2. home-theater
  3. 146771-108096

Upgrade A/V Receiver or get 5 Ch. Amp

Hello folks!
I’m in a little confusion here. I have Rotel RB-1582 MK II running B&W CM 10 S2s as main and a Marantz A/V receiver running my CM Center 2 S2 and CM 1 S2s for surrounds. I know the power from the Marantz (125w/ ch) isn’t good enough for my centers. I’m thinking to upgrade, but confused on which path to take first. Either get a new receiver, ie. Anthem MRX 520 (100W/ Ch) or get the Anthem MCA 30 or MCA 50 amp to run the center and surrounds. I I plan to get both over the time but for now I’m confused as to which one to get first. Or I may get a processor, AVM 60 rather than the MRX 520 or 720. P.S. I live in a town home and I don’t see myself moving to a single family with a theater room at least in the next 2 years.

Thanks!
badaga
myoungva
6 posts
 
I just bought a 720 and can say without reservation it is the best piece of equipment I’ve ever bought. Super happy with it. The 720 has more powerful amps than the 520 so my recommendation would be to get the 720 and see how it works with your speakers. If necessary you could always buy a 3 channel amp for the fronts.

I have Paradigm Signature S2’s for L&R and the C3 center. I’ve run those natively off the 720 and also tried them with an Anthem MCA 225 amp.  Both configurations sounded great - so much so that I elected to not use the 225.

Good luck
badaga OP
27 posts
 
720 is the ideal but just trying to save some $$ so I can get a separate 3 or 5 channel amp later. 520 is 100/ ch vs. 125/ ch on the 720. I’m not sure how much I’ll get when only driving 3 speakers in each.
badaga OP
27 posts
 
Sorry, it's 100W/ Ch on the 520 vs 140W/ Ch on the 720.
soix
9,809 posts
 
What makes you think you don't have enough power for your center speaker?  Are you hearing strain or distortion?  I'd think 125wpc should be fine, especially since you're only driving the center and surrounds with the Marantz. 
badaga OP
27 posts
 
My bad. 125W/ ch is good enough for my center but I was thinking to upgrade to a better receiver on a whole, esp. the ARC might help me with the living room setup.
so I assume a 100W/ ch is good enough too for the center, if I go the MRX 520 route?
More to discover