To amp or not to amp - that is the question

[Adam]

All,

Hello. Yes, I know...this is a common question. However, even after reading through here, I'd still like some opinions on whether an external amp would be of any value to me in my specific situation. What has sparked this new and intense interest in amps on my part is the current sale at Emotiva. However, spending several hundred dollars on a "deal" that I don't need is not what I want to do.

Let me set the stage. I currently use a Pioneer VSX-1015TX with four NHT 1.5 bookshelf speakers and an NHT center channel. The Pioneer is rated at 120 W continuous, 20-20kHz, 0.2% THD, and I think that's with two channels driven. I have a Belkin PureAV power console that displays voltage and current, and I normally don't see the power draw change (perhaps it changes, but not enough for me to notice) from when the receiver is just idle to when I'm listening to something. That makes me think that the receiver generally isn't supplying much power to the speakers, but I'm not knowledgeable about power transients.

In addition, I'm contemplating getting the new SVS MTS-01 speakers and also seriously considering buying an Onkyo 875 when that model gets released.

So, I'd appreciate any and all opinions regarding whether or not an amp would be of value to me with either my current arrangement, my current speakers with an Onkyo 875, or an arrangement of MTS-01 speakers and an Onkyo 875. I'm most interested at the moment in if an Emotiva amp would be of value because of their sale.

Thanks!

Adam

 

[rollinrocker]

Adam,

You're asking for opinions so i'll give you mine. Amp it up. You don't need to crank it to insane levels to appreciate the merits of a good amplifier. But i should ask do you actually sit down and listen to music?

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Just bought Emotiva LMC-1 & LPA-1 for $809.00 SHIPPED! No tax, no shipping and handling, maybe the best pre amp tuner / amp deal on the market. Read the review here: http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/amplifiers/emotiva-ultra-theater-series/emotiva-lmc-1-build-quality-and-features

Good Luck, and Happy 4th.

 

[Adam]

Adam,

You're asking for opinions so i'll give you mine. Amp it up. You don't need to crank it to insane levels to appreciate the merits of a good amplifier. But i should ask do you actually sit down and listen to music?

Thanks for the opinion. Anymore, it's pretty rare for me to sit down and listen to just music in the living room. I'm sure that I'll have a brief spike of music listening once I get my new sub, but it won't last. Most of the time, I watch TV at a fairly low level (<55dB). I also watch a couple of DVDs a week, and that's when I turn the system up a bit louder.

Music, however, was another piece of the inspiration that I didn't mention at first. I was listening to Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance" DVD in 5.1 surround over the weekend, and the system seemed to take on a different sonic character when I turned the receiver master volume up to 0dB (I typically keep it below -30dB, but sometimes creep up to -20dB). I just really liked one of the songs and turned it up, at which point the system sounded a little off - perhaps strained is a way to describe it, but I'm not good at conveying in words that type of thing. Now, I don't know if it was the source material, the receiver being underpowered, the speakers, or something else. However, it got me thinking about more power...as do some of the posts around here...and combined with the Emotiva sale, it just all hit me at the same time.

 

[AVRat]

An amp may help with the rare moments when you decide to crank it up w/ the 1015. The 1.5s aren’t that sensitive so they do require some juice to get them cranking. Given you’re general listening habits I don’t think an amp is necessary, especially if you upgrade to the 875. Moving from the 1015 to the 875 should be quite an improvement.

 

[Adam]

Thanks, AVRat. I agree with everything that you mentioned, and it's my underlying opinion that I don't really need another amp - especially if I go with the 875. However, I wanted to pose the question because after reading a lot of posts here, I just couldn't quite come to a solid decision.

 

[darien87]

Well Adam, I was recently in your shoes. I was happy with my Yamaha 661, but just felt that something was a little lacking. The problem is, that though the LPA-1 is a great amp, I don't think you're really going to notice that much of a difference between what you have and it's 125 w/ch.

You really need to double your power to have a noticeable difference in sound. I ended up buying an Acurus 200x3 and it was a DRAMATIC difference. When I first hooked it up, and listened to some movies and music, I wasn't that impressed. But then I realized that I had my sub setting incorrect, so that my subs weren't turning on when I was playing music. I was getting all that impressive sound from my front speakers alone! Obviously that 200 watts was really able to take more advantage of my VR 2's. Once I fixed the setting and got my subs working with music, I was totally blown away.

So to sum it up, I'd say external amplification is awesome, just make sure to get enough power. I live in a condo, so I don't crank my music up that often. But when I do................ it's quite an experience.

 

[Adam]

darien, thanks for the input! Your statement about the LPA-1 agrees with other things that I've read here. I already had pretty well decided that it wouldn't be enough of a difference for me. Too bad, because $450 delivered is an attractive price. I'd read other posts here that talked about going to 200 W/channel, so that was about where I was looking. Even the IPS-1 at $1080 doesn't get me there. So, I was thinking maybe the MPS-1, but that's $1530- and that's a big jump for me. That's probably more than I'd end up paying for an Onkyo 875 when they come out.

