I definitely need some more power. This new room is a bit larger than the HT in my old house where the HK was plenty. Plus I'm definitely losing low end because of my seating vs the M80's.

You do have a huge room Ben, plus you don't have a lot of stuff in it for the bass to enoluate(rattle). I would start with a room kit from http://gikacoustics.com/gik_room_kits_acoustic_panels.html or build your own.

Ben, these are some of the best value amps that i could find.
http://www.spearitsound.com/Multi-Channel_Power_Amps-NAD_T975_Refurbished.html

and
http://www.spearitsound.com/Multi-Channel_Power_Amps-NAD_T955_Refurbished.html


I have a buddy who bought a 955 from them a couple weeks ago, and he likes it VERY much... I have also bought several components from them as well, good guys.

Ben, If you want any help buying an amp, I would be more than glad to help spend your money.

p.s. accessories4less has this amp.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARMM7055/Marantz-MM7055-5-Channel-Power-Amplifier/1.html#!specifications

It doesn't list 4ohm ratings though. But, i'm sure you could make some phone calls and get those.. This amp also has XLR inputs, incase you ever decide to go the XLR rute.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm definitely going to look into room treatments when I get some time and feel rested for this long 2 year basement remodel. I can procrastinate with the best of em!

New subs, AVR and amps are definitely on the want list but it might be a couple years before I get all of em. Spent so much money on the basement, new TV, new speakers etc. I really wanted to get new subs first but now I'm not sure. Even just a 2 channel amp for the M80's would be very nice to have.

Ben, do you have any idea what brand of amps you would like to go with? Are you going to want to stick with the same series of amps?


I am currently using a 2 channel amp, and a 3 channel. I like this setup, due to the separate power supplies. My 2 channel is powering my M60's, and then the center powers the center and surrounds. With this combination, i have not had any lack of power issues. When i had a single 5 channel marantz MM9000 during some movies a couple of the amp channels would be driven into the clipping region. Since going to seperate amps, i have not had that problem.. However, i will say the new amp channels are over 2X as powerful than the Marantz.


Spearitsound, and accerrories4less are both good places to get a good value.

Ben, you seem to be concentrating on the least likely suspect: your amplification. If your M3s have "nearly as much low end", something's wrong, and it's unlikely(rather than "definitely")that an amplifier with a higher maximum power rating is the solution.

When I was comparing them it wasn't completely apples to apples. I only had my M3's in the new basement for a very short period of time and hadn't listened to a lot of different things on them before switching out to the M80's. A lot of my experiences and feeling for the M3's have been shaped by the experiences I had with them in my old basement HT where they provided a surprising amount of low end. I realize now that part of my issue with the M80's is my new room. Both in freq response and size (larger).

I need to bring my M3's back downstairs and do a little A-B.

I'm completely open to brands. My initial thought was to use the AVR to power everything except the M80s which is why I said I may eventually look for a 2 channel amp (possibly 3 channel if I include the VP180). Again that's mostly because it would be less expensive than a 5 channel. Nothing is set in stone at this point except it won't be happening in the short future.

I have had a chance to play the M80s by themselves at about the max the HK can drive them and I don't have any doubts a separate amp could help out a little bit. When I say help out I'm talking about the entire range of freq, not just the low end. I also think some kind of room treatments would help me out but I really need to spend some time learning more about that subject.

Ben, try some B-A as well, just to make sure!

I would recommend, to bug nick for his phone number and call him..