Amplification question - 09/19/08 10:15 PM
Hi, I am planning to go with the M80/7.1 system with an EP600 sub for a 7400 cu sq foot room and am trying to decide about amplification between the following options.
1) Yamaha rxv3900
2) Yamaha rxv3900 with an Emotiva XPA-3 for the front and center channels
3) Yamaha RXV663 with Emotiva MPS-2.
Benefits of option 1) rxv3900 would be it includes Rhapsody, which I love listening to on my computer, however, I have never been able to listen to compressed music channels on Directv, they sound horrible, so I'm not sure it actually be a useful feature or not. This option would also be the cheapest and there is a thread on Amazon in which an rxv3800 owner reports good stable sound running the m80/7.1 ep 500 configuration. The main question is whether 140 watts X 7 (980 total) would be sufficient given room size and not having to crank the amp in order to get clean sound.
Benefits of option 2 would be to supplement the amplification for the M80s and center and still have the Rhapsody included in the rxv3900. Not sure if this would be a pain to balance volume levels between the 2 amps though, is there some sort of master/slave setting that can be implemented with this type of arrangement so when you turn up the rxv3900 the volume automatically goes up in tandem on the XPA-3?
Benefits of option 3 would be sound closer to true audiophile, costs about the same as option 2 but would cost more overall if I run audiophile cables, which I definitely would, between the receiver and the amp. Downside might be that the rxv663 only has 2 hdmi inputs, 1 output.
Actually option 4 would be to look at the Sherwood receivers or amp on this site, haven't heard anything about them.
I guess the main question is whether I need more power than the rxv3900 to comfortably power the speakers in my living room of 7400 cu ft.
Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
SK
1) Yamaha rxv3900
2) Yamaha rxv3900 with an Emotiva XPA-3 for the front and center channels
3) Yamaha RXV663 with Emotiva MPS-2.
Benefits of option 1) rxv3900 would be it includes Rhapsody, which I love listening to on my computer, however, I have never been able to listen to compressed music channels on Directv, they sound horrible, so I'm not sure it actually be a useful feature or not. This option would also be the cheapest and there is a thread on Amazon in which an rxv3800 owner reports good stable sound running the m80/7.1 ep 500 configuration. The main question is whether 140 watts X 7 (980 total) would be sufficient given room size and not having to crank the amp in order to get clean sound.
Benefits of option 2 would be to supplement the amplification for the M80s and center and still have the Rhapsody included in the rxv3900. Not sure if this would be a pain to balance volume levels between the 2 amps though, is there some sort of master/slave setting that can be implemented with this type of arrangement so when you turn up the rxv3900 the volume automatically goes up in tandem on the XPA-3?
Benefits of option 3 would be sound closer to true audiophile, costs about the same as option 2 but would cost more overall if I run audiophile cables, which I definitely would, between the receiver and the amp. Downside might be that the rxv663 only has 2 hdmi inputs, 1 output.
Actually option 4 would be to look at the Sherwood receivers or amp on this site, haven't heard anything about them.
I guess the main question is whether I need more power than the rxv3900 to comfortably power the speakers in my living room of 7400 cu ft.
Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
SK