2. amps-preamps
  3. 1429816937

New system/room, upgrade amp or preamp first?

Hi all! This is my first post here but I've been an active A'gon'er for many years.

I recently built myself a listening room in the basement. Nothing too exotic in terms of the actual room construction, but I do have 4 OC703 acoustic panels on the wall for front wall reflections and for first reflections. I had a friend build cabinets and I did the crossovers and assembly of Troels Graven's ScanSpeak 3-way Discovery monitors. Just got them done yesterday, they sound very good but need a while to break-in.

I am currently using Jriver set to DoP, out via USB to a Schiit Loki DAC, then on to a Marantz SR-685 5.1 receiver acting as a preamp, and finally on to a B&K AV5000 5.1 separate amp (5 x 105), obviously only using two of those channels. I have the sub out of the Marantz y'd and connecting to two BIC F12's, used only to fill in the lowend. They aren't the most musical subs obviously but they do a fine job to my ears for 45-50Hz and below. They provide a satisfying weight to the sound without dominating the room.

So, I'm pretty OK with the DAC and source. I'm basically using two repurposed home theater components so those are next on my list to upgrade. The room is small, 13 x 10 (speakers are 82" apart, my chair is 82" back from the center point, about 3' from the back wall). I have kicked around an integrated amp but I do prefer separates if I'm being honest. If I have a $1500 budget for ONE component, what should I be looking at first - addressing the AVR-turned-preamp, or the B&K amplifier? The item not chosen for upgrade at this point will be addressed in another 2-3 months.

It's tough to judge a system with such new speakers but so far, the sound is well-dimensioned for both width and depth, though depth is a bit shallow. Voicing is wonderful, thanks in part to the 4" ScanSpeak midrange (wired out of phase with the woofer and tweet).

My listening tastes are varied but primarily I prefer Rock, Metal, and am starting to get more into blues and jazz. I do some orchestral stuff here and there as well as instrumental concerts (violins and piano). Any and all opinions are welcome, I can clarify whatever is necessary. Thanks!
toddrhodes
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Todd and Mesch, thanks very much for the nice words.

Regarding my earlier comments about connecting subs at speaker-level to amps having balanced or bridged outputs, I should add that it is often (although not always) possible to accomplish that. As I indicated, the negative input terminal of the sub should not be connected to the negative output terminal of that kind of amp. But connecting the negative input terminal of the sub to a chassis screw on the amp will often work well, depending on the amp's internal grounding configuration.

Also, there are some cases where the amp provides a circuit ground terminal, and connecting to that would work. Or if the amp provides both XLR and RCA input connectors the sub's negative input terminal could be connected to the ground connection of a connector that would mate with whichever of those inputs is not being used.

But my point is that there may be some cases involving amps having balanced or bridged outputs in which there is no practical solution for connecting a sub at speaker-level.

Best regards,
-- Al
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
I would go with the preamp first as I feel thats the foundation of a system. I would spend the most I could as I would like to keep if for a while. I don't think you can do it new but used, with some help, you can have some fun. I'd be willing to help with a really good price I would give you on an older Innersound preamp. Check it out on line )now sanders sound). It was $4 grand new and is solid state, black as night and makes the grand canyon seem narrow. dynamics are awesome. It gets out of the way so you can hear everything else. If you're intersted, I will make you an offfer you can't refuse.
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
Sorry! Just saw you got one! Best of luck! GREAT unit!
toddrhodes OP
49 posts
 
Thanks Cerrot, no worries at all! If somehow anything falls through on the BC, I may look you up, so I appreciate the heads up regardless.

I'm about 1/2" short of having enough wood to build the last hanging acoustical treatment for the rear wall. This one will be 6" thick, OC703 in a wood frame, upholstered with the same type of stuff I used on the other "wall hangings" in my room. Had a buddy over last night who is almost as much into 2-channel as I am and he was very happy with how the room is coming together. I did also figure out I can A/B the Marantz I currently have with the Bel Canto using its Loop function. Should make for an interesting experiment, to be sure.
mcrheist
130 posts
 
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