blueblenny Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 I am looking at getting a poweramp that will let me either upgrade and Bi-Amp my Klipsch Reference towers, or add 2 Atmos channels (with RP-140SAs). I have a hybrid music listening and 5.1 movie system Ideally I want both, but there are limitations to budgets- and the 9.1 receiver likely is out of the picture. For those that have seen both up close and personal, which one do you think adds the most to the experience and the system? I am leaning to Atmos... but I am curious. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappydue Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Welcome blue, Bi-amping any reference speaker is pretty much a waste of time. In fact passive bi-amping specifically is the waste. What all speakers do you have? What size is your room? What receiver do you have or want? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueblenny Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share Posted July 21, 2016 I currently own Klipsch...2x- RF3 IIs (Main Towers)- 150 watts1x- RW 10D (Sub)1x- RC52 (Center)- 125 watts2x- Synergy B3 Bookshelves (surround)- 85 watts Yes, I know these are not equals to the front. and will buy a pair of RP-140S (50 watts) if I go Atmos. My room is a 13' x 20' (The TV is viewed on the shorter the 13' cross-section) with standard flat residential 8' ceilings. Hardwood floors with a central rug. Picture windows behind the main listening post, but wood blinds almost fully negate the reflection. I want a system that hits movies with punch and warm clarity, but also is a great listening room for music with only the towers + sub at 85 or so dB- The top of my list right now is the Marantz SR 5010/5011 I do like the the idea of the 6010, but that bumps my room remodel out of the price range. I see mixed opinions and results and points of view on bi-amping the towers. Figured I would ask people here who know my speakers better. Ideally $600-$800 is the budget for the receiver. Must be good for stereo music and surround.Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappydue Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 There are those that bi-amp a passive speaker and think they hear a difference. Then there are those that do it and hear nothing. Doesn't hurt to try with your receiver as it's just wire. But anything you hear will be placebo in my opinion. Have a friend swap stuff around without you knowin and I bet you'd never pick the right setup each time. As far as atmos, that isn't my forte. Not a huge fan of it. Not yet anyways. Denon and marantz make great receivers. Pioneer elite is also a great one. Think I like it a tad more for music as I think it gets the EQ for the sweet spot really great but I'd take denon or marantz for movies as I feel they do a better job across multiple seats. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 I think you can go with the Marantz 5011 for Atmos. Dolby says wide dispersion speakers can be used. I wonder if Klipsch surround fit the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueblenny Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 Scrappy, If you had to choose between the Pioneer VSX-90 and the Marantz 5010, and they were both the same price, which do you think would have better sound? Some of the reviews (AVS forums) I have read mentioned the Pioneer flagships didn't do 2 channel music as well as the Marantz flagships, and I wonder if that trend is there in the mid range models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueblenny Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 Derrick, i don't have any wide distribution speakers. Maybe some day I will swap out the book shelf speakers I am using for the surround channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappydue Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 I'm more a fan of denon marantz than pioneer myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teaman Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 I'm with Scrappy, I am not a fan of Atmos. At least not yet. If you are happy with two channel and five/seven channel I would look for a nice receiver that is capable of doing that and I would be less worried about Atmos. I would look for a Sherbourn SR-120 (at least one listed on Ebay right now) and I can tell you any two, five or seven channel set up will benefit from it. It is a real powerhouse. It actually embarrassed my Yamaha 130 wpc RX-V2700 very quickly. Outside of that I would lean to the Denon/Marantz models. I am not a fan of Sony or Pioneer even though some love them. I also enjoy the Onkyo receivers but they get hot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 (edited) So OP wants to amplify the woofers and the mids separately.... that's like 14 amplifiers for a 7.1 system. Edited July 23, 2016 by Schu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 I am not an Atmos person, I run 5.1 and often 3.1. I could run 7.2 with my Onk AVR if I chose to. At one time I ran bi-amp into my L/R. I'm glad I ran the bi-amp because I wanted to decide for myself but I have to tell you if there was any difference, it was subtle at best. Maybe there was a little more detail in the mid range, but if I A/B'd std and bi I don't think I could tell you which was which. If you want to try Atmos I think you would hear more audible difference than if you bi-amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueblenny Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 just bi-amping the towers gosh that would be nuts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 I would think you could get more bang for your buck if you swapped out for larger more capable speakers than biamping. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueblenny Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 Coytee, which speakers- the rear? my front carries quite a punch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueblenny Posted July 28, 2016 Author Share Posted July 28, 2016 An update: I purchased the Marantz 7009. 125 watts per channel - 9.2 amplifer, and will run a few external zones off of it in other rooms. I will likely put in the upwards pointing klipsch atmos speakers..... but might drill some holes in the ceiling if I can get a good cable run. I am going to do Atmos, but not Bi-Amp.. though i won't promise not to test drive the bi-amping just to see what it sounds like. i will likely have some more questions as I get this system set up and tuned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 Congrats on the new avr and it's good you picked a direction to move your audio experience to the next level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueblenny Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share Posted July 29, 2016 What has been the best sale price you guys have seen on the Klipsch RP-140 SA upwards firing speakers? I am willing to wait for a good sale, just trying to gauge what a good price is on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtr20 Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 What has been the best sale price you guys have seen on the Klipsch RP-140 SA upwards firing speakers? I am willing to wait for a good sale, just trying to gauge what a good price is on them. Pm sent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueblenny Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 An update, some more questions. Klipsch RP-140 SA are coming in the mail. My height channel is taken care of. What are people's thoughts of swapping out my rear synergy B3s for a pair of RB-25s? that would bring all the speakers into the reference line. The B3s are 85 w (340 w peak) While the Rb-25s are a little less powerful at 75 watts (300 watts peak) but likely a better tonal match. Ideally, I would get a true rear speaker, but my room is pretty small, only 3 seats in the listening zone, and the price on these guys is a fraction of what a new pair of references would be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtr20 Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 I would personally upgrade the synergy bookshelves with a reference bookshelf pair. I cannot comment on those particular models since the only reference I have is my atmos speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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