Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 4 of 5 1 2 3 4 5
Re: Added an Amp...WOW, kinda.
Zimm #258344 04/26/09 09:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,361
Zimm Offline OP
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,361
Picked up the QSC GX5 (QSC) - even swap for the Crown, so $350. Better stats, 600w/c at 8 ohms with one ch driven (700 at 4 ohms with 2 ch driven) at .1% THD, with .05%THD at non-peak volumes. Initial testing shows it is the same as the Crown (as it should be) but it does have a touch less noise in quiet sections which is what I was aiming for.

I only tested two songs from Dire Straits, but as my reference material it still supports my opinion that the extra clean horsepower does make a difference. On "You and Your Friends" the plucks that had a bit of harshness on the Denon on loud peaks sound, on the QSC, as clean as the Denon at lower levels. And again, the peaks are just more dynamic. Hitting 105db was rare with the Denon on this song. Now the db jumps from 94 to 105 in instantaneous peaks. You can't even hear the "loud" peak, but the db meter (set to fast, Max Hold) shows the peaks are happening - which were not there before on the Denon. Makes sense when you consider Home Theater Mag said my Denon 3300 starts to clip the peaks of the signal at less than 80 watts. So my AVR clipped these peaks off due to lack of clear signal amplification, now those same signals play unclipped. Not hard on the ears (for these instantaneous peaks) but running at 100+ does need to be done in short sessions. That Monk did not go deaf by illness!

P.S. - the QSC has a 6 year warranty and includes unbalanced inputs, which takes out the need for the converter I had for the Crown.

Question: would the noise floor from the Denon pre-out be lower if I up the channel level or lower it? Assuming the separate amp is not adding anything, I'd like to maximize the sonic quality of the output signal.


Panny 3000 PJ, 118" Carada, Denon 3300, PS3, Axiom QS8, PSB 5T, B&W sub, levitating speaker wire
Re: Added an Amp...WOW, kinda.
Zimm #258345 04/26/09 09:03 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077
Likes: 7
C
CV Offline
Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club
shareholder in the making
Offline
Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club
shareholder in the making
C
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077
Likes: 7
Thanks for posting your findings, Zimm. That amp sounds like a great deal.

Re: Added an Amp...WOW, kinda.
CV #258347 04/26/09 09:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,361
Zimm Offline OP
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,361
No problem. Must mention, after running it a while, I can hear the fan running. Louder than a PS3 fan. Not good. Need to address this issue.


Panny 3000 PJ, 118" Carada, Denon 3300, PS3, Axiom QS8, PSB 5T, B&W sub, levitating speaker wire
Re: Added an Amp...WOW, kinda.
Zimm #258349 04/26/09 09:49 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,833
W
Wid Offline
axiomite
Offline
axiomite
W
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,833

Rotel \:\)


Rick


"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud

Re: Added an Amp...WOW, kinda.
Wid #258352 04/26/09 10:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,361
Zimm Offline OP
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,361
 Originally Posted By: wid

Rotel \:\)

Agreed. But at $2,500 to get similar power, I just can't get there yet. \:\( I need other parts first. For $500, I'd upgrade. For $350 I'll upgrade and troubleshoot until I have the package worked out.

Just worked out a nasty ground loop hum caused by the coaxial connection to my DVD/CD player. I thought the amp was doing it, but turns out it was just amplifying it. Go figure. \:\)


Panny 3000 PJ, 118" Carada, Denon 3300, PS3, Axiom QS8, PSB 5T, B&W sub, levitating speaker wire
Re: Added an Amp...WOW, kinda.
Zimm #258364 04/27/09 01:04 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 537
aficionado
Offline
aficionado
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 537
ATI Bridge-able to 450 watts/ch at 8 ohms

Acurus

If you have any interest in the pre-owned route- good values for the $$$$


2xM80 VP180 2xQS8 2xM3 HSU STF3 LG 60PS11 Denon 3808 ATI 1506 LCR 2xATI 1502 Oppo BDP-83
Re: Added an Amp...WOW, kinda.
Ken.C #258484 04/27/09 08:58 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 34
M
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
M
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 34
 Originally Posted By: kcarlile
Anyone have those M2200s floating around? How hot do they get?

I've been scared off by the amp manuals suggesting you have a separate 15A circuit for them, yadda yadda, tons of clearance, yadda yadda, since I don't have much of either.


If you'd like, I'll haul my MPS-2 over or you can bring the M80's over(amp weighs 115 lbs and disassembly) and we can test them with my receiver first and with the MPS-2 after. Not M2200's but you can see if the amp makes a difference or not.

Re: Added an Amp...WOW, kinda.
mistico #258486 04/27/09 09:01 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 34
M
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
M
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 34
I only see two problems with the above:

1. You'll want an Amp
2. I'll want M80's(shutdowns \:\) )

Re: Added an Amp...WOW, kinda.
mistico #258493 04/27/09 10:10 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
Heh... unfortunately, with the new addition to the fam, now's a really bad time for auditions.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Added an Amp...WOW, kinda.
Ken.C #258545 04/28/09 01:46 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,361
Zimm Offline OP
connoisseur
OP Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,361
QSC G5 Update: Fan noise is a problem in small room with an open amp rack, and low volumes. I wish I could route my signals so that AVR ran until I wanted the QSC beast turned on. If I keep it, which looks very likely, I'll swap out the fan for a lower CFM model. Can't complain about the sound; forgot to turn the sub back one for two days and didn't even notice until I turned on Jurassic Park (on TV) and realized the LFE was missing on Dino steps.

I read the QSC and AVS forums a bit, and I must say it is really funny to see the pro side and HT cross streams. [Ghost Buster fashion!] The pro amp designers warn HT users not to use a pro amp because the power is so much more than the stated max of the speakers. The HT folk beg for more clean power. The Pro amp folks can't understand all the questions about THD, S/N, etc., and the HT folk can't understand the discussions about power consumption and 2 ohm loads.

QSC position of "audiophile" v. pro amps is that the only difference is colling capacity (loud fan) and "bling". So what happened when QSC re-badged a PLX line amp as a HT amp - the price jumped up to match HT offerings. Maybe it is all hype. Heck, on guy compared the QSC to McIntosh and Halo for a month and came away in favor of the cheap QSC. Wild stuff.


Panny 3000 PJ, 118" Carada, Denon 3300, PS3, Axiom QS8, PSB 5T, B&W sub, levitating speaker wire
Page 4 of 5 1 2 3 4 5

Moderated by  alan, Amie, Andrew, axiomadmin, Brent, Debbie, Ian, Jc 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Need Help Graphic

Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics24,940
Posts442,457
Members15,616
Most Online2,082
Jan 22nd, 2020
Top Posters
Ken.C 18,044
pmbuko 16,441
SirQuack 13,840
CV 12,077
MarkSJohnson 11,458
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 386 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newsletter Signup
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4