when I replaced the front channels on my Onkyo AVR with a same power Parasound amp, I was quite surprised at the huge difference in sound quality, both for music and movies...
Amp/Preamps vs. High end AV Receivers
Hi,
I am sure this topic had been discussed exhaustively. I am new to this arena looking for some help to upgrade my Onkyo AV Receiver (135 w/channel). I am debating whether to the AV route or the AMP/Preamp combo. Naturally, I understand that I get what I pay for.
Would appreciate some inputs and suggestions regarding:
1. AMP/PREAMP combo route -
2. AV route
I am not looking at a huge budget but a decent one.
Thanks in advance
I am sure this topic had been discussed exhaustively. I am new to this arena looking for some help to upgrade my Onkyo AV Receiver (135 w/channel). I am debating whether to the AV route or the AMP/Preamp combo. Naturally, I understand that I get what I pay for.
Would appreciate some inputs and suggestions regarding:
1. AMP/PREAMP combo route -
2. AV route
I am not looking at a huge budget but a decent one.
Thanks in advance
- ...
- 46 posts total
For your speaker surround system you don't really need AV separates cause they will cost you more. Just get a very good and very competent av receiver. Get the Rotel RAP-1580 av receiver for your B&W speaker surround system. The Rotel will pair really well with the B&W. The RAP-1580 is Rotel’s only AV receiver model and it currently retails for $3800. It is a great sounding receiver and its stereo performance for music playbacks is pretty good especially coming from an AV receiver. Or at cheaper price point I highly recommend the Cambridge Audio CRX200 av receiver currently retails for $2k. It’s pretty musical sounding av receiver. It will sound good on your B&W. |
Integrated Amplifiers are another story ,seperate almost allways are better do to separation of RF, and noise , and bigger power supplies and capacitance . that being said .my brother has the latest Gryphon Diablo ,and it is almost 85 lbs and Everything Premium ,and I am into system modding it is a work of art and will compete with ease Any seperates in the $20k plus range . an integrated can have advantages if properly implemented such as no extra cables ,losses in signal there direct wiring and coupled can have its own synergy with amp preamp in one package .$17k is not cheap and their $4k digital module is Excellent . If he ever sells it .i will take it Off his hands . I have the Very good Danish Gato 400-S Digital integrated amp that I feel a true bargain at $6500 i have spent a homes worth on Audio overthe years and owned a audio store in The U.K . I feel well implemented class A,AB, Digital ,and Vacuum Tube all have examples that are excellent . To date the Gryphon integrated is the most musical integrated I have heard. Vitus from Denmark another Great equally as good hand built integrated, their top seperates are better stil if youhave $40k and up I donot . A McIntosh receiver is very respectable , Accuphase much better still. we are speaking of High quality gear. Denon, onykyo is ok for a starter system Audiophile quality they are not. |
B&W CM8 specs: 88dB spl (2.83V, 1m) which is like approximately 86 dB/1 W/1 Meter (quite low). Impedance: 8Ω (minimum 3Ω) (the minimum does not look good). Not sure how far you sit from the speakers if one assumes 9ft, you might need for the amp to be at-least putting out 96 Watts of clean watts to reach 85 dB + 15 dB (swings) all the way to 3 Ohm when needed http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html So an amp that probably does 200 Watts per channel so that THD is low at 100 Watts, typical of many amps, there are exceptions however. I don't think there are many receivers that can go up-to 200 Watts per channel and also support impedance to 2 Ohm (at-least on spec). Better go to with separates for 2 channel an HT bypass will come in handy. This will depend on how you source the music and the music from the videos. |
- 46 posts total