2. amps-preamps
  3. 181038-178321

Basic Questions

I’m a long-time middle tier/value home theater consumer.   Recently I’ve moved toward trying to get more out of my 2 channel listening (vinyl, streaming, Hi-rez, etc).  I moved from my DefTech towers to Paradigm Persona 3F. Big 2 channel improvement, but not the level I heard while auditioning them (with a separate amp).    

My media room is 18’ wide x 24’ deep.   I listen at moderate volumes, only occasionally cranking it up.  Unfortunately, live about 4 hours from closest hi-end sound shop, so not easy to audition equipment.

Some basic questions:

1. Do I need a pre-amp and why?  I’m fairly happy with my AVR’s sound programs.

2. Will additional amp work solely with 2 front mains, or power to entire HT system?

3. Is it simple interconnect from AVR to Amp, then speaker cable to front speakers?

3. I have seen  strong recommendations for Anthem STR and Parasound A21.   Any affirmations or other recommendations (looking to keep things under $10K with interconnects.)

 

My Equipment:

7 speaker Home theater

- Paradigm Persona 3F mains (“suitable amp power range = 15-400 watts; “max input power 200 watts). Morrow Audio SP6 speaker cables

- Definitive Tech UIW RSS II sides (10-200 watts per channel)

- Definitive Tech UIW RLS III rears (10-325 watts per channel)

- Definitive Tech CS-9080 center (300w internal amp; “recommended input power” = 50-300 watts per channel). Morrow Audio Sp4 reference speaker cable. 

 

Yamaha RX-A3080 9.2 Channel AV Receiver

- Rated  output power 2-channel driven 20Hz-20kHz = 150 watts

-  Dynamic power = 175 watts

 

Marantz  turntable with Budgie pre-amp.  Morrow Audio PH5 interconnects

Oppo BDP-105

 

Thanks and be kind!

javaruke

Showing 1 response by cio52

cio52
121 posts
 

If you are happy with your present system you don't need to change anything.  The reason to add a pre/amp or integrated is for the HT passthrough feature.  You could then run your two channel sources through the new pre/amp equipment instead of the AVR.  For the HT front left and right you would need a pair of interconnects to run from the pre/out L&R of you AVR to the new two channel set up so you can watch movies.  Then you would connect your turntable, streamer/DAC etc to the analog "in" connections on the new equipment.  Not sure about Yamaha but some AVR's convert everything to digital.  So you could run HDMI from your Oppo to AVR for BlueRay movies and use the analog out on the Oppo to play CD/SACD on the new equipment.

The new amp would be a two channel amp and power the front left and right speakers unless you really changed things by getting an AV controller with a new multi channel amp like for example: McIntosh.  A very expensive solution.

Another option to try and improve the sound quality could be to get a more expensive AVR with an in home, risk free trial.  Hope I have answered some of your questions.

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