7 Channel Amp VS 5 + 3 Channel

If the amp(s) are quality build units, and you also invest in some quality build ICs and power cables, there won’t be any difference in audio performance between the options...a single unibox or multiple amps. It’s the build and resulting performance of the power supplies in the amps that is the focus.

OR....

If all you looking for for are 7-channel power amp options, (ignoring the “.1” for a stand-alone powered subwoofer), then why not just consider ALL other multi-channel power amp options:

(1) say....a 2channel integrated or power amp to marry up to the 5-channel power amp...or multiple amps?

(2) MULTIPLE AMPs

I have my high-end integrated amp for primary 2-channel audio duty and I use it’s direct pass-through feature from a standalone 7.1 AV Preamp/ processor for HT to run the fronts in multi-channel HT duty.

The 7.1 system includes a stand alone
(a) 3-channel high-end power amp; (high-end quality build but NOT the same brand as my 2-channel integrated amp) and,
(b) another matched (a) brand 2-channel power amp;

to drive the surrounds/CC and rears respectively.

The stand-alone all digital AV 7.1 preamp/ processor becomes the sole “disposable” as the CODECS change.

Interesting. Yes maybe I should buy a 5 channel amp and 2 channel or integrated 2 channel for the fronts and listening to music. 

At first I was saying 3 channel so that I would have the same amp driving my two fronts and center channel all with the same amp for HT. 

Hmmm. 

If I go with a 5 and 2 channel Integrated, I would be losing bass management since most integrated don’t have it, and as stated on my other posts I do not want the full signal going to two bookshelves, they just don’t handle the lows too well. I run my music as a 2.1 Stereo for now until/unless I get towers. I do have a powered 12” sub.

Bass management loss?

not so .....

first and foremost , you need

(a) one or more subwoofers for HT hardware management for frequencies crossover below 80Hz/ phase/ volume. Quality integrated 2-channel amps usually have the direct integrated amp internal pre-amp pass-through feature for multichannel integration use.

(b) a standalone multichannel AV pre-amp / processor that DOES have the necessary volume and also bass management software capabilities for bass frequencies cross-over below 80Hz.

Thinking that ANY stand-mounts AND most floor-standers as primaries in 2-channel music will suffice WILL strain and thus suck at sub80Hz crossover low frequencies without the introduction and crossover into the powered subwoofers and further tailored via the AV preamp/ 7.1 processor room correction features.

(1) Choose wisely your standalone powered subwoofer(s) [for HT use only ,,,] with their own discrete tailorable bass control and bass volume, phase, and cross-over via hardware knob selection process built into the subwoofer amp itself:

in conjunction with

(2) the discrete standalone 7.1 AV preamp/ processor with this multi-channel unit’s own built-in software Auddysey room correction features process for all of the LF, RF, CC, Surrounds, and Rears.

These dual features are available in tandem for a bespoke custom bass management , that will give you all the bass management control you can imagine ..... and it’s entirely independent of any power amp array you chose.... be it :

7
2-5
2-3-2


Subwoofer crossovers: (hardware).


 We highlighted the room correction software features in the AV 0preamp/ processor above. Now, dig into the subwoofer itself.

A crossover is inserted into your signal path in order to remove the lowest frequencies (the deep bass) from your main speakers so that they no longer have to do all of the dirty work. The deep bass will instead be dealt with by the subwoofer.

The #1 benefit of adding a high quality subwoofer to your system is not how it further extends the bass response, but how it can dramatically improve the sound of your existing power amp and main speakers from the midrange on up. That is by far the most compelling reason to add a sub to your high-end music system. Once your main speakers are freed from the burden of making deep bass, they will sound cleaner, faster and clearer, especially in the midrange and midbass.

They will also image way better because there will be far less air pressure and therefore resonance and vibration affecting their cabinet walls.

And since the power required to make the deep bass is provided by the subwoofer’s built-in amplifier, your main power amp will be free from that burden and begin to sound like a much more powerful amplifier.

I guess the whole point of the integrated connected to the AV pre-amp would be to be able to use it as the pre when playing strictly music. If the integrated does not have bass management, then the full signal gets sent to my bookshelfs. Granted, I can still have my Monitor Audio RX-12 connected to the integrated for a 2.1, but that full signal will be passed to my bookshelves. If I am using the integrated to play music, then I wouldn’t be using the bass management of the AV receiver. I would only use the bass management feature of the AV pre processor when watching movies and using the HT Bypass feature on the integrated. I have already posted another thread for which integrated amps out there have bass management and there are very few and very expensive.