Sam,
I use the 3808 as pre/pro. Well, five channels anyway. I am using a Power5 amp for all but the surround backs. The 3808 drives the SB’s. The Power5 is a discontinued 200X5 amp that NHT was making. They also made a 2X200 amp. The P-5 is sold out, but you can still get the P-2 for a very reasonable price. Sorry, no meters, but I have been pleased with the amp itself.
Do you need it with the 3808 though….. Well no, not really. When I fired up the P-5 for the first time I just couldn’t tell a difference is SQ across the board. Where the amp did demonstrate an audible difference is some of the dynamic peaks like gun fights. It will play louder, but the 3808 already drives the M80’s too friggin loud, so that’s a mute point.
But if you heart’s set on external amplification for the mains, I would give the P-2 serous consideration. The NHT amps use BW ice power modules. I bought mine from Listen Up. It looks like they still have some P2’s on clearance.
http://www.listenup.com/lu/merchant.mvc?...02&Store_Code=l
