Power amp and Sub purchase advice

[Jeff Schmidt]

I'm looking for advice on adding a power amp and sub to my home theater. My budget is $600 for the sub and about $400 for the amp. My current 7.4 set up is as follows;
Fronts: Definitive Technology BP9020
Center: Def Tech CS9040
Surrounds: Def Tech SR9040
Rears: Def Tech Pro Monitor 1000
Front heights: Def Tech A90
Rear heights: Temporary small Polk satellite speakers(I'm in the military and move around too much to have permanent in-ceiling speakers...yet)
I have a Pioneer Elite SC-95 receiver powering 9 channels and an old Yamaha RX-V650 powering my last 2 channels(rear heights)
Obviously I would like a dedicated amp to power my towers and replace the jury rigged way I'm using the old Yamaha. I was thinking Emotiva for the amp, but not sure $400 will do the trick. Originally I was looking at a super cube for the sub, but research has led me to believe there are better options out there in my Price range. Also not sure if I should do 2 $300 subs or 1 $600 sub. I love home theater quite a bit, but I'm still learning so advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[j_garcia]

Welcome. How many amp channels? $400 won't buy you a good multichannel amp. That will get you 150Wx2 for $339 - Emotiva A-300.

http://emotiva.com/products/amplifiers/300

$600 for the sub, I'd look at HSU VTF-2 Mk5 which will be around that shipped, or SVS SB2000 at their outlet, though it is a bit more but shipping is included. Two $300 subs is a waste of time.

 

[Jeff Schmidt]

Thanks for the response. Just a 2 channel amp is all I think I need and that Emotiva was the one I was actually looking at. Unless it would be better to spend a little more on a mult-channel amp and untax my receiver some more? Not sure if it's worth it for me....WAF. I certainly could put on the charm to increase the budget a little though. Lol. I agree the two $300 sub idea is a waste, but I wanted the opinion of someone with more experience. I have read nothing, but good things about the SVS subs, but I have never, nor have I even met anyone who has actually heard one though. I do really appreciate the help!

 

[j_garcia]

Since the mains will tend to draw the most power, 2ch is fine. 3ch would be ideal to power the center too, but just offloading the mains to an amp will be worth it.

Both HSU and SVS have been around for a LONG time. You can't lose either way.

The Mk5 review was pretty good too: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/hsu-research-vtf-2-mk5-subwoofer-review.105754/

 

[Jeff Schmidt]

Thanks again for the help and patience!

 

[Pogre]

I own 2 svs subs and love them. sb 1000's. hsu is another one. can't go wrong either way.

 

[shadyJ]

If you are not doing anything else with the Yamaha, there is no reason not to use it as a simple amplifier. If you just want a cleaner appearance, than look at an Audiosource AMP100. It has more than enough power for height channels.

As for the sub, the Hsu VTF2 is a beast for $600, it is what I would lean toward in that budget.

 

[Jeff Schmidt]

Thanks Guys,

Shady the Yamaha really does work fine for the heights. However, I would like to get an amp to power my towers and to a much lesser degree for the cleaner look. It does look a little hokey with an extra older receiver on my rack. Plus I had to jack that Yamaha from my garage setup. I was already looking at the Emotiva A-300 so I think I'm pretty well settled on it. Well after Christmas that is. Unless it's under the tree

 

[Diesel57]

The 3 subs mentioned are all home runs, I have the SVS SB 2000 and it's nothing short of pleasure.