Amplification for Denon 3802 for 2-ch listening

If I were you I would look into the B&K av5000. It's a sweet 5ch amp that should mate well with your B&W speakers, and when you are ready, you can upgrade to a stand alone preamp. I saw one on this sight for 600 used. Spending 1200 on a 2ch amp will not make a night and day difference over the B&K, and might also pose problems when you switch to multi-channel. If you find the rel a bit lacking in dynamics and still need to keep the size down, Bob Carver's true subs will more then fit the bill. Once properly tuned, they are the ultimate small home theater sub, particularly the signature model.

I found myself in exactly your shoes not so long ago, but with a Denon avr-3300. For improving 2 channel, start by adding a two channel amp to drive your front r and l speakers. In denon's set up menu, you can adjust the levels for each speaker individually. Use the test tone option and a sound level meter (can get one from radioshack for cheap - i think $30-40) That way, you can equalize the volume levels of all of your speakers and there will be no no issues with a more powerful amp powering your mains. I found that adding better amplification to the denon significantly improved the quality of the audio.

From there, you can get a higher end stereo pre-amp with a home theater passthrough. The front speaker pre-outs from the denon would go to the pre-amp, and the pre-amp outputs would go to your new amp. When using two channel, the denon stays off, your two channel source goes directly to the new two channel pre-amp, and you're in business. For home theater, you turn on the denon, use as usual, and have the new pre-amp in pass through mode, letting the denon control everything, as if the front pre-outs from the denon were connected directly to your 2 channel amp. Your denon can handle all of the processing and remaining amplificaion for ht.

After a few purchases of used multichannel amps, I ended up with an Odyssey Stratos for my fronts, and used the denon for powering my center and surrounds. Then I added a Chiro C-500 for the center and surrounds. Still looking for either a new processor to add 7.1 processing or a good deal on a pre-amp with ht pass thru. The denon is solely being used as a pre-pro. Lots of people recommended an adcom gfp-750 preamp for 2 channel. If you are happy with your current ht, buying a 2 channel power amp and a stereo preamp with ht pass thru is the way to go.

Anyway, I'm writing a novel. Start with a good 2 channel amp for the fronts, and move on from there. Good luck.

Same situation here, although i have a Denon 2801 (90wpc x5).I just wasn't happy with 2 channel. So, just last week i picked up a used NAD 218 amp (225x2) and boy did it make a difference. My speakers really came alive and sounded like a new pair. Anyway, as mentioned above, a SPL meter and the onscreen Denon menu will adjust the sound level.

However, there is one thing you should know, if the external amp does NOT have a 12v trigger, you must turn the amp on/off each time you power up the Denon or listen to 2 channel. If your Denon has a 12v trigger, then locate an amp also w/ a trigger. this will link the two. good luck and your moving in the right direction.

DK, don't know what your budget is, but check out Anthem's AVM new pre pro, Proceed Pre/Pro v.2 or Tag's Pre/Pro. I went the reverse order, and have just 2 channel and now looking for HT stuff. May go with a reciever to save $$; especially since I'm much more into 2 channel. Do you think seperates would be a huge improvment over a Denon receiver pushing center and rears only?

I did not read all your responses so I apologize if I am repeating something. I have the Denon 5800 i use as only a pre pro brcause it had all the bells and whistles at the time. I have it mated with a Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature and I have struck an acceptable medium between music and HT. On my Denon when you plug into the main pre outs it kills those channels in the Denon amp and the volume control works fine with the combination of the Denon and the Sunfire. I do use the back channels of the Denon to drive the EX and ES channels.Look for a good two channel amp that is pleasing to you and go for it. Some previously mentioned brands are good.