Stereo Amp for PSB T6

[Sylar]

Hi Guys...I have booked a PSB T6, & thanks to helpful advice from many of you.

But, I'm still in two minds over Receiver or stereo. I was initially keen on buying a Receiver & explored around a bit and settled for 7005. It seems more feasible that I buy a stereo than a receiver now, as I wont be upgrading to 5 channel very soon. (I will need to construct a room first, buy the remaining speakers. But I need to buy a PC & display (TV or monitor) before all that.). Hence will be delayed by 1-2 years.
I can easily use my current room for stereo. (I have not ruled out the AVR yet, will compare my options with stereo and decide)


What stereo amps would you guys suggest? More importantly, would this give me a better ability to play music than from an AVR? (I was suggested this route from multiple dealers & friends)

I would play large part of my music from my PC, and hence ability to stream from my PC becomes of essence here. Would highly prefer flac support too & USB option. Also, i have the option of getting good used stereo amps at a good price. (unsure if this will give me network & flac support)

 

[Swerd]

Hi Guys...I have booked a PSB T6, & thanks to helpful advice from many of you.

But, I'm still in two minds over Receiver or stereo. I was initially keen on buying a Receiver & explored around a bit and settled for 7005. It seems more feasible that I buy a stereo than a receiver now, as I wont be upgrading to 5 channel very soon. (I will need to construct a room first, buy the remaining speakers. But I need to buy a PC & display (TV or monitor) before all that.). Hence will be delayed by 1-2 years.
I can easily use my current room for stereo. (I have not ruled out the AVR yet, will compare my options with stereo and decide)

What stereo amps would you guys suggest? More importantly, would this give me a better ability to play music than from an AVR? (I was suggested this route from multiple dealers & friends)

I would play large part of my music from my PC, and hence ability to stream from my PC becomes of essence here. Would highly prefer flac support too & USB option. Also, i have the option of getting good used stereo amps at a good price. (unsure if this will give me network & flac support)

Congrats on deciding on those speakers. Speakers are always the biggest decision. I hope you enjoy them.

I'm a little confused over your choice of words: receiver or stereo. Do you mean a home theater receiver or a stereo receiver?

You also said stereo amp at one point. In my thinking, an amp and receiver are different. Did you mean a stereo receiver (one box that combines preamp, amp, and AM/FM tuner) or a stereo amp (a separate 2-channel amplifier that requires a separate preamp)?

For the sake of discussion, let's set aside the issue of a separate amp and assume you are trying to decide between a home theater (or AV) receiver or a stereo receiver. If you are certain that you will expand in a few years to a HT, you might as well get an AVR now. There is no reason why they cannot do 2-channel music as well as stereo receivers.

AVRs also have all the chips for processing various digital music signals. Most, if not all, stereo receivers lack that. You would have to go through the additional hassle and expense of finding external digital to analog processors for a stereo receiver.

Those Image T6 speakers are true 4 ohm speakers, but PSB recommends from 20 to 200 watts per channel. You should easily find an AVR that can drive them. I would look for the least expensive AVR that has preamp output jacks for at least the front main channels. That would allow you, in the future, to add an external amplifier to your AVR without having to replace it.

 

[Sylar]

I'm a little confused over your choice of words: receiver or stereo. Do you mean a home theater receiver or a stereo receiver?

You also said stereo amp at one point. In my thinking, an amp and receiver are different. Did you mean a stereo receiver (one box that combines preamp, amp, and AM/FM tuner) or a stereo amp (a separate 2-channel amplifier that requires a separate preamp)?

My bad for mixing up the terms. I am *not* exploring home theater AV Receiver. (I had created a different thread for that just a while back).
By stereo, I meant dedicated for 2.1 channel. I am open to,
(a) Single box stereo receiver or
(b) Using separates - 'a separate 2-channel amplifier that requires a separate preamp'.
What do I have to gain/loose with option (a) compared to (b)?

If you are certain that you will expand in a few years to a HT, you might as well get an AVR now. There is no reason why they cannot do 2-channel music as well as stereo receivers.

AVRs also have all the chips for processing various digital music signals. Most, if not all, stereo receivers lack that. You would have to go through the additional hassle and expense of finding external digital to analog processors for a stereo receiver.

