Best Amp For M80's?
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Joined: May 2010
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Just ordered my M80's and would like opinions for amps to power the M80's for mainly 2-Channel Stereo? My system will be used I would say 60% for music and 40% for home theater. I will be using the new Onkyo TX-NR5007 as a Processor and to power my 4 QS8's.
I have a budget of rougly $2000 for the amp and I do not mind buying quality used equipment (Audiogon, Ebay, etc).
As far as music goes, I mainly listen to classic rock (Beatles, Zepplin, etc).
Historically what amps do people like with the M80's?
Thanks,
Josh
Last edited by beatboy77; 05/10/10 01:02 PM.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Joined: Dec 2008
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axiomite
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axiomite
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Welcome Josh. I would certainly think that any quality amp well within your budget range would suffice, such as NAD, Rotel, B&K ect. You might even have a look at a couple of Outlaw 2200 M blocks as a less expensive, quality alternative too. There are a couple of Rotel guys here so hopefully they'll give you their impressions.
Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Joined: May 2003
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shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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If I was doing that, I'd be all over Parasound Halos or Odysseys. But I'm a sucker for brushed aluminum.
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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How about the Parasound 5250 or 5125? I forgot to mention I am looking for a 5-Channel amp, so that I can bi-wire the Mains and power the Center.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Joined: Mar 2010
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old hand
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I don't know about the M80s, but I run my M60s with a couple Outlaw 2200 M-blocks. They play very well together. I wouldn't worry about bi-wiring. It does nothing sound wise.
Last edited by TonyMc; 05/10/10 03:47 PM.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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Agreed on the biamping/biwiring.
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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I was thinking of going ith an Emotiva XPA-5 bi-wired. I know the M80 and some of Emotiva's XPA series have had issues, however it seems that bi-wiring may solve this issue. Thoughts?
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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old hand
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I was thinking of going ith an Emotiva XPA-5 bi-wired. I know the M80 and some of Emotiva's XPA series have had issues, however it seems that bi-wiring may solve this issue. Thoughts? Bi-wiring will do nothing for you. Bi-amping is a whole different animal and requires an active crossover to benefit from it, but then you're talking more and expensive equipment.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Joined: May 2003
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shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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And also the likelihood of destroying the sound you've got from the M80s (active bi-amping, that is).
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Joined: Jun 2003
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axiomite
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axiomite
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That's a heck of a receiver. If you really need more amplification, I'd probably get 3 of the Outlaw monoblocks. They are robust and proven. I would NOT bother with a 5 channel amp. Or, for a 3-channel amp, I would not hesitate to contact Klaus at Odyssey Audio about a Stratos HT-3.
bibere usque ad hilaritatem
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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How do you guys think the McIntosh MC7205 would pair with the M80's and VP150?
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Joined: Mar 2010
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old hand
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old hand
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How do you guys think the McIntosh MC7205 would pair with the M80's and VP150?
Probably very nicely, but hey it's McIntosh.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Joined: May 2002
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shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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Josh, welcome. Any thoughts of a separate amplifier at this time are certainly premature. In the vast majority of applications the 5007 is more than enough to do the job. You shouldn't assume otherwise before you try the setup out. And yes, bi-wiring is essentially meaningless electrically, as is the incomplete form of biamping(e.g., without external crossovers before the amplifiers)which is frequently proposed.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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OK, guys, ended up purchasing the following for my Axiom speaker system, which consists of 2 M80's, VP150 and 4 QS8's: Parasound 2250 (2-Channel Amp) Parasound 5125 (5-Channel Amp) Onkyo SC885 (Pre/Pro) Should sound AMAZING! Hopefully ~Josh
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Nice. Congrats on the new gear. Let us know what you think when it all arrives.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Joined: Jan 2010
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buff
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buff
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Hi, I have been using Rotel Rb 1092 which you can purchase dicounted to 1499. I have several amps however this rotel really improved the sonic performance of the axioms.
I am using a moon P5.3 as the pre amp.
MoonW5.3's MoonP7 Pre Moon300D DAC Marantz AV8003 HSUVTF3 MK3 Sub Axiom LFR 1100 AxiomVP180
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Joined: Jul 2008
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frequent flier
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I just bought the NR-5007 and find it sufficiently powerful in my home theater (3000 cubic feet) to power the M80s, the VP150, and my four QS-4s without the need of any external amplifier, even though I run them as large speakers, with a cutoff of 40Hz, letting the HRS-10 handle everything from 20-40Hz. I tried playing the system at THX reference level (0db) but it was far too loud for my ears (even though it had no audible distortion!) so I now usually set it at -10db to -15db, depending on the source.
Last edited by AccessGuy; 07/15/10 11:54 PM.
M80v2 VP150 4 QS4 HRS-10 Sub NR-5007 PS3, Oppo 983H KDF-E50A10 Motorola DCT-6412 Harmony One
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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axiomite
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axiomite
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Forget that reference stuff and just set it to a comfortable volume.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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axiomite
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I wonder how many times the 'F' word has popped into John's head while reading this thread.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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shareholder in the making
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AG, it isn't entirely clear what settings that you're using. You mention setting the speakers "large"(Onkyo instead uses the term "Full Band")with a "cutoff" of 40Hz, but Full Band has no cutoff, and in any case 40Hz might not be advisable, especially for the QS4s.
-----------------------------------
Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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As evidenced above I have an outstanding respect for John's ability to refrain from posting the F word.
With great power comes Awesome irresponsibility.
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Re: Best Amp For M80's?
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Fred
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