What amp to get?

[zumbo]

What piece of equipment do you have that is making the 100wpc?

 

[zumbo]

 

[AVRat]

I have speakers only. I can send the video directly from my media player or DVD directly to the 60" digital TV and the audio to a plain (huge!) power amp - correct?

NO!! You need some sort of pre-amp/processor between your sources and the amp/TV. This could be either a separate pre-amp/processor or an AV Receiver (with its own built-in amps) with pre-amp outputs that feed the audio signal to the amp.

Are you yanking our chain here???

I have the Rotel RSX-1065 surround receiver (100 watts per channel, 5 channels) and I'd like to know what a good set of speakers would be for that unit.

That's the five surround speakers and a sub-woofer.

By 'good' I mean efficient in terms of power, decent in quality and reasonable in pirce. I have no idea what that would cost but I could raise 2 - 3,000 USD.

Thanks - rev

 

[jinjuku]

Are you yanking our chain here???

That was my initial thought, but you have to give them benefit of the doubt.

 

[zumbo]

Almost four hours.

 

[MichaelJHuman]

I wrote some FAQ for amps and AVRs over at avsforum.com. You might find some of that info helpful. Don't want to post links, because I am not sure what audioholic's policy is to links to that site.

It's in the amp/receiver subforum.

 

[GranteedEV]

That was my initial thought, but you have to give them benefit of the doubt.

No way! Didn't you see the red chiclet!?

I wrote some FAQ for amps and AVRs over at avsforum.com. You might find some of that info helpful. Don't want to post links, because I am not sure what audioholic's policy is to links to that site.

I at least know it's not a certain other HT forum where I've been modded for posting a link to a manufacturer's official forum with actual owners for that particular product.

 

[walter duque]

I have the following speakers that need an amp:

2 Magnaplanar 1.6 front
2 Magnaplanar ?? (the four foot long wall mount kind) rear
1 CCR Maggy center

I've been trying to drive them with 100 watts per channel but it's nowhere near enough. With the amp at 80%, the volume is little more than conversation.

I don't need a receiver, just basic power and plenty of it.

Thanks - rev

I've been wondering, what made you buy maggies. No insult intended but people with little or no knowledge in this hobby just don't get maggies. So what's up with this.

 

[revnice]

KEW:
"Here's your "fat, dumb, and happy" answer! (no offense intended)"
None taken.

"The important thing is your receiver (or AVR) must have pre-amp outputs to feed to these amplifiers."

OK, now I understand that comment. I *tried* the Rotel RSX-1065 but I don't want to use it at all. I don't want to build on it, modify it or feed other amps from it.

I want to replace it with whatever I should have bought in the first place - then maybe sell the Rotel.

So let's pretend I just have the speakers and I'm trying to complete the system.

I'm going to need one of the powerful amps already mentioned as long as it handles video INs and OUTs as well, correct?

 

[walter duque]

So let's pretend I just have the speakers and I'm trying to complete the system.

I'm going to need one of the powerful amps already mentioned as long as it handles video INs and OUTs as well, correct?

[/QUOTE]

I thinks it' time for you to get out of this tread, I don't think you're ready for this. Members are going to be all over you.

 

[jinjuku]

KEW:
"Here's your "fat, dumb, and happy" answer! (no offense intended)"
None taken.

"The important thing is your receiver (or AVR) must have pre-amp outputs to feed to these amplifiers."

OK, now I understand that comment. I *tried* the Rotel RSX-1065 but I don't want to use it at all. I don't want to build on it, modify it or feed other amps from it.

I want to replace it with whatever I should have bought in the first place - then maybe sell the Rotel.

So let's pretend I just have the speakers and I'm trying to complete the system.

I'm going to need one of the powerful amps already mentioned as long as it handles video INs and OUTs as well, correct?

The Rotel has pre-outs. Look at the back, top, middle of the unit. A RCA cable will go to each channel of amplification. Your SOL on any HDMI.

So if we are staying High End and you want hidef formats:

Marantz AV7005

Emotiva XPA-5

RCA (for unbalanced connections to the amp)

XLR (for balanced connections, most likely not needed)

 

[Warpdrv]

oh I see the sharks are circling....

