Should I get a Amp for my AVR?

[Toy]

I have a 5.2.4 setup and was wondering if its worth/makes a difference if I purchase a 5 channel amplifier for my Marantz SR7015? And letting the AVR handle the four Atmos channels.

 

[Benni777]

What speakers are you running?

 

[3db]

How big is your room and what volume levels do you listen too?

 

[Toy]

What speakers are you running?

Im running 100w rated speakers

 

[nathan_h]

I have a 5.2.4 setup and was wondering if its worth/makes a difference if I purchase a 5 channel amplifier for my Marantz SR7015? And letting the AVR handle the four Atmos channels.

Usually the answer is "no, it won't make an appreciable difference" but that answer changes if you are running inefficient speakers (say 82db sensitivity or less) and sit far away (say 12 feet or more) and like to listen at loud volumes and don't use a subwoofer or proper bass management.

If most or all those special cases apply to your situation, it MAY be useful.

I say this as someone who has gone down that rabbit hole three times, the last time with an amp make by Mark Levinson, thinking "surely THIS will be amazing...." and, you know what, I sure am glad I bought that amp on the used market, so I did not lose a lot of money when selling it.

The only time an extra amp mattered was when I was running a speaker set like Magnepans, which are terribly inefficient, and needed that extra power to play right.

There are three or four better ways to improve the sound in your room by spending money, before spending money on an amp, in most situations.

 

[nathan_h]

Im running 100w rated speakers

Brand and model number of speakers, plus brand and model number of your subwoofer, and your seating distance from the front speakers, please...

 

[Toy]

How big is your room and what volume levels do you listen too?

I set all my levels at 75db using a spl meter, also using the audyssey app to 500hz and my room is 20’x12’ w/ 8’ ceilings

 

[nathan_h]

I set all my levels at 75db using a spl meter, also using the audyssey app to 500hz and my room is 20’x12’ w/ 8’ ceilings

When you watch a movie, what volume is listed on the AVR? Most people are about -15. Some people prefer -20 but I find that too quiet. And some people go for -10 or even -5 which to my ears is crazy loud.

When you watch a blu ray or UHD disk, where do you find you like to set the volume knob?

 

[Movie2099]

I have a 5.2.4 setup and was wondering if its worth/makes a difference if I purchase a 5 channel amplifier for my Marantz SR7015? And letting the AVR handle the four Atmos channels.

yes, you should get that 5 channel amp. Let your AVR handle the atmos channels. You won't regret the purchase. Don't listen to the naysayers. Jump on board the separates route! Check out Monoprice amps, Emotiva if you like. Rotel, ATI, Parasound and Anthem all make really great amps.

 

[Toy]

When you watch a movie, what volume is listed on the AVR? Most people are about -15. Some people prefer -20 but I find that too quiet. And some people go for -10 or even -5 which to my ears is crazy loud.

When you watch a blu ray or UHD disk, where do you find you like to set the volume knob?

when I watched The Matrix UHD this past weekend I had it at -18 db. But overall it’s usually set between -15 and -20

 

[3db]

yes, you should get that 5 channel amp. Let your AVR handle the atmos channels. You won't regret the purchase. Don't listen to the naysayers. Jump on board the separates route! Check out Monoprice amps, Emotiva if you like. Rotel, ATI, Parasound and Anthem all make really great amps.

I see you like spending other's people's money. Adding a seperate amp will NOT improve sound quality unless the AVR is running out of power. I've never had to augment with a seperate power amp in any of my systems. If your going to offer advice, make sure its sound advice and not some audiophoolery.

 

[3db]

when I watched The Matrix UHD this past weekend I had it at -18 db. But overall it’s usually set between -15 and -20

Do you feel anything lacking in terms of sound with your current set up? Can you go higher up the volume dial of the AVR and it still sound very dynamic and clean?

 

[nathan_h]

when I watched The Matrix UHD this past weekend I had it at -18 db. But overall it’s usually set between -15 and -20

Great data point. So far, this is not making a strong case to add an amp.

