Thinking about adding an amp?

[enrique]

I've been thinking of possibly adding an amp to my system in a cpl of months to give me that extra push.I'm just not sure if a 2 or 5 channel would be more appropriate.I've loooked in the used mkt and have seen rotel rb1080,rb1075 as well as some bryston 3b and 4b for decent prices.My system right now is a rotel rsx1056 w/b&w 603s3's,lcr600 and my surrounds will be changed to 601s3's.I listen 75% HT/TV and 25% music.My room is 22.5 x 19.5 w/tiled floors.Overall my system sounds great as it is but after reading all the posts about how adding an amp would increase my enjoyment i'm now toying with the idea.Looking at my options i would like opinions on the amps i have mentioned to compliment my system.Also if your thoughts are that i would be wasting my money in adding an amp please say sbviously if adding an amp is not going to make much of a difference in my setup i would like to know so.Also would 2 or 5 channel be more useful.My budget will be between 500.-800.Sorry for long post.thanks

 

[mulester7]

"Overall my system sounds great as it is", but after reading all the posts about how adding an amp would increase my enjoyment i'm now toying with the idea.

.....Enrique, toy at will, but most posts that have said they were considering a slave amp to compliment their surround receiver, were based on what they felt was a weakness, or a consideration to push 4 ohm speakers.....

 

[enrique]

I guess you have a good point.I do like the way the system sounds now but if it could be better i would like to make it so.I often hear how adding an amp to a system will always make it that much better.If this is'nt totally true then maybe i should just be satified with how it is.This is also the reason for the posted question to see if a 2 or 5 channel amp would be a positive addition.thanks

 

[mulester7]

I guess you have a good point.I do like the way the system sounds now but if it could be better i would like to make it so.I often hear how adding an amp to a system will always make it that much better.If this is'nt totally true then maybe i should just be satified with how it is.This is also the reason for the posted question to see if a 2 or 5 channel amp would be a positive addition.thanks

.....Enrique, to take your mains to being pushed by about 300 watts of headroom could not be a bad thing....your speakers would most likely take on a richness and fullness more than you have with what your receiver gives them....I doubt you would regret the purchase, and was simply looking at the fact you are pleased with what you have....this upgraditis thing can get hold of you, haha, trust me, as I am one of the worst....I would not make a move though, unless you at least double the watts....Lappy Histening.....

 

[mtrycrafts]

.Overall my system sounds great as it is

Then what are the issues???




but after reading all the posts about how adding an amp would increase my enjoyment i'm now toying with the idea.


Or, perhaps what you read was wishful thinking???

 

[enrique]

I am by no means an expert at this.I learn as i go along.Maybe it was wishful thinking.Fair enough

 

[Nick250]

Enrique, adding an external amp would probably add nothing to your sound. A lot of posters on this board are a bit "amp happy" in my opinion forgetting that about 95% of sound quality is speaker choice and room acoustics. External amps are nice toys and have great plcebo effect, but do not improve the sound except for very inefficent speakers at very loud (damage your hearing loud) volumes in large rooms and then only maybe. But they sure are neat. Hell I feel the pull to get external amplification because of the coolness factor and a taste of that placebo effect.

IMHO, YMMV yadda, yadda

 

[mulester7]

Enrique, adding an external amp would probably add nothing to your sound. A lot of posters on this board are a bit "amp happy" in my opinion

.....Nick, you said probably....let me assure you, speakers will get loud on 20 watts maybe, but the same speakers will come to LIFE with Authority, Fullness, and Crispness, sipping off about 600....can you go with that, Mac?......

 

[enrique]

Is'nt sound quality what it's all about?

 

[racquetman]

Is'nt sound quality what it's all about?

With your ratio of HT to music, sound quality doesn't seem to be the most important factor for you. You aren't going to tell much of a difference, if any, watching movies with a dedicated amp. If the ratio was the other way around, and you listened to the type of music that most of these guys on this forum listen to, then maybe you'd see some benefits from upgrading. Basically, if you're not an Audioholic (which you're not because you're happy with your sound ), then don't worry that you are missing out on something.

If you still want to try upgrading, I wouldn't buy used unless someone allows you to use the component in your system for a while to see if you hear any benefit.

 

[mulester7]

You aren't going to tell much of a difference, if any, watching movies with a dedicated amp.

.....Alandamp, that DVD don't have music on it?....rich, full-range reference-level interludes?, at least?....

.....guys, push your system with 3 watts, I don't care, it's your money, and yore system....but here's 1200 watts continuous at 2, times two, that's CLEAN, and most importantly, is reviewed to be very TRANSPARENT....$599, and that's CHEAP for this much clean transparent power, brand new....we've looked at these before....if you want to, read all of the short content on both links....yeah, spambot, unpaid, unloved.........

http://onstagemag.com/ar/performance_qsc_rmx/

http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--QSCRMX2450

 

[racquetman]

.....Alandamp, that DVD don't have music on it?....rich, full-range reference-level interludes?, at least?....

.....guys, push your system with 3 watts, I don't care, it's your money, and yore system....but here's 1200 watts continuous at 2, times two, that's CLEAN, and most importantly, is reviewed to be very TRANSPARENT....$599, and that's CHEAP for this much clean transparent power, brand new....we've looked at these before....if you want to, read all of the short content on both links....yeah, spambot, unpaid, unloved.........

http://onstagemag.com/ar/performance_qsc_rmx/

http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--QSCRMX2450

I'm just saying that not everyone is an audiophile. If you're watching 75% movies/tv and 25% music with your system, I doubt you're an audiophile. DVD movies certainly don't have rich, full-range soundtracks. They have compressed DD or DTS soundtracks which can sound very good, but I doubt any audiophile would mistake one for a reference level recording.

