So many questions - so little money.
Okay, first question. I'm thinking about going into home theater (slowly) and want to know what to buy in the way of an amp. I spend much more time listening to music and am a jazz/classical fan. I already have a home stereo with separtate amp and tuner. It seems to me I could keep the tuner and just buy an amp.
Room size: 15 x 20
Current gear: Axiom M2i (front), EP175, ancient denon integrated amp, harman/kardan tuner and cd player.
Budget: $1000 - $2000 (USD) for the amp.
Any recommendations? Thanks!
If you're going into home theater, you will need to get some sort of surround sound processor in addition to an amp if you want to be able to take advantage of more than two channels (plus sub). For someone just getting into the HT scene, I'd highly recommend a receiver. Rotel, Pioneer Elite, and Yamaha make some excellent models in your price range. Plus, you're getting much more than just an amp. All three brands sound great with both music and movies.
Okay - but first I want to upgrade from the current amp. Currently it sounds as though someone has hung a blanket between me and the soundstage. Imaging is fine but the clarity is missing. So is the reciever really the best way to go?
My understanding is that separates are the best way to go since this way, you can upgrade the preamp/surround processor.
So since I'm not actually doing any HT now and am slowly building a system, what would be the best amp that I could grow into with an eye toward eventually getting the right pre-amp/sound processor.
Thanks again.
If you want HT...you'll need a 5 channel amp. One of the best "bang for your buck" deals out there for a separate 5 channel amp is the Rotel RMB-1075. You can usually pick one up on www.audiogon.com for about $750-800. (msrp $1000)
After that you'd then need a HT processor. If you stick with Rotel, they have two choices. The RSP-1066 (msrp $1500) or their new RSP-1098 (msrp $3500). Since the 1066 is a new model, many people are upgrading, so deals are easy to find on a used 1066. (Again, www.audiogon.com)
Good luck!
Cat, I essentially agree with Peter's reply. The receiver would be much more cost effective and separates generally aren't the best way to go. The flexibility you mention with respect to upgrading a separate pre-pro may be illusory since it comes at a considerable price which can be more than an entire receiver having similar processing capabilities. Consider instead one of the new receivers with automatic speaker and room equalization, such as the Pioneer 55TXi and Yamaha 2400, and grow into that.
For about $1800 he can get the Rotel 1075/1066 combo at audiogon. He could probably even get it brand new for about $2200 if he was willing to dicker with the saleman. That's less than many "high end" receivers.
I'm not trying to push him either way, I'm just pointing out that separates don't alway end up costing an arm and a leg.
For $649.95 US he can get a HK 525...Shipped. More money for speakers, after all speaker upgrade will make more of a diff...IMHO
Outlaw Audio makes some great value equipment:
model 950 preamp/processor
model 755 5 channel amp, 200 watts per channel
model 770 7 channel amp, 200 watts per channel
model 7100 7 channel amp, 100 watts per channel
950 and 7100 are $1600 as a package
Outlaw is an internet only marketed company with great customer service like axiom. Great value products:http://www.outlawaudio.com/home.html
True...speakers make a much more dramatic difference in sound than a an amp or receiver will, but he was asking about amps, so I tried to keep my response to that.
> 950 and 7100 are $1600 as a package
Does anyone here have this package from Outlaw? If so, impressions? Thanks.
I suggest the Rotel setup as well. I started with Onkyo, and now have Rotel, it's a great setup. I've called tech support to upgrade the system and they were great. Not as good as Axiom, but at least it wasn't a bs press one to wait longer system. The Rotel setup speaks quality, everyone that sees my system really like the look, they say it's a professional system.
Rick