The Tower Discussion Thread!

[Beave]

I'm on the verge of purchasing the Sierra Towers with RAAL and I wanted to survey this forum for amplifier recommendations. I self admittedly don't know much when it comes to amplifiers. I currently have a DENON AVR-X3400H, nothing special. I planned on upgrading my amplifier with the speakers, but I'm not sure what price point I should be looking at.

The Towers with RAAL are close to the $3000 price point. Do I need to also be looking at amplifiers in that price point? Can I drive the towers beautifully with something less expensive?

The Denon you have is perfectly capable, and to me there is no reason to change or "upgrade" your amplifier.

You don't need an expensive amp to power expensive speakers. There's only a loose correlation between amplifier price and amplifier performance. More expensive isn't necessarily better. Often it just means a fancier look, a prestigious brand name, or low sales numbers (higher per-unit manufacturing costs).

[markgoebel]

markgoebel -
are you mostly music or movies or mix? Solid state amp or tubes? budget?

For solid state,
Emotiva make good amps, as Enrico suggested, although I'd look for a used XPA gen 1 or gen 2 (new gen 3 use a switching power supply). Alternately, check out Monoprice Monolith amps (made by ATI). Outlaw is another option although not sure who makes their amps now (used to be ATI, who may still be making some - not the ####x series, though, which are probably made in China).

For tubes,
Rogue Audio (Atlas Magnum II - pure amp or Cronus Magnum III) as entry level). Made in USA and awesome customer service. I'm currently using the Atlas to drive my towers and am moving up the Rogue line to the ST100. Primaluna also make nice amps (although believe these are made in China).

PS Audio also make really great equipment. Dave F suggested Schiit in this forum somewhere.

You could also consider class D, although some people are sensitive to these amps with RAAL tweeters. If you want to try class D, look at D-Sonic. An alternate, less expensive class D option is VTV amplifier. I'm using a 4 channel VTV Pascal amp to run my ATMOS height channels (HTM200's) and sounds really good.

Honestly it's like 70% Music to 30% movies and TV

I've never used tubes, but I'm open to the possibility. What about something like a tube preamp to a solid state amp? Best of both worlds?

[curtis]

Honestly it's like 70% Music to 30% movies and TV

I've never used tubes, but I'm open to the possibility. What about something like a tube preamp to a solid state amp? Best of both worlds?

That isn't the best of both worlds, it is a compromise of both worlds. My 2 cents.

[Beave]

Advantages of tube amps include:
*heating your room in winter
*poor reliability, allowing you to buy new gear more often
*altering frequency response, acting as an equalizer that you don't have to change yourself
*adding distortion to the signal
*generally providing less power than solid-state amps, preventing you from blowing your speakers

[markgoebel]

Advantages of tube amps include:
*heating your room in winter
*poor reliability, allowing you to buy new gear more often
*altering frequency response, acting as an equalizer that you don't have to change yourself
*adding distortion to the signal
*generally providing less power than solid-state amps, preventing you from blowing your speakers

Haha alright so not a fan, I see. What do you like for the Sierra Towers with RAAL? What’s really going to make them shine and sound as special as they seem to be?

[Beave]

Haha alright so not a fan, I see. What do you like for the Sierra Towers with RAAL? What’s really going to make them shine and sound as special as they seem to be?

Any competent amp, such as what you already have, combined with:
1) Two good subwoofers, placed well and EQ'd as needed
2) Proper placement of the towers in your room
3) Proper use of furniture (couches, chairs, desks, bookshelves, etc) and/or acoustic treatments of walls, along with a rug or carpet on the floor
4) A good listening position, generally away from walls and with no big glass table right in front of you (pet peeve alert!)

[markgoebel]

Any competent amp, such as what you already have, combined with:
1) Two good subwoofers, placed well and EQ'd as needed
2) Proper placement of the towers in your room
3) Proper use of furniture (couches, chairs, desks, bookshelves, etc) and/or acoustic treatments of walls, along with a rug or carpet on the floor
4) A good listening position, generally away from walls and with no big glass table right in front of you (pet peeve alert!)

Honestly I was prepared to upgrade to a Class AB amplifier since I know that’s what Dave recommends for his speakers. Since I’m buying his top of the line speakers, I thought I’d take that step in my setup.

[Beave]

Honestly I was prepared to upgrade to a Class AB amplifier since I know that’s what Dave recommends for his speakers. Since I’m buying his top of the line speakers, I thought I’d take that step in my setup.

You already have a class AB amplifier in your Denon AVR.

[markgoebel]

You already have a class AB amplifier in your Denon AVR.

There goes my inexperience showing. I honestly didn’t know that, I apologize.

[msound]

I'm on the verge of purchasing the Sierra Towers with RAAL and I wanted to survey this forum for amplifier recommendations. I self admittedly don't know much when it comes to amplifiers. I currently have a DENON AVR-X3400H, nothing special. I planned on upgrading my amplifier with the speakers, but I'm not sure what price point I should be looking at.

The Towers with RAAL are close to the $3000 price point. Do I need to also be looking at amplifiers in that price point? Can I drive the towers beautifully with something less expensive?

I used to have a Parasound a31 because I needed a 3 channel amp and it sounds beautiful. If you only need a two channel I would recommend the a21 (used market can be had for $1700ish) or a21+ for your budget. You absolutely can't go wrong the Parasound.