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Center Channel Amp Recommendations

OK Gang. I never thought I'd be initiating a forum post under "Home Theater", since I am a die hard two channel lover but here goes. I'm entering into the home theater arena and am interested in recommendations on single channel amps to drive my HT center channel.

Before any of my fellow two channel audiogoners commit hari-kari over the loss of another music lover, please note that I'll maintain my two channel system with preamp intact and use the HT processor with a pass through configuration so as not to degrade the two channel system quality. (Not that anyone will really loose sleep over my plans.)

Currently I'm using Pass X600 Monos for my main channels and will use, at least for now, a X350 for my rears. At this level, the "out of control" recommendation would of course be to add a single X600 for my center. It would sure look cool, but one deterent is the pretty absurd cost for just a center, assuming I could even find a single X600 amp (on the secondary market). The second deterent is that I would think that the power rating would be excessive given the more limited importance and frequency range of the center channel (compared to my main channels for music).

So where do I go from here. I'll probably be powering a B&W HTM-1 center, although I'd be interested in recommendations on very good center speakers as well.

Here's where you guys can help:
(Consider the cost of one, used X600 mono to be the upper limit.)

1) Do I go with a "bridgeable" stereo amp, vs. mono? (Simply because single monos are hard to find.) In either case, how much power would be practical or ideal for the center.

2) Is it more important that I select the amp based upon charateristics of the other channels' amps and speakers, or more important to match the amp charateristics with the sonic and frequency demands of a center channel's source material? In other words, are there any amps that work particularly well with voices?

3) Are the HT channels, unimportant enough that I am better off to simply look at replacing the X350 in the rear with a three channel amp to handle the rears plus center?

4) Finally what center channel amps (and/or three channel amps) are working well for those of you doing this?

Thanks in advance.
audiopman

Showing 1 response by audiopman

audiopman OP
25 posts
 
Kenny/Aaron:

I was hoping for a couple of posts as constructive as these. You both make very good points.

As for my seriousness about HT, it is hard for me to say until I actually start experiencing it. That being said, however, I usually end up ears deep in just about whatever I dwelve into, so I will probably lean toward the more serious end of the spectrum.

I will soon be incorporating Avalon Eidelons as my front channels (replacing 802Ns) and will move the 802s to the rear. The processor will be an Meridian 861. I was leaning toward B&W's HTM-1 for the center, and may still go that way.

Kenny: I like your points on matching the speaker qualities and keeping them at a high level; and given the fact that the Avalons are very fast and throw a fantastic soundstage I'll look into Avalon's upcoming center speaker (due in September) before making a final center speaker move.

Aaron: Equally good points. I like the idea of using my X350 up front. I never considered it. Could I simply split a single processor output to the X350 and then run the X350s channels to each of the B&W's two sets of bi-wire posts?

On your final note, however, you both confirmed that an additional X600 would make great sense. Aaron, by all means let me know if you would like to split the purchase of a pair of X600s. If we found a good opportunity, I'd be very interested.

Thanks again gentlemen. I'd hoped that I'd get some quality advice. (I did!)

Best regards,
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