2. home-theater
  3. 1365009901

Amp and pre-amp

I have about $5,000 to spend On an amp and a pre-amp

50% home theater
50% music. It's more important that the music sounds great rather than the thx if I have to sacrifice. I listen to both soft and classic rock

I haven't been in the market for about 9 years and it seems a bit confusing to me ( I'm to old and tired to re-learn )

I have

Snell XA-60 towers
Snell XA-55 center
Snell SR30 surround
McIntosh PS112 sub

The new room is big 17' X 26'

I moved and sold my
MX 134
MC 126. Seemed to have a very difficult time driving the Snells when I get drunk and turn up the volume
bruinlefty
runnin
397 posts
 
Those 4 ohm Snells need good power. A Marantz processor, maybe the 7701. For an amp, Outlaw Audio 7200, and you'd have over a grand left over. Might want to get a dealer to install and set up the Marantz and have the 7200 on hand for him, these processors are getting pretty complicated like computers anymore.
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
Marantz is a 2-dimensional brand. I sold it for many years. I would go for a Onkyo PR-SC5509 witht a Primare poweramp. It will give you a deep and wide and 3d sound. Wenn you go for Audyssey Pro you will hit the jackpot.....
runnin
397 posts
 
Marantz recently got bought out by the owners of Denon, and the Marantz processors are apparently versions of Denon AVRs. Not sure if that's an improvement, but there you are. Onkyo would certainly be another good option, as would the Integra version.
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
Marantz and Denon are still both 2-dimensional brands.
waxwaves's avatar
waxwaves
206 posts
 
How about McCormack??? DNA 250 and RLD-2? They would have to be top choices in your price range. Superb sounding gear that is upgradable thru SMcAudio. At regular pricing, the McCormack gear would leave you some $$ to spend on some nice cables like the Tara Labs higher-end offerings. Or you could spend the $ on an upgrade to the new amp thru SMcAudio? Just my 2 cents...good luck.
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