Amplifier for Monitor Audio RX 8 system

The Pioneer is 2-dimensional, Parasound as well. You only keep the 3-dimensional image wenn you use both surround amp and poweramp who can give a 3-dimensional image. Cary audio I cannot Judge. Your Pioneer is not that good. Maybe it is better to sell it and buy a better surr. amp first.

What I said earlier; Monitor Audio is the only brand which make speakers in all there price ranges which can give depth. You will not find any brand which can make even cheap speakers who can give depth. Tubes can create much easier depth than most solid state amps. I sold a lot RS8 and RS6 in the past. I sold the RS8 with Primare. It gave a stunning 3-D image. All the other shops sold 2-dimensional sound for the same money. I had a lot of fun. I did send my cleints to those shops to understand the difference.

You need to be aware that Monitor Audio ( including your RX8) uses crossovers which are that good that they can give a deep and wide stage like the best highend speakers can. But......you need amps who can give this deep and wide stage. Pioneer is a 2-dimensional brand, this menas there is almost no depth till maximum of 1 metre. This means that the image is projected forward. A 3-dimensional image is the most thrilling part in music but also for surround sound. Amps which can give you a 3 dimensional sound are Onkyo and Primare. There are more, but a lot more expensive. I have sold a lot Monitor Audio in 6 years of time and also a lot Platinum. goodluck!!

It is very simple; you test and listen to the amps. I alwys use speakers which can bui;ld a big stage. So you know if they are 2 or 3-dimensional.I can sell what I want, because the company were I do business with has it all. But I do not sell amps which give a lower level in performance anymore. The same as for speakers. I want my clients to get the best results for the money. The thing I hate most in this business is the many average amps, speakers, cables etc. Many people spend a lot of money in audio. Wenn you listen to the end results it is often quite average or poor. We had a client with the Focal BE 1027. Also these speakers can give a deep and wide stage. He had a Pioneer surround amo of 2500 dollar. The stage was flat, so full 2-dimensional. Wenn we connected the Onkyo TX-NR5010 it went to a much higher level. Better dynamics, more resolutie and space. And also depth and a better sound. The class D sound of the Pioneer had not emotion. Like everything sounds the same. For me it is very simple how it will sound. And what are the limitations.

I sold and tested many Monitor Audio speakers. I also did a presentation for Monitor Audio. I test many different amps on Monitor Audio speakers as well. Also at shows you hear them with many different amps. I Always have my own music during shows. I love to test and know what the properties/talents are of speakers, amps, cables, sources etc. I worked for over 8 yeras in audio shops. I also did run a shop for 2 years of time. But consulting is so much more fun to do then the possibilities you have in a shop. It is the freedom I love. We are not talking about preference, we talk about the difference between 2 and 3-dimensional. I use comparing between 2 and 3-dimensional sound to let people hear how much more involving 3-dimensional sound is. What I said before; I never met a person who prefers 2-dimensional sound over 3-dimensional sound after hearing it. I am addicted to music since I was 6 years old. My father gave me a stereo Philips big tape recorder with tubes. I started making recordings from the radio at that age. Music Always has been the most important thing in my life. So you are Always looking for the best sound possible. I worked for over 6 yars in a very big audio shop. Here I could test as much as I wanted. I did compare many brands. From normal prices to highend. I owned expensive highend audio for 14 years of time. I had the freedom and possibilities to lent a lot of stuff in 15 years of time. A palpable image with depth is for every person understandable. I make it as easy and clear for every person. Here on Audiogon you only can read my words. My clients said this week to me; Bobby wenn you let us hear the 3-dimensional sound your words become so much easier to understand. That is true. The reason why I use comparing between 2 and 3-dimensional image is because I want every person to give a higher level in playing there music. I want people to love there set with there music. The reason why I use the words simple is because after all these tests you understand the paterns of the equipment. My focus is Always on the properties/talents of a cable, amp, source, speaker etc. After this you can use them in a set. And you can change parts in a set with other brands to make it more complete. Audyssey and Audyssey Pro used and measured at my way makes it all a lot easier to get a 3-dimensional image. I use differrent brands to get the best 3-d image possible. But there are enough brands of speakers and amps which cab give a good 3-d image.