Adding 5-channel amps to AV Receivers
This is interesting from Audioholics. You get what you pay for. Interesting watch. Seems like high end Denon's are the only ones the shut off internal amps when you add an external amp. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sq2dyzJYvA |
It’s a huge benefit sonically to add a separate amp, but often it comes down to what needs to be passed over HDMI as that is generally the biggest impediment to AV Receivers and why it often requires upgrading or changing the receiver out before purchasing a multi channel amp. Also, after getting a new multi channel amp, that will easily lead to replacing the old receiver with a dedicated preamp/processor because though you are bypassing the amplifier section, there are still inherent advantages to having a good pre/pro. The difference you’ll hear adding the amp will be just as big or bigger when ultimately switching out the receiver to a good pre/pro. |
This is interesting from Audioholics. You get what you pay for. Interesting watch. That's such a great video, thanks for sharing! For the most part it reinforces my thesis here, that on most sub-$1500 receivers, the amps and power supplies get seriously compromised. On the other hand, its absolutely crazy to me that it takes a $3,000 AVR before the amps actually turn-off when using the pre-outs, that seems like the most basic function of even having the pre-outs. However, the amps simply being turned on but not actually driving any loads should be far less of a strain on the power supply than having 7 channels going. So it still seems like it would be far superior to run a separate amp. |
That's awesome, thanks for sharing! |
It’s a huge benefit sonically to add a separate amp, but often it comes down to what needs to be passed over HDMI as that is generally the biggest impediment to AV Receivers and why it often requires upgrading or changing the receiver out before purchasing a multi channel amp. Also, after getting a new multi channel amp, that will easily lead to replacing the old receiver with a dedicated preamp/processor because though you are bypassing the amplifier section, there are still inherent advantages to having a good pre/pro. Great perspective here. This is still an audio rabbit hole after all, so there is zero doubt in my mind I'll eventually get a separate processor. But for right now my home theater priority is getting Dolby Atmos with decent enough sound without spending $3,000. What baffles me on the current crop of separate processors (and I could be wrong here), is that there doesn't seem to be one that even has Atmos for less than $1,500 or $2,000. How do the $300 cheap AVRs have Atmos, but it takes $2,000 to get a processor that has it? It seems like the move is to let the processors come down to earth on price and use the Denon in the meantime. I actually have another amp on the way, a Krell Showcase 5 which is total overkill but the price was just too good to pass on it, but hey at least there will be zero chance the amp will be the weak link. |
