How do you amp your system?

Far from "prevailing wisdom," my 7 channel system evolved from my 2 channel stereo.

I started with 2 speakers driven by 2 monoblocks. Each speaker had its own subwoofer to fill out their low ends.

When I added a screen, I routed the 2 front channel outputs of the HT processor to be one of the inputs to the preamp of my stereo. And I added a center channel and 2 rear speakers driven by three other monoblocks, all sourced directly from my HT processor. These monoblocks are powerful and accurate but do not have the same class of sound as my main front channel monoblocks.

More recently, I added 2 more channels for a 7 channel HT. The 2 added speakers became the rears and the former rears became the surrounds on the sides. My rears are more efficient than the surrounds so I used a lower power stereo amp that I had bought some time ago. Fortunately, it is made by the same designer as my main front channel monoblocks, so at least it does share the same character of sound, although this is of minor importance given the sonic material usually sent to the rears.

Since my main fronts both have subwoofers and all my speakers are close to full range, I don't feel the lack of not having a dedicated subwoofer channel. When I set up my system in my HT processor, I input that there was no subwoofer for the ".1" channel.

HT set up via my trusty Acurus ACT 3 processor and ACT 5 amplifier. The ACT 5 powers all five channels with 200 watts. The sub is a powered Velodyne.

Should I not have equal power for all speakers I would then have my highest quality to power primary L & R followed by center and then surrounds.

I have a dedicated analog tube powered two channel system so I'm quite satisfied with a receiver based 7.1 home theater.

I wanted the HT to be as simple as possible. Since there was no substitute for the Pioneer Kuro plasma I went with all Pioneer Elite, matched Triangle Comets, and an Earthquake subwoofer.

I have all Von Schweikert speakers, and all Electron Kinetics Eagle amps. Fronts are VR4 Gen III's vertically biamped using Eagle 4's, Center is a LCR15 driven from one channel (the other idles) of a Eagle 2C, and rears are CR3's driven by an Eagle 2C. Sub is a VRS Tower of Power which has a Carver amp built in IIRC.

This is a dual purpose system - most listening is 2 channel analog using the mains only, no sub.

Sorry, yes, I was referring to HT.

I am building a system as I go. I have a new AVR and an old 2-channel amp I was using for..you guessed it...2 channel.

I have bought a ULS15 sub that is on the way. I have Synchrony S's used in 7.1 mode, powered by the AVR. The 2-channel amp is powering my inefficient mains. Once the sub is here and integrated into the system, I'll turn my attention to a center speaker, powered inititally by the AVR. The AVR is a Yamaha RXA3010. It is listed at 150RMS per channel, but that of course is divided up by the number of channels used, so right now I have ~75 for each of the surrounds, and that will go down again when I add a center.

So, the decision is, one 7 channel amp for all?
A 3 channel for LCR, and 2 stereos or one 4 channel (do they even make one?) for surrounds?

My setup is dual duty, mostly TV/movies, but I like to listen to 2 channel as well. When I switch the AVR to 2 channel direct, does it then send full range to the mains even with a sub hooked up to sub-out? What are my configuration options for that as well?

I have my eye on Synchrony One's for mains to replace my old Infinity Kappas, and those are bi-ampable, and I'm open to that. I do like to crank it up, and I'm in a house where I can (sorry Elizabeth, been where you are as well). The room is 12 X 19 X 8. It will soon be opened up into the kitchen area behind the back wall, the one opposite the speakers and screen (TCP65ST50 Panasonic)