2. amps-preamps
  3. 1057875457

Is adding a power amp to an A/V receiver worth it?

Is adding a high-quality power amp to a receiver-based system worth it? I've built my system gradually over the years and the receiver is now one of the weak links in my system relative to my source and speakers. I would like to put a high-quality power amp behind my front three speakers bypassing the receiver's amps, but I'm concerned I won't be getting the full benefit of a dedicated amplifier without a high-end dedicated pre/pro to feed it clean signals.

I'm happy with the receiver's features and would like to continue using it as my preamp/processor. However, I don't want to spend good money on an amp to have it strangled by a (relatively) mid-fi receiver upstream. As you can see from my system below, some components are in different "leagues" than others, but that's what can happen when you build a system over time. Overall, it's a very enjoyable system and I've taken the time to calibrate it properly. I use my system roughly 60/40% music/movies.

Can anyone comment on their experience with this dilemma?

My system:

Arcam FMJ CD23 cd player
Sony DVP-C600D dvd carousel
Technics SL-5 direct-drive turntable with Grado cartridge
RCA Hifi VCR
Sony GA-7ES ProLogic A/V receiver ("5.1 ready" and with preouts for the front 3 channels)
Hales Revelation Two main speakers (front L/R)
Hales Revelation Center (front center)
Snell SR.5 bipolar surrounds
Acoustic Research "high output" 8" sub (downfiring)
Sony KV-34XBR800 34" widescreen monitor
AudioQuest Coral interconnect (cd player)
AudioQuest Video 2 (vcr composite video)
MIT Terninator 5 interconnect (dvd player)
MIT Terminator 5 speaker cable (for fronts)
MIT S-Res S-video interconnect (for DVD)
Monster subwoofer interconnect
Monster HTS-2000 surge protector
Harmony SST-768 remote (great unit!)
Salamander Synergy Twin 30 equipment rack
john_z

Showing 1 response by reubent

reubent
7,086 posts
 
OK, I'll take the opposing view.

You are correct, some of your current equipment is is a different league. You already have some of the building blocks for an EXCELLENT music system. I think you would be better served if you continue to build on the music side (that is assuming that you are happy with your HT).

That said, here is what I would do:

Instead of buying a power amp for the fronts, I would buy a quality integrated amp that has an HT processor/bypass loop feature. I would connect the Arcam CD player and your turntable to the integrated amps inputs and connect the front L&R speakers (Hales) to the integrated amps outputs. INSTANT high-end 2-channel rig!! As you can see, this is now a dedicated 2-channel music system with zero possibilities of being "mucked up" by the mid-fi receiver.

For HT, you would connect the DVD player, VCR, etc., to the receiver as you are now doing. The Front L&R pre-outs from the receiver would go to the processor/bypass loop inputs on the integrated amp. When you select "bypass" on the integrated, it will work EXACTLY like your proposed power amp, "bypassing" any of the pre-amp controls of the integrated amp.

For me, this is an great way to have the best of both worlds. You have a dedicate 2-channel rig AND an add-on HT setup and they only share the Front L&R speakers and the "power-amp" portion of the integrated amp. I have put together several version of systems using this type of setup and they work very well. And, it eliminates any concerns of your mid-fi receiver "stangling" your amplifiers output.

Feel free to send me a message if you need any more details.

Enjoy,

TIC
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