Hello. Im looking to purchase a pair of M80s in the near future. However, Im pretty sure that my Pioneer 1015-tx wont be able to drive them, so am looking into purchasing an external 2 channel amp for that purpose.
What should I be looking for in a 2 channel amp? Any recommendations? Thanks.
There are lots of great two channel amps available like rotel, parasound, etc...
How much are you willing to spend? What room size will you be placing your speakers in?
Personally, afer hearing bugbittens reaction, I would go with Outlaw monoblocks.
Priced well and from what I have been told, very effective.
Thadar,
Many of the others here should cover recommendations on 2channel amps. However, I think you would be wise to hold off until after you get your M80s. That will provide you some time to test out the pairing with the Pioneer receiver and you can determine whether it will in fact drive them to acceptable levels. I suspect you will have enough power to drive the M80s unless you have a very large room to fill or like it cranked to 11. You may as well save the money if you can.
Scott
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There are lots of great two channel amps available like rotel, parasound, etc...
How much are you willing to spend? What room size will you be placing your speakers in?
The room size is ~16x15x13 with an open half wall into the foyer and an open staircase on same wall. I would like to keep it around $500 for a unit that can drive both speakers (or two units to each drive a speaker).
I noticed that Outlaw has a 2200 mono, but at $325, it goes over my alloted amount when I have to buy 2. Now, I can always save up a bit more, but is Outlaw the way to go? How many watts should I be looking into to drive the M80s? Are there other alternatives that are better/same as the Outlaws?
Thanks.
Edit: Good advice there Sid. That is most likely what I will do, but Im still interested in hearing opinions on Amps. Just in the off chance that my assumption is correct on the weakness of my receiver.
Just an FYI.
If you buy two outlaws together...you save a few bucks.
$624 for 2.
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Just an FYI.
If you buy two outlaws together...you save a few bucks.
$624 for 2.
Freight included!
I have a good friend who has 5 Outlaw monoblocks driving 2 M60 like Michaura M665s up front and a pair of M22 like Michaura M55s in the back. Disappointing sound! Thin and lifeless. I haven't heard other amps in the same room, so the problem might be environment ... but, it's enough to make me think twice about the Outlaw Monoblocks.
PS. I have nothing against Outlaw. I had an Outlaw ICBM bass management module for years (just sold for as much as I paid for it) and another friend with the exact same speaker compliment has the Outlaw 1050 receiver (only 65wpc) and that is a magical combination (sounds great) I've heard that system in 2 different rooms (they moved). Sounded equally great in both and these rooms were very different - one which opened into other rooms, and with very high ceilings, the other only 9 footers.
As an aside, I have the same speaker compliment in my office driven by an Anthem PVA5 and the combination is terrific.
The Outlaw monoblocks were an improvement in my environment over the Denon 3805. I suggest you give them a try and see for yourself (Tarun).
Thad, just to reinforce the point made by Scott(sid), your 1015 has quite powerful amplification and is highly unlikely to prove to be a "weakness" in powering M80s, which have slightly better than average sensitivity and would require a bit less power than your M22s. Completion of your speaker purchases would seem to be the first priority and problems which may never develop shouldn't be a concern at this point.
Unless you listen at extremely high sound levels, I think that you will be surprised at how easy the M80s really are to drive. I used an old Kenwood and now a new Onkyo to drive mine and they sound just fine.
I ordered my Outlaws last Friday...I received them Saturday...all for free freight. WOW. I was shocked.
Obviously, they were installed Saturday and tested.
They definately take the load off of my AVR7300 and allow me to sit there worry free. The highs/mids now sound very crisp and clear...not that it was bad with the 7300 alone.
But hey...30 days to test...and $624 isnt all bad to get some more power down in my little media room.
I will eventually post pictures...if I can ever figure out how on this board.
It may all be in my head, but I agree because amping my mains made a difference in the sound. It hardly take any watts to drive them. Maybe the amps are of a different quality than in my Denon 3805.
Ooooh! The secret is out! If the first watt is no good, who cares how many more like it are lined up behind it.
a truism, no doubt. The same stuff that makes the first watt makes the rest of them.
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If the first watt is no good, who cares how many more like it are lined up behind it.
If the first watt is no good, plug the amp in... there won't be any more following.
Bren R.