This is when comparing a 5-ch stereo receiver vs a 2 channel stereo receiver. How does 2 channel stereo receiver compare with using the separates (amp + pre-amp), for music quality?

Those Image T6 speakers are true 4 ohm speakers, but PSB recommends from 20 to 200 watts per channel. You should easily find an AVR that can drive them. I would look for the least expensive AVR that has preamp output jacks for at least the front main channels. That would allow you, in the future, to add an external amplifier to your AVR without having to replace it.

If I buy an AVR, I would most likely get a Marantz 6005/7005.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I say just go with a 7.1 AVR.

In 2 yrs, you can add more speakers to your system and will not have to upgrade again.

Most "Stereo Receivers" don't even have HDMI inputs or anything. They are basically integrated amps; they don't cost any less, and they don't perform better than AVRs.

So just get a 7.1 AVR with 7.1 pre-outs for future upgrade on amps if necessary.

 

[Swerd]

My bad for mixing up the terms. I am *not* exploring home theater AV Receiver. (I had created a different thread for that just a while back).
By stereo, I meant dedicated for 2.1 channel. I am open to,
(a) Single box stereo receiver or
(b) Using separates - 'a separate 2-channel amplifier that requires a separate preamp'.
What do I have to gain/loose with option (a) compared to (b)?

The main difference between (a) and (b) is cost. You'll pay a lot more for separates. There can be small improvement in lower noise levels with separates, but it is hard to say for certain that you'd would definitely hear a difference. In all honesty, I can't recommend separates for you knowing that you intend to eventually go with home theater.

If you must have a stereo receiver, I have seen the Outlaw RR2150 in action and I think its very good. It is one of the few stereo receivers that offer control features, bass management, for a subwoofer.

If I buy an AVR, I would most likely get a Marantz 6005/7005.

I agree with ADTG, if you're eventually going to expand to a HT system with your PSB speakers, just get an AVR now. Those Marantz models would probably work fine with your PSBs.

Most stereo receivers are not new technology. They lack any ability to convert digital audio to analog audio, they cannot deal with DVD or BlueRay players or HDTV. The electronic manufacturers essentially abandoned developing new stereo receivers in the early or mid 1990s when they first started developing modern AVRs.

You probably are not familiar with many of an AVR's features, but I assure you that if you want to send digital audio, or eventually digital video, from your PC to your sound system you will be much better off with an AVR.

 

[Sylar]

Most stereo receivers are not new technology. They lack any ability to convert digital audio to analog audio, they cannot deal with DVD or BlueRay players or HDTV. The electronic manufacturers essentially abandoned developing new stereo receivers in the early or mid 1990s when they first started developing modern AVRs.

This is interesting...especially when one considers how much DSP & chips together has changed processing in the last 10 - 15 years or so...and like you said, stereo receivers were not given much attention makes me wonder if it could be the other way around to what I was recommended.

I was recommended the stereo over AV receiver, and that the sound quality between the two is pretty different, and that stereo rules hands down for audio. (Havent heard it for myself...yet).

Edited:
...on second thoughts, maybe they meant when compared to the separates way.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I was recommended the stereo way over AV receiver, and that the sound quality between the two is pretty different, and that stereo rules hands down for audio.

...and certain cables/wires/power cords sound better than others.....and every amp sounds differently.....and analog sounds better than digital....and all that?

 

[Sylar]

...and certain cables/wires/power cords sound better than others.....and every amp sounds differently.....and analog sounds better than digital....and all that?

I read a couple of articles here, and that with distance one needs to choose the appropriate guage (not crazily priced marketed ones)...and was going to buy one that is like 16 guage or 14, and any decent looking speaker cable, one with which I can distinguish +ve wire from the -ve...but was recommended to buy Blue Jeans cable over such cables (BJ priced higher 1:5). Read some of your posts (I think urs), where you had mentioned you use Blue Jeanz . Should I go the blue jeans way, or wud the other suffice without issues (looks similar, but different brand)?

I was also looking for Banana plugs...,
Preferred these... (a), (b), (c), Over these... (d), (e), (f)
In a, b, c.. the wires can slide straight into the plug and they have non-conductors outside...hence accidental short is minimized further than d, e, f.
(Prefer a & c...c looks gud).

