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Amplification for Denon 3802 for 2-ch listening

I'm just getting started in the home theatre / mid-fi arena, so please bear with my ignorance... that's why I'm researching here.

Current Setup:
I recently purchased a Denon AVR-3802 for home theatre use, based on a friend's recommendation. I got a good deal on it, and I like the processing features for HT. That purchase has started a snowball effect. I then decided to upgrade my speakers, and I took a quantum leap up to B&W CDM 7NT's for the fronts, the CDM CNT Center, and a used set of CDM 1SE's for the rear surrounds. I also have a REL Q150E sub coming next week (I know it's a little small for the 7NT's, but space was an issue with my wife, and it seemed pretty powerful when I auditioned it at a local shop). My source components aren't that great, and I will be upgrading those along the way. I have a cheap DVD player, and an older Sony ES CD player. I did buy decent quality interconnects and Canare star-quad bi-wire speaker cables for the whole system.

Question:
I'm relatively satisfied with the sound of the system for home theatre (although it does seem like I have to crank up the volume to about -15db on the receiver to get the full effect), but I don't think I'm doing my speakers justice for music listening with the Denon powering them. I'd guess my usage of the system is about 65% music, 35% movies. I'm looking for recommendations on an amp or amp / pre amp combo to improve the performance of my speakers for music (and home theatre, if possible). Does it make sense to use the denon as a preamp for music, or should I take it completely out of the loop and only use it for HT. If the latter, how do I do this, and what features in the preamp should I look for? I have a budget of $1200 for this (I'll buy used gear).

Thanks, and sorry for the long winded question.

Scott
scottwebb
mdomnick
332 posts
 
DK, don't know what your budget is, but check out Anthem's AVM new pre pro, Proceed Pre/Pro v.2 or Tag's Pre/Pro. I went the reverse order, and have just 2 channel and now looking for HT stuff. May go with a reciever to save $$; especially since I'm much more into 2 channel. Do you think seperates would be a huge improvment over a Denon receiver pushing center and rears only?
jr96aolcom's avatar
jr96aolcom
28 posts
 
I did not read all your responses so I apologize if I am repeating something. I have the Denon 5800 i use as only a pre pro brcause it had all the bells and whistles at the time. I have it mated with a Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature and I have struck an acceptable medium between music and HT. On my Denon when you plug into the main pre outs it kills those channels in the Denon amp and the volume control works fine with the combination of the Denon and the Sunfire. I do use the back channels of the Denon to drive the EX and ES channels.Look for a good two channel amp that is pleasing to you and go for it. Some previously mentioned brands are good.
dklap
51 posts
 
mdominick -

there is definitely an improvement with the center and rears being driven by the chiro instead of the denon, but for theater, using the denon's amps was more than satisfactory when using only a 2 channel amp for the fronts. if i wasn't looking to update to a pre/pro, i would have been fine with just the denon running the center and surrounds...if theater needs are totally secondary to 2 channel, just keep the receiver, add a good 2 channel, and get a nice pre-amp with ht passthru. i'm updating the denon b/c i want the surround rears, which the avr-3300 does not have. i got a good deal on the 5 channel amp, so now i hve to buy a processor. thinking about the rotel rsp-1066. anyway, for 2 channel, that pass thru option is the way to go. you can also get a nice pre-amp w/out the passthru, but make suer you calibrate the channel levels with the per set to a specific volume so the levels will be correct everytime you watch theater. good luck

-dan
mdomnick
332 posts
 
Thanks Dan...I got the pre with HT pass-thru, and am debating between a receiver for HT or stay with complete seperates. I am very much into 2 channel, so a receiver I'm sure would keep me happy for HT, yet thinking about DVDA and SACD, 2 formats that do not impress me, but have potential, would sound better with seperates. At this point I am weighing my options.
foreverhififc85
58 posts
 
Yes Scottweb, you will get better sonics all around by adding another amp to your existing Denon receiver, for sure! I would recommend doing EQUAL POWER all around for best results, ESPECIALLY KEEPING EQUAL AMPLIFICATION(QUALITY) TO THE CENTER ALONG WITH L/R!! If you just get a 2 channel amp, that's good for 2 channel. But you'll get shorted on the 5 channel side using the amps in the receiver(which are weaker, trust me...). But, it will be better than the amps in the receiver all around for sure.
THE DOWN SIDE TO KEEPING YOUR RECEIVER FOR BOTH 2 CHANNEL AND 5 CHANNEL, is that RECEIVERS PREAMP SECTIONS ARE WEAKER DYNAMICALLY than a good separates processor, and they sound softer....NOT TO MENTION LESS REFINED AND MUSICAL! Stil though, if you want to stay with the REceiver, you'll do better immediately with the added amp! Still, I would say you can easily get something around $600-800 used in a very nice sounding 5 channel amp, from the Acurus 125x5, ATI 1505,Parasound HCA1205(?..maybe), and have very nice sound from your B&W's(which I've sold for years).
Just some suggestions and feedback.
But remember, for FUTURE REFERENCE AT LEAST, the receiver THROUGHOUT DOES NOT HAVE THE DYNAMICS, REFINEMENT, OR CLAIRITY AND SEPARATION of a good prepro! So, you can upgrade that for better sonics if you ever decide. Receivers are fun and attractive in cheaper systems. But if you want to go foreward, the receiver will be holding your sound back, in all areas ultimatlely! good luck....
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