Multichannel power amplifers VS 2 channel power amplifiers
Has anyone here been satisfied with usage of a multichannel power amp for multitasking in 2 channel applications? In other words, did it ever keep up with your hifi stereo power amps in a stereo application?
Asking for a friend who doesn't have the space for 9 or 10 monoblocks! His budget is between 1 to 2k and I don't have experience with any modern amps in this relatively more modest price category.
There are no multi-channel anything that can keep up with stereo. The choice is clear. Either you want quality, in which case you want stereo, or you want quantity, in which case knock yourself out buying as many things as they can stuff in a box and connect it to as many boxes as you can stuff in a room. Just please don't kid yourself that there's any overlap between the two. |
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@mesch what we have here is someone who wants to make it as hard as possible to help them. I already mentioned it, and I think he just beat you over the head for trying to help him. I think it’s time to let this guy just help himself since he’s so unhelpful in letting any of us try to help him and his hapless friend. |
@mesch there is a thing called multichannel music (5.1....5.1.4 atmos, auro 3d, etc) |
@deep_333 I was thinking 2-channel for music and multi for video. Why wouldn't a receiver work for the center as well for the rear channels. |
@mesch ....Assuming the 2 channel amp would cover the 2 fronts, that leaves out the center channel for the receiver's power amp section on your suggested solution. The center channel is just as important as the 2 fronts on a multichannel music setup. |
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If I understand you… no. The very best audio has always been my goal. You are not going to get five or ten channels that sound as good for the same amount of money. So, my emphasis has always been two. My first audiophile amp I bought in 1979 for $5,000 (my first loan)… $18,500 in todays dollars. Very quickly in the early ‘80’s my partner and I started a separate home theater. The two have gotten better over the decades. That said, we have a Rotel 5 channel amp for the home theater, that is good for a home theater… but I wouldn’t even consider for my audio system. |
The Parasound A51 is about all I could recommend....and that's 5 grand. |
@russ69 i would think he needs something decent sounding for the 5 channels of his bed layer (fronts/center/surrounds), i.e., a 5 channel amp. Some compromise could be made on height channels and so on for sure. I personally don't know of a 5 channel amp that could keep up with the better stereo amps under 2k i.e. unless anything's changed recently. |
There’s not nearly enough info here to make any useful recommendation. Is the priority stereo or HT, how many channels, what speakers, how big is the room, etc. Not knowing any of this critical info, here’s one option that might be interesting, and they offer an in-home trial that makes it a pretty user-friendly experience... |
If the need is for more than 2 channels then that is the need. Now getting a multi channel amplifier that would serve well for 2-channel audio at that budget, not sure. One could focus on a quality 2 channel amplifier and use a AV receiver or lower budget 3 channel amplifier for the other channels. The receiver would need line in for each channel. Buying used saves. |