Again, thanks for the input (and thanks to everyone who chimed in). I'd like to pose another question to you, if you don't mind. What prompted you to buy the Acurus over another brand? Did you do some comparisons?

Thanks!

 

[satish536]

I would go for external amplification.

Look at my current system in my signature i often max out the volume on my onkyo in many movies. At this level the receiver starts clipping i.e i get popping sounds, drastic bottoming out etc especially in dynamic loud scenes even with my 8ohm speakers.though this happens randomly its harsh and i know im killing my speakers every time it clips so bad.

Luckily its time for me to upgrade my whole system and this im definitely going with a power amplifier just to provide the needed headroom.

And more to kill the thought in my head " would my system sound better if i went for a dedicated power amplifier.

I own a professional movie theater and as a kid ive always loved the concept of using various dedicated monoblock amplifiers being stacked up and used for seperate channels for clean output.Looks and sounds beautiful.
Why not have something similar in HT. A nice amp with good amount clean power, not going into clipping for bass heavy sequences.

Satish

 

[j_garcia]

Here are my thoughts: I tried the 1014 in my 2ch rig and found its amp section to be relatively overrated (MCACC off, full range, stereo). It just didn't seem like it was actually capable of 120w, and the 1015 uses the identical amp section from what I understand. I do think it has a decent pre section which would make it a good candidate for using with an amp.

I disagree that you need to double your power to hear a difference - the difference is very subtle, and in fact you may not even notice it at all until you crank it up... Now the thing is, if there is a limitation currently, then an amp may improve things, however if the amp isn't struggling, you aren't going to hear a night and day improvement without getting a substantially better amp as Darien said.

 

[Ryan8886]

Adam,

I'm presently in your shoes and posed the same question and got the same answers....some yes, some no. Seth probably gave me the best advice and that was to look into room treatments, which I did. However, last night, I gave in to the urge and ordered an LPA-1 from Emotiva. For $450 with a 30 day trial period, I figured treatments can be the "next" update. I'll be curious to see if I note any differences or not. I'll let you know how it sounds when it arrives next week!
.....and Seth...if you're reading this....sorry dude...just couldn't pass on the deal!

 

[Seth=L]

The NHT 1.5 are a fairly easy load, but inefficient. At higher levels you will notice the highs will become quite unbearable when an amplifier is just barely audibly clipping. Extra amplification would be of benefit.

 

[Davemcc]

I own a professional movie theater

Satish

Which theater? In Windsor?

 

[satish536]

Which theater? In Windsor?

Lol , No its in India ! It has Qsc Amps, JBL speakers.i would hang out in the cabin ! neat stuff. (DTS only)

 

[Adam]

Thank you again to all who gave their opinions and insight!

I couldn't convince myself that the LPA-1 or IPS-1 multi-channel amps from Emotiva had enough power to make a difference in my system, I couldn't coax myself into spending over $1500 on the MPS-1, I couldn't order an Onkyo 875 because they haven't been release, I couldn't play with my new SVS PC-Ultra because it hasn't shipped...and then I cracked. Audioholics reviews, Audioholics forums, "I have this," "I have that," "this is great," "amp it," "don't amp it"...*SNAP*.

I now have an RPA-1 on order. I figure that I can try it out on the mains and see if it makes any difference. It's got the power that I want and a low enough price that I'll bite. I might not need it...I might not even want it...but like I said, I cracked.

 

[Davemcc]

I'm sure you will notice an improvement. At first glance, it may not seem like running the Rotel 1075 would be an improvement over my Denon's internal amp and in most respects it isn't. But at higher volume levels, I have found an increase in detail and clarity over the Denon, particularly in my 88db efficient, 6ohm nom./4 ohm min center channel, which the Denon is not really designed to run.

 

[j_garcia]

I went with two monoblocks for my mains. My receiver is 120w @ 8 and the monos are 125w at 8Ohms, 180@4. My speakers are all 4 Ohm and I tell you, the difference was quite surprising. They sound exactly the same at typical listening levels, but when I really crank it up, the monos don't stress one bit where with the receiver I could hear when it began to run out of steam. The big difference - each main speaker has a power supply all to itself, so they don't have to compete with each other for power from a centralized power supply. That leaves my center and surrounds to the receiver, which handles the three of them without issue.

 

[Adam]

Excellent, very nice to read! I'm glad that you all could tell the benefits, and I hope to as well.

I've read other people talk about offloading the power for the mains from the receiver to an external amp, leaving only the center and the rears for the receiver. Is the benefit of doing that very dependent on the receiver, or would that help most receivers (such as my Pioneer)?

 

[mike c]

I just like the led lights bouncing up and down my behringer a500's when I punch up the volume

I got my first "neighbor" noise complaint though ... it wasn't really the neighbors but my dad in another part of the house. there's a wooden partition in the wall that let's the sound escape versus the normal concrete walls.