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Adding a 2 ch Classe 2200 to Classe 5200 HT amp

I own a Classe 5200 multi channel amp, Bryston Processer, B&W 802D speakers and a Ayre 5xe (with home theater bypass). Would I gain anything in sound quality by adding a Classe 2200 amp to the system for listening to 2 channel music or is that over kill? I would use it with the Ayre creating what is basically a sperate system with the HT bypass on the Ayre. Thanks for your feedback!
128x128funhog
larryski2
37 posts
 
I'm pretty sure that the 2 channel amp would improve your tunes, but why not an Ayre power amp instead of a Classe. The two Ayre's together seems to me to be the more logical choice. Possibly you can audition both.
Good luck.
funhog's avatar
funhog OP
5 posts
 
Thanks for your feedback! I thought about the Arye option but was worried that it would not sound right with the classe 5200 in surround mode. The Ayre is 150 watts per channel the classe 200.
sc2
101 posts
 
What do you expect to gain with the 2200?
Do you plan to to run 1 side of 200 watts to each speaker?
Isn't that what you are doing now?
If this is true, the only benfit is energy not used by the the other 3 channels, however, if you were to bridge the units, then this would dramattically improve your two channel, however the ht sound would not, do to the extra 200 watts going to the mains. you would have to offset the level trims.
I have the 802D bridged with a 5200, it was a big improvemnt, still, these speakers need more power than that to really sing!!
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,443 posts
 
Hey Funhog,

What did you end up doing? I recently went through 3 step upgrade by adding CA-2200, 5200 and SSP-800 to complement my B&W's 803s, 804s and HTM3s. Classe provided much better synergy compared to combo of Krell HTS / Showcase 5 channel amp. I will probably upgrade to diamond series next year.

Lalitk
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