How do you amp your system?

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)

In my experience, the 4 surrounds+rears won't require a whole lot of power, while the two front mains will need the most support. And for some recordings/movies the front center channel does a lot of the work. (I believe your ULS15 sub has a built in amplifier?)

Accordingly, I would try keeping your 2 channel amp for the 2 front main speakers -- they must have been working pretty well together so far?

Can you use the Yamaha AVR to power the center and the 4 surrounds+rears? I figure the center will require the most power and the other 4 won't be very demanding. (By the way, I don't quite understand your description of how the Yamaha supplies power -- a spec page I glanced at identified the AVR as putting out 150W x 9. Are you saying that only 150 W is available to all speakers at any one time?)

If you find the Yamaha runs out of gas hooked up to 5 speakers, I would recommend getting a monoblock for the center channel and leaving the Yamaha supporting the 4 surround+rears.

Oops, Monday moment - it is a 9.2, this is on the factory website: 150W per Channel (8 ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.06 % THD, 2 ch driven).

My 2 channel @ 125 does run out of gas. When I'm in 'play mode', I have the volume up to 0.0db and up, with a max available of 16.5 on the AVR. Normal TV is about -22(+/-). These numbers are on the AVR screen when I adjust volume. At these levels, the sound just gets bad...detail goes away, stage collapses, etc. The Kappa Series was a power hungry series of speakers, though, but even so, I definitely need more.