pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
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 :rolleyes:
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?
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
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.
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
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.
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
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" ?
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
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)
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
I second Anthem. They occasional run 20% off MSRP. Rumor has it coming out with new models in near future but do not know the timing. Could find a deal on the current MRXx20's. Also, if ATMOS not a requirement, you could always search usaudiomart or audiogon for the previous generation Anthem.
Budget?
D-Sonic amps are awesome, if you are looking for class D.
Monoprice Monolith (made by ATI) would be another recommendation.
Rogue Audio if tubes are your thing (they also have hybrid models).
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
weakest link is understood very well. as i say working with a 2yr old router, Netgear AC1600 100kDL cable. HDMI cable and Ethernet settings are driving me crazy!
thx racrawford65 , you both gave me some research!
budget depends if i get called back off this furlough (which i am loving!)
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Two years for a router isn't too old. How many devices hardwired vs wifi?
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
audiohead
weakest link is understood very well. as i say working with a 2yr old router, Netgear AC1600 100kDL cable. HDMI cable and Ethernet settings are driving me crazy!
thx racrawford65 , you both gave me some research!
budget depends if i get called back off this furlough (which i am loving!)
Good luck with the research!
One add, you may also find a current generation Anthem MRX or AVM60 on those sites - they pop up occasionally. The Rogue Cronus Magnum is well reviewed. I have the amp-only version of this (Atlas Magnum II)...really solid tube amp made in USA. Excellent customer service also.
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
curtis
Two years for a router isn't too old. How many devices hardwired vs wifi?
2 wired and 5-6 wireless, one of the wireless is a chromecast i can't get connected, our old tv in basement in front of the treadmill? '
wired: receiver and Tv
wireless: 2 android phones, laptop,printer, 2 chromecasts
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
racrawford65
Good luck with the research!
One add, you may also find a current generation Anthem MRX or AVM60 on those sites - they pop up occasionally. The Rogue Cronus Magnum is well reviewed. I have the amp-only version of this (Atlas Magnum II)...really solid tube amp made in USA. Excellent customer service also.
i will be checking it out. thx I should get my center channel speaker first
keeping an eye out on the MRX 520 , I located an Anthem dealer an hour away, maybe i can take their demo off their hands? I also saw you talking about a new one coming out? any new news on that yet?
Bookmarked those sites also
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
No news on the new Anthem models. Read a post about it on AVS somewhere that the poster's dealer said so in the near future...not sure how long "near future" is.
Awhile ago, I did see a picture of a prototype --- they may look like the STRs (pic is on Anthem's site). Wouldn't surprise me -- consolidating to same case for economies of scale.
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
If you can find a good deal on a Denon AVR X3600H it makes an excellent pre-pro. There is a trick you can do that disconnects the internal amps from the preouts (front L/R outputs) for an external amp and it measures better, a lot better, than some top of the line flagship pre-pros!
"ASR just measured it using this trick, and guess what, SINAD better than the AV8805 and AV7705. It beats the MRX-1120 too, just barely though."
https://forums.audioholics.com/forum...yamaha.117881/
Here are some very detailed measurements and comparison to many other units. Surprisingly the 3600 outperforms just about all of them. Amir is infamous for being overly harsh in his reviews so to see him praise an AVR is pretty shocking.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/f...-review.12676/
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
racrawford65
That guy isn’t going to get $2500 for that AVM60. :)
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Agree. Don't think the other will get 1900 for the mrx720 either.
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
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.
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
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.
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
racrawford65
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.
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
curtis
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).
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
racrawford65
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).
I had pointed out before in threads around the webs that $400 receivers were/are doing HDMI connectivity better than the $2000+ Emotiva pre/pros.
Also, on their new generation pre/pros, that they started delivering last year, with the promise of Dirac(coming soon for that year)...they just now started testing Dirac deployment, but their implementation of Dirac requires an external box/interface to function properly.
When I was having issues with what was promised, I did a lot of research on them....don't get me started. :)
In the last five years or so, when it comes to A/V electronics, I have become less and less of a tweaker. I want to set it up, and it should just work.
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
I looked at Emotiva but passed. Still liking Anthem!
Hows McIntosh fit in there or Harmon Kardon?
Re: pre/pro - AMP for Towers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
audiohead
I looked at Emotiva but passed. Still liking Anthem!
Hows McIntosh fit in there or Harmon Kardon?
I sold the XMC-1 and bought an Anthem AVM 60. For me, it was a good move. Sounds great, no more issues, my HDMI sources connect fine(4K HDR and Dolby Vision pass through fine), I have Atmos capability, and good room correction(with good software support).
I had a Harmon Kardon receiver a long while ago that I liked. McIntosh is a different income bracket.
