2. amps-preamps
  3. 176966-171024

Help picking an amp to work with my system

I recently obtained some Martin Logan ESL X speakers and absolutely love them.  That said, they are part of my surround sound system, so I use them for both, listening to music, and then when I want to do movies, they become the left and right channel of my surround sound.

I’m currently Bi-Amping them off of my Denon 4520ci receiver, but have had issues with them starting to distort if played at around 95db on a heavy bass song, within halfway through the song.  I posted about it in another group, but my post was deleted.  I believe the receiver I’m using just doesn’t have the capabilities RMS to keep up with that draw (Astronauts in the Ocean by Masked Wolf is a perfect example of a song that will sound crisp in the beginning and halfway through, start to distort).

I still need my receiver for surround functionalities, but for these two speakers, I was considering getting a dedicated 2channel amp and use the receiver as the pre-amp for them.  Does anyone have any recommendations on an Amp that’s affordable and clean?  I was thinking a Peachtree Nova 300, hopefully I can find one open boxed/used.  Would this unit fit my needs, or would it be pushing it with these speakers even using that amp?

maverick3n1
maverick3n1 OP
26 posts
 

So here is an idea.. one of my buddies recommended a NAD M22 which seems like a nice solution.. however, correct me if I’m wrong, but a majority of the high power draw and the low impedance is coming from the 2 - 8” subs in each speaker… what if instead of spending the money on the amp, I instead, spend the money on a nice Subwoofer (would love one of ML’s subs to match!).  Since my ultimate goal is to get a full 5.1 system running again, and I’m currently short a center and a sub, if I get the sub, the receiver will take some of the lower end load off of the stereo channels and drive it to the sub channel.

While of course, the ultimate goal would be to get a dedicated amp for these speakers, I utilize my sound system for it‘s theater properties about 80% of the time and listening properties 20%.  If adding a sub would resolve the clipping issues and I have to run music in 2.1 until I get an amp that can handle just letting these speakers be the stand alone beasts they can, it seems like a more up front win/win cost effective solution.

Am I wrong?

soix
9,456 posts
 

No, you’re not wrong.  In fact, since you’re 80% HT I think getting a sub first makes a lot of sense.  However...

I was considering getting a dedicated 2channel amp and use the receiver as the pre-amp for them.

NO!!!!!  I forbid you from making this horrific mistake.  Using the Denon as a pre will suck the life from your 2-channel performance, and your MLs deserve better than that.  You’re better off getting an integrated amp so you bypass both the amp and preamp sections of the Denon.  AVRs absolutely SUCK at 2-channel versus dedicated stereo components.  Get something like this and you’ll be MUCH happier as will your MLs.  Bryston plays very well with ML BTW.  Best of luck.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234549952232

maverick3n1 OP
26 posts
 

Something like the the NAD

however, can pre-amp for movie theater purposes, and can also be the solo in between for my Sonos… there is nothing wrong with using it that way…. Stand alone for 2ch, and only using preamP for movie theater.

soix
9,456 posts
 

I think the Bryston would sound better with your MLs.  Yeah just run the front L/R preouts from the Denon into the HT bypass or other line level input on the integrated and hook the integrated up to your speakers and you’re all set. 

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