Receiver vs Integrated Amp for Music-Only HiFi System with powered subwoofer

[lreinstein]

Hi All,

My current Music-Only HiFi system includes a pair of KEF XQ40 speakers driven by a Marantz 7001 Integrated Amp. I typically use music streaming at 320mbps from Spotify into an external DAC as my music source.

I want to add a Subwoofer ... I have temporarily plugged in my Home Theater SW (Velodyne SPL-100R) to see if it helps ... and it makes a big big improvement.

My question is whether I would be better of replacing the Integrated Amp by a Receiver or AV Receiver? Would it handle the sorting out of balancing the signals to the SW and the Main Speakers better? Would the Receiver configuration put less power load (using Sub Out) on the Main Amplifier than the current situation? (currently the Marantz IA uses a PRE-AMP OUT L and R to go to the SW .. I assume with this configuration the IA still has to respond to the low frequency power demands?).

On the other hand the Marantz 7001 seems to have a very nice clean sound and is unprocessed.

Thanks for the advice.

Larry

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi All,

My current Music-Only HiFi system includes a pair of KEF XQ40 speakers driven by a Marantz 7001 Integrated Amp. I typically use music streaming at 320mbps from Spotify into an external DAC as my music source.

I want to add a Subwoofer ... I have temporarily plugged in my Home Theater SW (Velodyne SPL-100R) to see if it helps ... and it makes a big big improvement.

My question is whether I would be better of replacing the Integrated Amp by a Receiver or AV Receiver? Would it handle the sorting out of balancing the signals to the SW and the Main Speakers better? Would the Receiver configuration put less power load (using Sub Out) on the Main Amplifier than the current situation? (currently the Marantz IA uses a PRE-AMP OUT L and R to go to the SW .. I assume with this configuration the IA still has to respond to the low frequency power demands?).

On the other hand the Marantz 7001 seems to have a very nice clean sound and is unprocessed.

Thanks for the advice.

Larry

You have capable speakers, so the connection you have is just fine. A sub offloads and amp insignificantly if bass management is used. For your purposes I would save your money.

 

[shadyJ]

What a AVR can do is filter out the low frequencies that the speakers are playing which should be going to the subwoofer. This takes a load off the speakers, since the low stuff is most taxing on the drivers. How much of a difference it makes depends on the speakers and what kind of stuff you listen to. If the content you like has deep bass, might be a good idea to filter that out from the speakers. I would say its worth it to move from an integrated amp to a nice AVR not just for bass management, but also for room correction equalization, and other features which AVRs have that integrateds do not- even if its only for a two channel system.

 

[TLS Guy]

What a AVR can do is filter out the low frequencies that the speakers are playing which should be going to the subwoofer. This takes a load off the speakers, since the low stuff is most taxing on the drivers. How much of a difference it makes depends on the speakers and what kind of stuff you listen to. If the content you like has deep bass, might be a good idea to filter that out from the speakers. I would say its worth it to move from an integrated amp to a nice AVR not just for bass management, but also for room correction equalization, and other features which AVRs have that integrateds do not- even if its only for a two channel system.

Unless he plays heavy metal or dubstep I think his current arrangement is just fine. I would set the sub crossover to 60 Hz and just increase the level until it sounds balanced.

As for auto Eq my experience is that it makes good systems lousy. Whether it improves lousy systems I can't say but I doubt it.

 

[lreinstein]

You have capable speakers, so the connection you have is just fine. A sub offloads and amp insignificantly if bass management is used. For your purposes I would save your money.

Thanks TLS Guy and others.

I am not sure I understand "if bass management is used". What do you mean?

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks TLS Guy and others.

I am not sure I understand "if bass management is used". What do you mean?

It means using the crossover feature of the AVR to send the bass below a certain point to the sub and not your KEF speakers.

 

[Dan Madden]

Honestly, I think your current setup is just fine because your main goal is straight music only listening. As stated above, you are somewhat duplicating bass efforts because a full range signal is being sent to your main speakers. Fiddle around with your sub's crossover and placement until your happy with the results. Forget about Audessy and room EQ.