Looking to enhance the HT. 2-Channel amp down to the following:

Emotiva UPA-2
AudioSource AMP210

Recommendations, opinions welcome. I have not heard either in a demo so another blind audio purchase based on the internet medium.

Thanks.

Have you considered monoblocks for each channel as an option? If so, you might consider Outlaw as an option? Their 2200 is very well respected and having a dedicated amp for each channel is a good thing. The $674 price is also not shabby for what you get, 200 watts @ 8 ohms, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, <0.05% THD; 300 watts @ 4 ohms, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, <0.05%.

The 2200s went on sale today....

yep, just saw that myself, 299 for 1, 598 for 2, 810 for 3, etc and free shipping to boot, can't beat that.

Well, that's still more money than the originally-presented options. But, yeah, if you want to spend $600, that seems like a no-brainer.

Personally, if I were going to spend $400-500 on a 2 channel power amp, I'd look for something a little higher end, used. Maybe a Rotel or Parasound.

Or get one of those QSC pro amps that people seem to like so much.

Rich, why do you think that a new 2-channel amp is going to make your HT sound "better" than the Denon receiver you're using?

My budget is around the $400 level. I've looked at the higher end vendors such as Parasound, Classe, ATI etc. but nothing I saw came close to my budget number. I want to give the M3ti's that improved level of sonic characterics that is usually assocated with more power and allow the Denon amp to do the center and sourround duties. Ideally, the Emotiva UPA-3 is, I think, a good piece but again a little over budget. I also see that Outlaw has come out with a deal on their monoblocks. That is interesting and maybe something I should consider.

If I were you and I wanted to improve the sound of my system, I would put my money towards the speakers before the amplification. I think you'll gain much more from a pair of QS8s or QS4s than having a separate amp for your M3s. My Denon 890 drives my M80s and VP180 to pretty loud levels without any issues.

Well, Rich, <cue JohnK> unless you're listening REALLY loud, I'm not necessarily convinced you're going to hear a difference.

However, if you're not interested in CL or Audiogon for used hi-fi pieces, what about the 500 wpc QSC GX5? Zimm seems to really like his.

Tom, I thought you were in the "amps can sound different" camp?

i also have the QSC GX5 and like it a lot; same sound as my Hafler 500, but more powerful and half the weight.
there's also the GX3 that's got less power but should be more than sufficient for the M80's.

"An amplifier that adds to or subtracts from the sound quality of the signal it is amplifying is probably defective or badly designed. Or an "audiophile" amp."
Bob Lee
QSC Audio Products