2. amps-preamps
  3. 1086725029

$2500 amp and pre/pro

Ok, my receiver just died. The good news I can now move on to separates and finally hear the full(er) potential in the rest of my equipment. The bad news is I'm off to medschool and, for the next several years, will redefine poor. I will be buying used off A'gon--if at all possible, I'd really like to stay under $2500 for the pair. Here's the rest of my system.

4 Vienna Acoustic Bach's
Rel Storm III sub
Pioneer 47a player
some crappy cambridge soundworks center speaker

Multichannel amps that seem to be in my price range are sunfire cinema grand, B&K, Outlaw I guess--though I don't like that option much--not really sure what else. Vienna Acoustics are warm speakers and I'm concerned that warm sounding amps might make them sound dark.

I'm really stuck when it comes to a pre/pro. They all seem to break the bank. Video switching is not crucial, SACD + DVD-A input is however. I'm also leary of processors that disable the sub in two channel mode. The Bach's are only rated to 38Hz (which I think is a stretch) and I really like to be able to use the REL to fill out the sound while in stereo.

Although I'm looking for a multichannel setup, this system will be used 90%+ for music. I enjoy two channel and multichannel alike. Movies come a distant second.

Any ideas are welcome. Thanks
ultraviolet
prpixel
876 posts
 
How about the Anthem AVM2 pro/pro. I owned one for 28 months and loved it. Made a lateral move to the AVM20. There's one on Agon now for $1299OBO.

Match it with an Anthem MCA5 (200x5) and you should have a sweet setup. Again, there's one here on Agon for $975OBO.

So, of you get the sellers to pay the freight, that leaves you with $225 for cables. Pick up some balanced(XLR) cables from signalcable.com and your right at the limit of your budget.

Good luck,
maineiac
649 posts
 
Since you mentioned sunfire, you may want to consider the Ultimate Receiver, it is the TGIII pre/pro w/ 7 200W amps (7.1 or multi-room option). It is very nice and if you look hard, I bet you could grab one for $3K. It gives you the option to go seperates down the road. In 8 channel mode, I don't think you can cross over to the sub (call sunfire, they are very helpful). I have used the extra front output of my SACD/DVD to go to the inputs of the CD, that way I have the option to use the crossover or the other features that are not available in the 8 channel mode. Good luck.
ultraviolet OP
105 posts
 
Thank you for your responses. PrPixel, I've heard very good things about the sound of the AVM2, do you know if it has multichannel input for SACD? I'd never even considered the MCA5 and know nothing about it. I'll start researching it. Could you charactarize the sound of anthem compared to B&K, sunfire or other options?

Maineiac (I'm a Maineiac too, currently living in Boston), I'd considered the sunfire ultimate, but it is at the extreme of my range (funny how that always seems to happen in audio...) and I only need 5 channels. My speakers can't be biamped so I'd be paying for two channels and never use them. Still, if I opt for sunfire equipment, it seems the cheapest way to get it is that receiver instead of separates.
flemke
596 posts
 
B&K does not go well with Vienna Acoustics.
prpixel
876 posts
 
Yes, the AMV2 does have a 6 channel input, with bass management, for SACD and DVD-A input.

I purchased a Sunfire Theater Grand III while I was waiting for the AVM20. It had some operating quirks and the sound was flat. Also, the soundstage wasn't great. I only let it burn in for about 200 hours before boxing it up and selling it here on Agon. I ended up taking an $800 loose on it.

I've auditioned the B&K ref30 processor a few years ago and thought it was the most brittle and harsh processor I have ever heard. I have not heard the new ref50 processor.

As far as the MCA5 amp goes, it's 5 channels rated at 200 watts. It has both balanced(xlr) and single ended inputs. Inside there are 2 big toroidail transformers. I heard it at a local dealer, with an AVM2, and it sounded good; a lot of bang for the buck.

http://www.anthemav.com/OldSitev1/frames/mcafr.html

Good luck,
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