Noob, need help please


Hi there,

I have a pair of Klipsch RP-8000F floorstanding speakers. 
I am a little unclear about what I need to complete my setup. 
I want to use these as home theatre speakers when watching off Netflix or Satellite TV, and also as music speakers when playing off Spotify through the TV. 

Do I need a pre-amp and an amp, or just an amp? What does a receiver do?
Do I need a separate DAC too or an amp with built in DAC?

I am a newbie to all of this so willing to learn, please forgive my lack of knowledge.

My budget is max 1k but then I don’t really know what I need to bring out the best in these speakers. When watching movies I like a little warmth but also like some detail. When listening to music I like a lot of bass. 
I need channels to add in a sub (I have Klipsch R-12SW) and a center speaker (yet to buy but probably will get the Klipsch RP-504C) at a later stage. 
If you need more information please let me know. 
Many thanks in advance!
laher

Showing 4 responses by bkeske

Yes, can get a separate pre/multi-channel processor, but then need a multi-channel amp. But, for a very nice set-up like that you could easily exceed your $1,000 budget. There are some good ‘higher end’ companies that make these kind of products. The newer ones may also have streaming integrated within, and an integrated DAC.


But, as a starting point, as mentioned above, I think your best solution starting out may be a higher end AV receiver.I was in the same boat years ago, purchased a higher end Yamaha AV receiver (before realizing I was going to get serious about music again), and some may frown on this here, still use it as my pre-amp; in a way. It has 2 channel pre outs for a separate amplifier, so now my front main speakers are being supplied power directly through a much nicer power amp for dedicated stereo listening. I also added a separate and much better DAC (Than in my receiver and other components) that supplies direct input into my receiver and ultimately thru to my 2 channel amp, and both my CD player and streaming ( actually simply a little wireless ‘connector’) box runs through the DAC. This has made my CD/blue ray player just a transport when playing dedicated 2 channel stereo when I’m critical listening, same with streaming, mainly thru Tidal via my iPad, or via my music files on a exterior hard drive connected to my wireless router. I also have purchased a dedicated phono stage instead of using the built-in phono stage in the receiver when playing vinyl, which I am doing more and more lately. Basically, in the end, I’ve turned my receiver into an RCA stereo ‘pass-thru’ for all my other components that does sound better than the receiver. As a last touch, I added a very neat (but not cheap) Ifi tube buffer/pre between my receiver and my 2 channel amp to warm things up and add some great options sound-wise to dedicated 2 channel listening, and to make up for a lack of a good dedicated preamp which does add a lot to a 2 channel set-up. My goal, as I went along, was to eliminate all and any 2 channel listening via HDMI for a better analog experience when listening to music.


So, a good AV receiver can become a ‘base’ you can add to as your ears want, need, or require, for 2 channel listening, but also work as your home theater component as I also use mine, (as I do not have a separate and dedicated stereo listening room). I now have a very nice 5.1 home theater set-up for watching TV/ movies, but with a little ‘switching’ via my AV receiver app, can turn it into a very nice 2-channel system when critically listening to music, which I do daily. And you can add to it, or not, which is why if you go with the AV receiver route, start with a good one.


You can get a higher end AV receiver for less than $1,000 US on sale, or refurbished. My Yamaha was $900+/- retail, but found a refurbished one with warranty for about $425 US. I then found and bought a used respected dedicated 2 channel amp for about $385 (a great deal) which I use to run my fronts when listening to stereo (and also power the fronts when running in 5.1, which takes the load off the rears, center, and sub receiver amp). My AV receiver is actually capable of 7.2, but I don’t need that. Be careful of paying more for a receiver with bells and whistles you don’t need, and will only compromise its overall performance (which it already is).

Thus, I spent about $800 for both an AV receiver and a well respected 2 channel amp that sounds much better than the receiver in 2 channel. In other words, you can spend less than $1,000 and get better 2 channel sound than any receiver is capable of alone for that budget, and still a have home theater setup where the overall sound is not as critical compared to listening to music in stereo. You simply must get an AV receiver with separate pre-outs available, and the lower end receivers do not have that capability.

I run Vandersteen 2CE Sigs as my fronts, Vandersteen 1C’s as my rears, a nice ELAC center and a sub. The Vandersteen’s are not nearly as efficient as your Klipsch. My dedicated 2 channel 140 wpc amp drives the 2CE’s easily, and the receiver drives the others easily in HT mode. I don’t think your Klipsch need much power to drive vs my set-up. But power isn’t the most critical factor, sound quality is for me when listening to music, so I like the option of driving my fronts with a separate amp that satisfy the quality I want, and can upgrade that amp again if I desire. The sound quality of HT via the AV receiver isn’t as important to me, but it does sound pretty good.
Not sure why he would need an integrated if he can pre-out to a dedicated amp, using the AV receiver as the pre. That is what I do, and over time have attempted to take my Yamaha out of equation completely, only really using it as a pass-thru and ‘switcher’ between modes.

The reviver will already have what an integrated provides. A separate amp will help obtain better sound in 2 channel.
Which is why my old B&K Amp has been my solid choice after trying a Nelson Pass Adcom (to ‘cold’ with my Yamaha AV receiver). The B&K, using my AV receiver as a pre/pass-thru, warmed everything up, sounds sweet as can be, and improved the soundstage by a lot. It was like ‘night and day’. 
Would I prefer a separate pre and dedicated 2-channel system? Absolutely, but my current set-up (eventually purchasing a separate DAC, phono stage, and the Ifi mini tube2 between the amp and receiver) really does sound pretty darn good when running In two channel mode. I can listen for hours without a hint of listening fatigue, and it sounds warm, detailed, and full with my 2CE Sigs. And I still have the option to switch to HT where, for me, the quality of the sound isn’t as critical. In fact I don’t even over analyze it in HT, only my 2 channel sound. It’s amazing how much difference a good sounding separate amp can make to a mediocre AV receiver, and you can do all of it quite reasonably in cost.

Not spending a fortune was important to me at this time, so think the compromise was well worth it vs the money spent.