why did you buy a separate HT amp?

good response guys...i should have explained my question a bit better. I am considering a sep. amp verses a newer 'higher power' AVR. I have HD DVD player and want the newer audio formats decoded.

I may go with the suggested 3 channel amp route and add on as funds dictate.

thanks again,
Greg

Yup if you add a beefy 2 channle amp from any number of makers your AV unit should be ok for center and surrounds. While I dont have a reciever I do run a hunble 6 channel Rotel which can be bridged up to 3 channels so I bridge the center only and use stock power for all surrounds. I get 120W to center and 60 to all 4 surrounds BUT I only roll them off at 80Hz, if you intend to run more full range speakers that isnt likely to be enough power but for me in my 14X25 HT I have never felt I need more power, my surrounds are 92db efficient if I recall. I do listen loud and have a picky personality but again for HT its fine for me.............music is another animal.

I added an external amp to my receiver and it got a new lease on life. I'm still using a ProLogic "dolby-digital ready" receiver as my main unit (Sony GA7-ES). As such, it does not have equal power to all five channels, which was normal for the ProLogic specs in those days. It has beefy parallel push-pull amps for the front three channels (90W RMS) but fairly pedestrian (non-high current) 40W power for the rears.

Sony thoughtfully provided a "power swap" feature on the 7ES which when engaged, routes power from the main 90W amps to the surrounds and lets you add a 3-channel external amp to drive the fronts. I chose an Arcam Alpha 10p x 3 channel amp at 100W and now have matching power to all three front speakers with the Sony just idling on the rears. I bought the Arcam amp used on Audiogon for a fair price and it's really made a difference in my system. And I can still use it if I move beyond the 7ES to a newer receiver or processor. -jz