pre/pro - AMP for Towers?

[audiohead]

It is extremely rare if using a high quality amplifier, but receivers typically have mediocre quality amp sections and power supply, thus they typically will clip easily.

I pullet Davef quote from the "Just how fragile are the Raals?" thread and My curiosity is rolling along.

I still haven't looked at my volume control settings to see if i have 2 settings and never used the "reference level" "talk" just the zero to 100 or what ever the volume number is. I'm getting there, lol

I am still saving for the Sierra DUO center for fall, don't watch much tv in the short summer we have.

Anyhow to the point per the title, What receiver pre/pro amp goes past mediocre? i learned i do not have pre outs and always try to prepare for the next upgrade. I have an Onkyo TX-NR 646 7.2 but run 5.1 and i am still working on its settings and i am no way getting the SPL that Pogre is getting.

what i am looking for is a high end even if it is entry level, Receiver , integrated amp (i do not need a tuner) or per/pro AMP affordable place to start looking. and trying to narrow down a starting point for 5.1 or 7.2? I was floored at the $400 price that i paid for my receiver and even called "My Store" to ask why so cheap and got the answer "Onkyo is losing market share to competitors and is running a great deal on these" so i got it because i really wasn't prepared for my last Onkyo to POP!

What processing and power will match these towers and bring out their true spirit?

[Qman]

Have you looked at the Anthem product offerings?
https://www.anthemav.com/products-cu...pe=av-receiver

[audiohead]

yes the 520 and 720 are on the list.

What really constitutes getting out of consumer grade or mediocre and into at least entry level high end?

I almost want to get out of the receiver end and into a good amp and an acceptable pre/pro or integrated amp and room correction SW does sound it is in play also.
lat least a 5.1 ,5.2 processor(receiver) with pre out especially to power the front 3 LCR maybe use receiver power to power the 2 surround? I mostly listen to stereo but love to catch move night with the wife at home with kick but sound.
the next step past mediocre i guess?
that word just got the wheels turning as mediocre is ok but i am looking to match these towers with a set up they will enjoy past my mediocre receiver when she blows.

[Qman]

I hear you. I wish there was an easy way to move from my average receiver for HT to my amp/preamp for L+R 2 channel music.

[audiohead]

yeah, sounds about right. So using HT is a handicap for stereo?

Descrete output and Toroidal Transformers is part of what i used to think made a really good AMP. I am not sure if that holds true today?

Is there a recommended AMP that matches the impedance or sensitivity or power rating or something else to "match the AMP to speakers (towers)r"? to so called "pair the 2" ?

[Qman]

HT *can* be a handicap. It always comes down to the weakest link in the chain.

I'm sure there are great amps out there that may not have discrete components or toroids...There are many ways to get the job done. Conversely, toroids and discrete does not necessarily make a great amp!

Last question i will leave to experts. One point I will bring up is that Ascend speakers (from all I've read) are easy loads for amps in general, mainly due to the lack of Inductance. (They act like more of a pure resistive load than most other speakers)

[MusicHead]

Check out the Emotiva MC-700 7.1 Pre/Pro and their BasX A-700 amp.

For the price of a half-decent AVR you get a very good entry level separate system.

Read carefully the list of features, though. Emotiva equipment is light on bells and whistles.

Outlaw have also their own entry level Pre/Pro and a few matching multi-channel amps at prices comparable to a decent AVR.

[racrawford65]

Emotiva amps are ok, though I think the BasX have fans so should check out reviews, etc. to make sure they aren't too noisy. If you can find a used older one (either UPA or XMC Gen 1 / Gen 2), that would be better.

I wouldn't recommend an Emotiva processor. I had bad experiences with their UMC-1 and seems they are still having issues with their newer stuff getting them to function reliably.

[curtis]

I wouldn't recommend an Emotiva processor. I had bad experiences with their UMC-1 and seems they are still having issues with their newer stuff getting them to function reliably.

From my personal experience with the XMC-1 and following threads, I agree 100%.

It sounded great, but quirks, waiting for fixes, and waiting for promised upgrades/features left a lot to be desired. This is a recurring theme with their processors.

[racrawford65]

From my personal experience with the XMC-1 and following threads, I agree 100%.

It sounded great, but quirks, waiting for fixes, and waiting for promised upgrades/features left a lot to be desired. This is a recurring theme with their processors.

Sounds like my UMC-1 experiences, plus a painful process for firmware updates and Big Dan's deception - starting the 30 day return window after a year or so of firmware upgrades with the most recent release (which still didn't fix issues) without telling customers the clock is ticking. Luckily I found out and was able to return mine. Read through the owner's thread on AVS for the RMC-1...same issues but with added caveat that it's not Emotiva's processor but other HDMI devices (even 1.4).