Home Audio Amplifiers

[tsealsut2010 0]

ok well i dont know if this is exactly where im supposed to put this topic, so correct me if i'm wrong. I'm looking to start making some stuff for my dorm room next year, and i was wondering, what some good brands of amplifiers that are out today in the home audio spectrum. i mean power amplifiers, for subs and such, and also some other good 4-8 channel amplifiers for speakers. I assume i can just use a home theater receiver for the speakers and such, but as for the power amplifiers, im lost thus far. What are some brands that you all like, that y'all recommend. ive been looking at some Crown, but i dont know. My dad has meridian, but thats out of my price range for sure. any thoughts? thanks.

[Beat_Dominator 2]

Budget will play a huge roll here.... but since you're a student I'll take a stab and suggest some "bargains".

Anything by (new or used, see www.audiogon.com or ebay): Rotel, Adcom, Outlaw audio, Onkyo, Denon, Carver , Aragon (hard to find these days), Parasound, plus many more.

These are companies that would often be considered entries into the "high end".

Of course your needs will depict exactly what kind of gear you want. Crown does make good amps but if your being all "audiophile" about it you would want one of their Studio Reference amps and they are crazy $$$$$.

[JimJ 11]

Your post at first confused the hell out of me...you know, power amplifiers aren't just used for subs

Kind of hard to recommend anything until we know the power requirements, impedances, budget, all that good stuff.

[tsealsut2010 0]

ya, i have some old studio reference stuff from my moms divorce. some tube amp, and some alesis reference amp, crown is just one of the first ones that ive heard. i have an onyko receiver already, so i will probably look at some of their stuff first. i love it when you can match brands, but if its not the most practical then i can look elsewhere. thanks for the input.

[Beat_Dominator 2]

Don't mind Jim, he's an audio snob

[tsealsut2010 0]

ya, im just trying to get some brand names to look at, so i can start researching and such. and of course i will be asking many detailed questions later, as this will be a long process, which is why i am starting now, when i go off to college this fall. as like car audio should i get an external amplifier for my outer speakers instead of using the recievers outputs?

[Beat_Dominator 2]

Not in home audio, the chassis is much larger and thus you can fit better amps into it. It depends on your goals/budget too. I would want separates JUST to have more gear

A good Denon,Marantz, Onkyo 5.1/7.1 reciever would be MORE than enough for 95% of the world..... just not techno-freaks like myself.

[JimJ 11]

What do you already have? The "some tube amps" comment didn't slip past me, you know

as like car audio should i get an external amplifier for my outer speakers instead of using the recievers outputs?

Receiver = integrated amplifier + broadcast tuner

Integrated amplifier = preamp + power amplifier

No, the outputs of a receiver are speaker-level.

[tsealsut2010 0]

oh and ya a good bargain is always sought for, but i mean i wont be shasty with what i choose due to budget constraints. i mean i have alot to live up to, my dad wont let me get anything that is subpar. he spent more on his speaker setup in our media room, than he did on the purchasing his car. (745i), but i mean im lookin at probably $2000-$3000 at the very highest, and im wantin something thats kicken, with some killer SQ

[Beat_Dominator 2]

Naim, Arcam, NAD, Yamaha, are a few more I've thought of...

[tsealsut2010 0]

im not sure about the tube, it was something my stepdad had for his recording studio. my initial thought is nothing special, but i havent looked up much on it, but i believe it said something on the amplifier itself about microphones or something, and only like 26 watts per channel, i think itsa 4 channel. so i didnt really think to much of it. i plan on looking at it more, but as for now its in my garage at my moms apartment.

[Beat_Dominator 2]

Jim will give you $50 no matter what it is...it has tubes.

[JimJ 11]

If it's a mic-level preamp, then forget it, but maybe post up a picture here, could be something useful.

For $3000, you can put together a very respectable surround setup, or go all-out in 2.1 and go seperates. I think I've spent around 3 grand on the setup in my apartment, not sure though...

[tsealsut2010 0]

In my room right now i have this pioneer 7.1 receiver i got for cheap at circuit city. it does what works for now. its 100x7. i should probably get a better reciever if i plan on upgrading shouldnt i? the model is pioneer vsx-515

[JimJ 11]

Jim will give you $50 no matter what it is...it has tubes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If it ends up being a Marantz 8B or something like that, I'd send you $50 just to taunt you

[Beat_Dominator 2]

I'm at..... $2,500 or so and I still haven't built my speakers or gotten a 'table .....or a power conditioner, or the XLR's.

[JimJ 11]

You said you wouldn't buy my Adcom, so you can't whine about that one.

I'll stop going OT now

[Beat_Dominator 2]

In my room right now i have this pioneer 7.1 receiver i got for cheap at circuit city. it does what works for now. its 100x7. i should prolly get a better reciever if i plan on upgrading shouldnt i? the model is pioneer vsx-515

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Pioneer Elite, Sony ES, Denon, Yamaha, Marantz...... if you want the easier setup but awesome quality.

[tsealsut2010 0]

all the stuff i have right now was mainly used for guitar recordings, and with use with guitar amps. i have a relatively nice marshall one that takes 200watts rms, if anyone is interested. its 2 twelves in it. i have the alesis powering that right now with my electronic drum set, in which im trying to sell as well.

[tsealsut2010 0]

i like difficult though, it makes things more fun, when it comes to setup.

[Beat_Dominator 2]

i like difficult though, it makes things more fun, when it comes to setup.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Atta boy

[JimJ 11]

Go seperates...it's calling you...

[Beat_Dominator 2]

Parasound A52 amp with the JC1 controller and 5 Klipsche La Scalas?

.......I can dream for you right tsealsut?

[JimJ 11]

Parasound A52 amp with the JC1 controller and 5 Klipsche La Scalas?

.......I can dream for you right tsealsut?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The five LaScalas would be over 3 grand, but OK

There was a guy selling a matched set of four Forte II's about a week after I bought my pair. Consecutive serial numbers, light oak, flawless condition. He wanted $1k or something, crazy low.

Still wonder what kind of surround setup that would have made, timbre-matched, with a La Scala as a CC

[tsealsut2010 0]

dreaming is the best part, its what makes things fun.