Separate Amp for my front Towers?

[PENG]

I think I lost some powerful amps in old HK and not sure my 805 is keeping up.....Anybody think this could be the case, or am I just over reacting to sonic differences and both are very similar in amp capabilities.....

Jeff

I don't think you lost any power by trading the 7000 for the 805. In fact if the 805 is used in a 5.1 system it should have more power output, especially into 4 ohms, than the 7000, though not by much.

As others have suggested, if your concern is power, any of the used Adcom 555, or new Emo will satisfy your need, or curiosity.

 

[MatthewB.]

I set my 805 a lil different. I had many stereo amps laying around but they were all 100wpc, so going from 130 watts to 100 was not logical. So I bridged one of the amps to give 200 watts to center, use two 100 wpc stereo amps to drive the side and rear channels, and my 805 is driving the mains at 180 wpc with the 805 not having to drive any other speakers. Works great.

 

[autodevin]

If your receiver won't play your speakers loud enough for you, then you may benefit from an amp. But others have noticed an improvement in dynamics by adding more power, I say it definitely can't hurt to add an amp, and if you amp your front speakers, that frees up the receiver to supply more power to the other channels when needed.

Agreed.

You'll get the potential out of your speakers with more power, and with a great receiver you'll find that you'll want to do more for your room with better speakers and you'll have the receiver versatility to do so.

 

[Jeff R.]

Room size is a large enclosed room ~8000 cubic feet. It is all carpeted. I really do not find that my speakers are starved for power. Escpecially with movies. I can crank the living crap out of my system to the point my house is shaking with my speakers and subs rocking. I am wondering more from the musical point, I am curious about how much of a difference the amp will make. I only run a 5.1 system so I have 2 unused channels and I have never sent my reveiver into protection mode.

The speakers are relatively tough to drive with a 4 ohm rating and only 87db sensitivity. I have only run them with the HK and the Onk since I bought them back in 2000. I really do not have any plans to upgrade my speakers. I have $3200 into the towers, $600 for the center and $500 for the surrounds when I bought them new. I absolutely love everything about my speakers. I just am curious if I am missing something.......

 

[PENG]

I really do not find that my speakers are starved for power. Escpecially with movies. I can crank the living crap out of my system to the point my house is shaking with my speakers and subs rocking. I am wondering more from the musical point, I am curious about how much of a difference the amp will make. I only run a 5.1 system so I have 2 unused channels and I have never sent my reveiver into protection mode.

A more powerful amp will allow you to listen loud without worrying about clipping during the peaks that exist in just about any recordings (CD, DVD etc.). How severe those peaks are and how frequently they occur would depend on the particular recordings you listen to.

In terms of musicality you will not find consensus among people. You can buy a 20WX2 integrated class A amp that sells for $5,000 and may not find it any more musical than a 200WX2 amp that sells for $500. If you do a search you will find a full spectrum of opinions from one end to the other. The only way to find out is to try one out and hear it for yourself.