Still need to know your speaker model, subwoofer model, the distance you sit from the main speakers, and whether you have your speakers set to "small" (correct option) to know for sure.

 

[Pogre]

Still need to know your speaker model, subwoofer model, the distance you sit from the main speakers, and whether you have your speakers set to "small" (correct option) to know for sure.

Third time asking this question now, for the record...

This is important info when making these decisions. Speaker impedance and sensitivity are big factors here.

 

[Movie2099]

I see you like spending other's people's money. Adding a seperate amp will NOT improve sound quality unless the AVR is running out of power. I've never had to augment with a seperate power amp in any of my systems. If your going to offer advice, make sure its sound advice and not some audiophoolery.

I'm curious where I spoke about amps improving the sound quality? Just because you don't personally believe in amps doesn't mean they aren't useful to a grand majority of other people. He asked if he should get one. I recommended he should. You recommend he shouldn't. Let him make up his own mind and not have you spew your distaste for amps on the forum and call it audiophoolery. I will always recommend someone get an amp if they are curious. I can't wait to purchase even more amps for my next theater build. Can't wait to purchase a $30k Processor to go with my $30k+ speakers! It's going to be great having a state of the art home theater!

 

[Toy]

Great data point. So far, this is not making a strong case to add an amp.

Still need to know your speaker model, subwoofer model, the distance you sit from the main speakers, and whether you have your speakers set to "small" (correct option) to know for sure.

speakers/distance/freq

L/R: T15 Polk @ 13’ set to Small 80hz

Center: CS10 Polk @ 12’ set to Small 80hz

S.L/R: Fxi A4 polk @ 6’ set to Small 80hz

Subs: Pws 10 @ 12’

10awg to all speakers w/ banaplugs, all speakers leveled at 75db and subs at 80db, if it matters i installed a 20amp dedicated circuit for the AVR. (I’m a journeyman electrician)

I read Gene’s review of the SR8015 which he said that at 7 channels driven he got 100w but I’m running 9 channels on the SR7015. I’m not too concerned about the Atmos.

 

[nathan_h]

Thanks for the details. Those are efficient speakers and you have them set up correctly. Your AVR has more than enough power for your situation.

If you have money to spend on upgrades, I would buy a bigger sub. If you have a door and this room is closed off to the rest of the house, something like an SVS PB2000 will rock your world. If there are openings to other rooms, you might consider a PB3000.

That will make ten times more impact to your experience than adding an amp.

 

[ryanosaur]

Right now, the Amp is not necessary. The weakest links in your rig: the Sub, then your Front 3 Speakers.
If you do ever go for Amps, the main thing I would focus on is Amping the Front 3... but right now, that is not an upgrade I would spend money on in your position.

 

[Toy]

Thanks for the details. Those are efficient speakers and you have them set up correctly. Your AVR has more than enough power for your situation.

If you have money to spend on upgrades, I would buy a bigger sub. If you have a door and this room is closed off to the rest of the house, something like an SVS PB2000 will rock your world. If there are openings to other rooms, you might consider a PB3000.

That will make ten times more impact to your experience than adding an amp.

thank you, I am looking into getting a pair of SVS woofers this year.

 

[Swerd]

I'm curious where I spoke about amps improving the sound quality? Just because you don't personally believe in amps doesn't mean they aren't useful to a grand majority of other people. He asked if he should get one. I recommended he should. You recommend he shouldn't. Let him make up his own mind and not have you spew your distaste for amps on the forum and call it audiophoolery. I will always recommend someone get an amp if they are curious. I can't wait to purchase even more amps for my next theater build. Can't wait to purchase a $30k Processor to go with my $30k+ speakers! It's going to be great having a state of the art home theater!

In case anyone wondered why 3db questioned your advice, you removed all doubt. Your own preferences may not be what others want or need.

Personally, I listen to my speakers, not their price tag. Your mileage may vary.