Anyway, Enrique made the comment that "after reading all the posts about how adding an amp will increase his enjoyment," well that's all relative.
That may or may not be true. It depends how closely you listen to your material. It depends how much tweaking you like to do. Not everyone is obsessed with increasing sound quality (I'm certainly not discouraging it).

My only point was that if you are going to add it to your system, make sure you are hearing the benefit for yourself. Don't just go out and buy an amp (for any price) because a bunch of people say that you need one.

 

[RMK!]

Not about need

I'm just saying that not everyone is an audiophile. If you're watching 75% movies/tv and 25% music with your system, I doubt you're an audiophile. DVD movies certainly don't have rich, full-range soundtracks. They have compressed DD or DTS soundtracks which can sound very good, but I doubt any audiophile would mistake one for a reference level recording.

Anyway, Enrique made the comment that "after reading all the posts about how adding an amp will increase his enjoyment," well that's all relative.
That may or may not be true. It depends how closely you listen to your material. It depends how much tweaking you like to do. Not everyone is obsessed with increasing sound quality (I'm certainly not discouraging it).

My only point was that if you are going to add it to your system, make sure you are hearing the benefit for yourself. Don't just go out and buy an amp (for any price) because a bunch of people say that you need one.

If you are on this site regularly, you are anywhere from somewhat, to very obsessed with increasing sound quality. Being one of those who for no good reason added a power amp to a perfectly good AVR, I can attest that the benefits are subtle. I agree that the most dramatic benefits come from the speakers and room acoustics, but power plays a part in this as well. By adding the amp I have attained a different level of sound producing capability. I am now tweaking what I have and also looking for and purchasing reference level material that will allow me to better appreciate the systems capability.

Does 50 more horsepower make an automobile better? Is it necessary? This is a hobby and not all of the decisions we make as hobbyists are rational or justifiable except in that context. It is good that there are knowledgeable members who attempt to bring logic and reason to this very subjective thing (HiFi audio). Just don’t forget from whence you came.

 

[GaryZ06]

I have a Pioneer 1014 receiver with Polk RTi12's and CSi5 for my front sounstage and added 3 Outlaw monoblocks and yes I could tell the difference.....Not in the volume sense but a fatter and fuller sound.I could turn it up louder without any trace of distortion.

 

[Vancouver]

I could be wrong, but as I understand it a more powerfull amp will make your speakers sound better when you have them cranked up lauder. When you listen to music/movies do you ever get the feeling that you want it to be lauder but your current reciever doesnt have the power to due so? If the answer is yes, then get an amp, but if you arent after better quality sounds with your system cranked all the way up then I dont think you are going to find what you are looking for with this upgrade.

 

[Privateer]

aren't going to tell much of a difference, if any, watching movies with a dedicated amp.

Because all amps sound the same, right?

DVD movies certainly don't have rich, full-range soundtracks. They have compressed DD or DTS soundtracks which can sound very good, but I doubt any audiophile would mistake one for a reference level recording.

That is why you back up your quality amp with a real nice proccesor.

 

[racquetman]

If you are on this site regularly, you are anywhere from somewhat, to very obsessed with increasing sound quality. Being one of those who for no good reason added a power amp to a perfectly good AVR, I can attest that the benefits are subtle. I agree that the most dramatic benefits come from the speakers and room acoustics, but power plays a part in this as well. By adding the amp I have attained a different level of sound producing capability. I am now tweaking what I have and also looking for and purchasing reference level material that will allow me to better appreciate the systems capability.

Does 50 more horsepower make an automobile better? Is it necessary? This is a hobby and not all of the decisions we make as hobbyists are rational or justifiable except in that context. It is good that there are knowledgeable members who attempt to bring logic and reason to this very subjective thing (HiFi audio). Just don’t forget from whence you came.

Good post hidog1, and good analogy. I agree with you, except for your first sentence. Some people here are audiophiles, some are videophiles, some are both, and some are neither. Some people just come here for the no nonsense information and the nice people. I fit into this last category. I'm certainly not obsessed with sound quality. I would say that I have a passion for learning all I can about audio and video so that I can make solid purchasing and setup decisions. Then I just sit back and enjoy what I have. I don't spend a second worrying about the sound. There are a lot of different mindsets out there. Everyone isn't the same.

 

[racquetman]

Because all amps sound the same, right?QUOTE]

No. Because most people, including Enrique I'm guessing, don't spend a second thinking about sound quality when watching a movie. Maybe some on this forum don't fit into that category, but almost everybody else does. That's just the way it is. But I was certainly not trying to talk him out of a buying an amp. Maybe it will make all the difference in the world to him. I was just stating my opinion.

 

[Nomo]

I'm one of the guys that added a 2 channel amp to my reciever. It drives the fronts. Is there a difference in sound quality? I think there is a subtle difference. I feel at high volumes, I'm talking -10db on my Yamaha 1500, it allows the center and surround to open up a bit, but really just a bit. My primary reason for adding the amp was to give my 1500 a break from the heat and live a little longer. Hopefully a lot longer. Unless you are running Polks or some other power hungry set of speakers, and I'm not, the sound quality will be minimal with the addition of a power amp.
Of course I think that the black box with one yellow/red light on it sitting there acting like it's doing nothing looks kinda cool. But that's just me.

 

[Privateer]

I fit into this last category. I'm certainly not obsessed with sound quality.

Then why do you not just buy a HTIB and be happy?