firefighter Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I have a Yamaha RX V630 receiver that got zapped by lightning about 2 years ago which damaged my banana plug inputs but not my speaker lead inputs, go figure. I believe now that the receiver is slowly passing away. This brings me to the upgrade question. I want tons of power for headroom (bragging rights) but my main emphasis is sound quality. I love clean sound but sometimes I want to feel it and that's another reason for the power. Here is where my head scratching starts. I have 3 Rane MA-6S multi channel amps (tons of power) that I can use with a quality receiver, or I can spend more money on a quality receiver with a ton of power. Where is the sound quality? Is it the amp or the receiver? I would much rather spend less money on a quality receiver with less power and use the amps that I already have. If the receiver controls the sound quality then I can knock it out of the park with the amps If the amp controls the quality then what kind of sound quality do I have with the Rane MA-6S amps? Does what I'm trying to say make sense? Thanks, Jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironsave Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I think you post a great question.... Almost like "what comes first; the chicken or the egg".... I suspect either one can give you bad quality. Also, the original source quality can make all the difference as well..... I will watch this thread for more answers by more qualified folks than myself........ [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Speakers/Room Source Pre-Amp Amp ... . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . speaker wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . interconnects . . . . . . .. . . . . . magic pebbles . etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olorin Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I have a Yamaha RX V630 receiver that got zapped by lightning about 2 years ago which damaged my banana plug inputs but not my speaker lead inputs, go figure. I believe now that the receiver is slowly passing away. This brings me to the upgrade question. I want tons of power for headroom (bragging rights) but my main emphasis is sound quality. I love clean sound but sometimes I want to feel it and that's another reason for the power. Here is where my head scratching starts. I have 3 Rane MA-6S multi channel amps (tons of power) that I can use with a quality receiver, or I can spend more money on a quality receiver with a ton of power. Where is the sound quality? Is it the amp or the receiver? I would much rather spend less money on a quality receiver with less power and use the amps that I already have. If the receiver controls the sound quality then I can knock it out of the park with the amps If the amp controls the quality then what kind of sound quality do I have with the Rane MA-6S amps? Does what I'm trying to say make sense? Thanks, Jack. I think I get what you're getting at, and as with a lot of these things, the answer is "either, neither, and both." You have a signal chain, and like any chain, it's only as strong as its weakest link. In other words, your system is going to sound as good as its worst-sounding component. Ideally, processors, receivers, and amps don't have a "sound." Processors and the preamp sections of receivers are supposed to take a signal from an input and direct it to an output with no change in the signal, and amplifiers are supposed to take an input signal at a given voltage and output the same signal at a higher voltage. Practically speaking, if I were in your shoes and already had a high-quality multichannel amp with more than enough power to take care of my speakers, I wouldn't even be looking at receivers -- I'd be looking at processors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 JB is correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Speakers/Room Source Pre-Amp Amp ... . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . speaker wires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . interconnects . . . . . . .. . . . . . magic pebbles . etc... Top Notch answer, and correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironsave Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 JB is correct. And delivered only as JB can..... [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 Ok, Lets say everything in the chain is ok. I've got the power. Question 1 Does anyone here know about the Rane MA-6S Multi channel amp and if it is quality power. I'm sure it's strong enough here are the specs.. Please give your opinions. 100 watts minimum RMS per channel into 8 ohms 150 watts minimum RMS per channel into 4 ohms 300 watts minimum RMS per two-channel bridged operation into 8 ohms FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 5hz - 80hz. +0/ -3 dB TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION less than 0.2 % (1 hz ) INTERMODULATION DISTORTION ( 60 HZ ; 7 khz @ 4:1 ) LESS THAN 0.1% SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO: better than 96 dB (EIA A-weighted) SENSITIVITY: +0 dBm (.775V3 for rated power output INPUT IMPEDANCE: greater than 9k ohms DAMPING FACTOR: 300:1 at 1000Hz INPUTS: "A" RTS phone jacks, automatic balanced/unbalanced OUTPUTS: Terminal Blocks CROSS TALK: better than -60 dB at 1kHz, any channel to any channe LIMITER PERFORMANCE : Range: 15 dB Maximum input level at clipping: +15 dB (4.4) Attack time constant: 10 ms Decay time constant: 10 ms Detection method: full-wave peak SPEAKER IMPEDANCE: No less than 4 ohms for single channel operation. No less than 8 ohms for bridged operation. LED THRESHOLD: Signal present: -20 dBm (78mV.) Limit: 90W output into 8 ohms (26.8 VRMS) single operation 270W output into 8 ohms (46.5VRMS) bridged Clip: 3 dB before actual clipping. OUTPUT RELAY: Activates approximately 10 seconds after power is supplied; drops out immediately after turn-off; drops out anytime there is DC output voltage or high level subsonic signals. Now see why I ask these questions, it's a completely different language. I don't have a clue! Thanks, Jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Unfortunately specs on paper don't always tell the whole story. What price can you get the Rane for? In all the changes I've made, the receiver/pre-amp has made the most difference over the sound as far as the electronics part of the chain. They contain the DACs, the DSPs for surround modes, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 That's true for me too.The room has been the same for years, source has changed but remained good, good power is good power, pre has been what I have chased for many years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olorin Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Consider the Emotiva UMC-1 or the Integra/Onkyo Pro offerings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 I purchased 3 Rane MA-6S amps, 16 JBL Control 28T outdoor speakers, 1 Rane ME 15B Graphic Equalizer, 1 CP 64 Commercial Processor, and 1 large commercial stand up rack with fans and electrical outlets for $100.00. Needless to say I felt good about the purchase. So I already have the amps. I am currently using one with my Yamaha receiver which is dying and the rest of the stuff is not being used. It was mentioned earlier to consider a processor instead of a receiver to run with the amps. That was something that I didn't think about. I will have to do a little research on the processor option. So If these Rane amps are a good power source, then do I look at a low watt receiver with quality components or the processor or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ69 Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Jacksonbart's answer is TOPNOTCH! Personally I'm not too hot on receivers of any kind. I'll take a great pre and good amp and be happy. Thanx, Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.