 

[revnice]

AVRat

"You need some sort of pre-amp/processor between your sources and the amp/TV"
Thank you, I did not know that.

Walter:

About the Maggies: I went into the store with a bunch of money and let the salesman demo a few things. They had the chair screwed to the floor in the sweet spot and all the fancy gear arranged around it.

Just loved the maggies. I'd never heard of them before but I was determined to treat myself to a decent sound system. I bought the Rotel the same day.

I came back later and told the salesman that the Rotel just isn't doing it. He said he didn't know I intended to use it with the Maggies, he would have sold me something else if he'd known. Great, so now I'm stuck with an inappropriate receiver.

That's how I got into this mess.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If 100wpc is not enough, I think you need 300wpc or more.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1298162081

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1298161684

At what volume are you trying to achieve at your listening position?

90dBA?

 

[revnice]

Jinjuku:

Thank you so much. I'll work with that info for a while.

rev

 

[TLS Guy]

KEW:
"Here's your "fat, dumb, and happy" answer! (no offense intended)"
None taken.

"The important thing is your receiver (or AVR) must have pre-amp outputs to feed to these amplifiers."

OK, now I understand that comment. I *tried* the Rotel RSX-1065 but I don't want to use it at all. I don't want to build on it, modify it or feed other amps from it.

I want to replace it with whatever I should have bought in the first place - then maybe sell the Rotel.

So let's pretend I just have the speakers and I'm trying to complete the system.

I'm going to need one of the powerful amps already mentioned as long as it handles video INs and OUTs as well, correct?

You do not need to buy any more equipment. You already have very good equipment. You just need to learn how to use it and not glorify in, and advertise your ignorance on a public forum.

Lets look at the facts.

You have invested in a very nice set of speakers and very high quality receiver with superior amplification.

Apparently you want to stay ignorant with a disdain for learning.

Now let me tell you, you have complex equipment and you need to educate yourself about it without wasting forum members time

Correcting this begins with reading your manuals cover to cover and enough times so you really understand it.

Now your Rotel receiver will deliver 198 watts at 0.1% THD into four ohms. So that is what they will deliver to your speakers.

I strongly suspect your receiver is not properly set up, especially the speaker settings.

You need to go through your set up process from the beginning.

If there are points you are not clear about during the set up post back.

The last thing you need right now is more equipment.

 

[jinjuku]

You do not need to buy any more equipment. You already have very good equipment. You just need to learn how to use it and not glorify in, and advertise your ignorance on a public forum.

Lets look at the facts.

You have invested in a very nice set of speakers and very high quality receiver with superior amplification.

Apparently you want to stay ignorant with a disdain for learning.

Now let me tell you, you have complex equipment and you need to educate yourself about it without wasting forum members time

Correcting this begins with reading your manuals cover to cover and enough times so you really understand it.

Now your Rotel receiver will deliver 198 watts at 0.1% THD into four ohms. So that is what they will deliver to your speakers.

I strongly suspect your receiver is not properly set up, especially the speaker settings.

You need to go through your set up process from the beginning.

If there are points you are not clear about during the set up post back.

The last thing you need right now is more equipment.

This can be done while being cordial. I also agree with what you are saying. Need to know room dimensions, seating distance etc...

 

[KEW]

Yeah, don't be too quick to ditch the Rotel.
It is a fine unit.
Give us more info on your situation.
In addition to the questions Jinjuku asked, how loud do you want it to get?
Are you looking for concert levels? A level where you could have a conversation with someone 3 feet away? etc. Just some sense of how much you want to be able to push it.

 

[revnice]

KEW:

* It's a large-ish room (20 x 24)

* Seating distance is about 10 feet

* Volume varies somewhat according to what movie I'm playing but at 80% it's not much louder than a conversation in the room by real people.

* Desired volume: Comfortably loud, with headroom to blow away the room when my wife is out. I want to be able to shake the windows!

As things are, if I turn it up it struggles, it gets hot and all the fans come on and it still isn't really delivering.

 

[90gstman]

TLS guy beat me to the punch. I don't think anythings wrong with your equipment. Read the manual. Check all your connections. If your still confused, don't be ashamed to go back to the dealer and ask for a quick lesson on setup. You just spent $5,000+ at his shop, the least he can do is spend 1/2 hour with you showing you how to use it.