...and as a matter of fact, amp signatures is a hot topic back in a couple of forums. I tried talking to some that, it could be sounding different bcos the amps maybe not have the higher current capability and that the speakers could be making the amps sound different... but was laughed off. So I thot i'd better just listen and read more first. But every time I come back here...It takes a little different turn

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I read a couple of articles here, and that with distance one needs to choose the appropriate guage (not crazily priced marketed ones)...and was going to buy one that is like 16 guage or 14, and any decent looking speaker cable, one with which I can distinguish +ve wire from the -ve...but was recommended to buy Blue Jeans cable over such cables (BJ priced higher 1:5). Read some of your posts (I think urs), where you had mentioned you use Blue Jeanz . Should I go the blue jeans way, or wud the other suffice without issues (looks similar, but different brand)?

I was also looking for Banana plugs...,
Preferred these... (a), (b), (c), Over these... (d), (e), (f)
In a, b, c.. the wires can slide straight into the plug and they have non-conductors outside...hence accidental short is minimized further than d, e, f.
(Prefer a & c...c looks gud).

...and as a matter of fact, amp signatures is a hot topic back in a couple of forums. I tried talking to some that, it could be sounding different bcos the amps maybe not have the higher current capability and that the speakers could be making the amps sound different... but was laughed off. So I thot i'd better just listen and read more first. But every time I come back here...It takes a little different turn

I've used various banana plugs, but I prefer the BJC locking bananas the best.

It's pretty safe to use BJC all the way if you have the budget. Monoprice is good too, but BJC is higher quality. Sometimes I buy from monoprice and sometimes BJC - depending on the situation.

Speaker wires - those white monoprice cables will do just fine. Wrap it around with techflex, heat shrink, and locking banana plugs and you got yourself some fine looking speaker wires. PartsExpress is another place I buy things like techflex & accessories from.

Read The Audio Critic archives online. It's great.

 

[Swerd]

Ah! The endless great debate.

You did well to carefully select some speakers that you like. Speakers are where the rubber hits the road. They are responsible for more than 95% of the sound. As long as your amp or receiver has enough juice to drive the speakers without clipping, those electronic parts don't make nearly as much difference as the speakers.

As far as your dealer's recommendations, remember that he needs to sell items to make a living. The higher priced electronics usually come with a larger profit margin. That can certainly affect his advice.

As far as cables and bananna plugs go, they are passive devices that cannot affect the sound as long there is a good connection. Use what ever cables and plugs you find convenient and inexpensive. Blue Jeans is a good source. I personally like the less expensive plugs like this.

There is a danger with the locking bannana plugs - over tightening them can break off the jack on the back of the receiver. Trust me, if that happens it has a major effect on sound quality.

Some bananna plugs can work their way loose with time and vibration. The twin kind, like these, usually never come loose. But before you use them, make sure your receiver's jacks have enough room. Look around to find them at better prices.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

There is a danger with the locking banana plugs - over tightening them can break off the jack on the back of the receiver. Trust me, if that happens it has a major effect on sound quality.

That is a life lesson right there - over tighten almost anything, and you are screwed (pun intended).

 

[Sylar]

I checked out. Apparently Blue Jeans cable is not available back here. But I was suggested Belden cables as an alternative. Not sure if I shd just stick with the 'white monoprice cables' for now instead.

Will have friends or someone else travelling back from US in a while, so can have them get the Cables n plugs together.

 

[jinjuku]

I checked out. Apparently Blue Jeans cable is not available back here. But I was suggested Belden cables as an alternative. Not sure if I shd just stick with the 'white monoprice cables' for now instead.

Will have friends or someone else travelling back from US in a while, so can have them get the Cables n plugs together.

Will BJC not ship outside North America?

 

[Sylar]

Will BJC not ship outside North America?

We dont have it available here, can get from amazon n ship it though (costs 3-4 times more, so why pay more If I can pay less and get something similar). Costs keep adding up...so at some point I need to draw a line and try minimize it. So will wait for a couple of months. Will be able to get one then.

I presume you meant I am better off with Blue Jeans than Belden