.

I'm glad you actually called them gyoza instead of potstickers like all the morons I know

 

[GranteedEV]

i just copied and pasted that

 

[its phillip]

Well in that case I'm glad whoever wrote it called them gyoza

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi mtrycrafts,

Thank you for your input. Here are some of the answers to your questions.

Speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio Series (60 v5 fronts, 20 v5 rear, CC-690 center, Sub 15) = 5.1 setup
Room Size: Currently 10 x 20. Soon to be 30 x 20
How loud is hard to answer. I have a Yamaha RX-V3900 and normal listening is -30db. Movie listening is - 10db
Blu Ray: Oppo BDP-83

Thanks for any feedback.

Then the question becomes why graduate from an all in one receiver? Do you need to decode the BD lossless codecs?
What problems do you have right now with that Yamaha?

As to amps sound quality, well that is mostly an urban legend not supported by facts

 

[Ottawa]

Even though you know what I meant to say, you still had to go ahead and be a smart a$$. I like it!