Billiardicus Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 Hi, I'm thinking about buying a 2 channel amp just for my mains (RF-7s). I have a Onkyo TX-DS898 I'd use for the pre-amp. Is anyone doing this? Seems like it might be the best of both worlds. Separates for the mains which do most of the work without paying $$$$ for a 5 channel amp. Any recomendations for a 2 channel amp? I haven't done this sort of thing before...anything I need to know? Thanks for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgeraci Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 I run a two-channel amp for my RF-7s, and a separate five-channel amp for the remainder of my Reference seven speakers. I like the approach. My two-channel amp is a Rotel RB-1080, which puts out 200 watts X 2 - with a high damping factor. With respect to RF-7s and SS amps, others here run B&K and Parasound 2-channel amps with success. Be advised that you probably will not obtain a major upgrade in the quality in sound of your RF-7s until/unless you upgrade your processor. In my experience, the quality of sound is more affected by adding a nice pre/amp as opposed to adding an external amp. That being said, you could reduce your distortion and increase your overall bass response and headroom by adding an external amp. Good luck in your hunt. Carl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billiardicus Posted August 20, 2004 Author Share Posted August 20, 2004 Is the Onkyo TX-DS898 really that bad? I believe it's Onkyo's second best receiver next to the 989. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleve Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 ---------------- On 8/20/2004 12:05:46 PM Billiardicus wrote: Hi, I'm thinking about buying a 2 channel amp just for my mains (RF-7s). I have a Onkyo TX-DS898 I'd use for the pre-amp. Is anyone doing this? Seems like it might be the best of both worlds. Separates for the mains which do most of the work without paying $$$$ for a 5 channel amp. Any recomendations for a 2 channel amp? I haven't done this sort of thing before...anything I need to know? Thanks for the help! ---------------- It makes perfect sense - at least to me. I've actually got three different amplifiers powering my home theatre - My mains (CF-4's) are driven by a McIntosh Mc2205 - with a MacIntosh receiver (MAC-4100) serving as the control center for my two channel sound. The power amp section on the Mac-4100 is decoupled from the 4100 preamp section, and drives my rear channel speakers. Then I have a Dynaco A/V integrated amp powering the center channel speaker, acting as surround sound decoder, and providing outputs to my subwoofer and Mac 4100 for home theatre duty. It's a bird's nest of wiring, for certain, but the sonic benefits were immediate and not at all subtle. The most audible sonic difference resulted from using the 4100's pre-amp for the 2 channel system - upgrading to the more powerful Mc2205 amp wasn't quite as dramatic - although it is slightly fuller and richer sound, in my opinion. So just adding a power amp might not make a big difference in what you're hearing. You could take a similar path to what I've done above, and only use the Onkyo for movies/surround sound. Good luck! It's a great hobby/sickness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 Carl has given you the unvarnished truth.The 898 is not short on power,it is short on pre/pro quality sound.I don't want you to think I'm too harsh but I owned a 656,777,898 all run through my amps,the 656 was the best(sound wise) for some reason.I paid $1300 for the 898 back a few years ago,very unhappy,took it back in 2 weeks,got a Denon and was happy for a couple years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-MAN Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 I'm running a Yamaha HTR6550 6 channel with pre-outs to a McIntosh pre and power amp for the mains. Works great. It's the best of both worlds! DM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnysal Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 try to audition a new pre/pro or reciever before going to outboard amps, IMHO it does affect the sound more than the amps do...tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meuge Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 I don't know whether another pre/pro improves the sound MORE than an outboard amp, but getting an outboard amp improved the sound IMMENSELY in my system (as opposed to using the amp stage of my Pioneer receiver) and was certainly worth it monetarily. You can read some of my older posts for a more in-depth look at my experiences with the new amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hurd Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 I run a seperate philips power amplifier, rated at 150 wpc for the main speakers. This takes the majority of the load off of the receiver, and less heat internally, so that it may live a longer, happier life. The center and rear channels are used from my marantz receiver to power those speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgeraci Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 ---------------- On 8/20/2004 12:21:06 PM Billiardicus wrote: Is the Onkyo TX-DS898 really that bad? I believe it's Onkyo's second best receiver next to the 989. ---------------- "Bad?" Probably not for HT. Let me start by saying that audio listening is highly subjective. Depends on your background, tastes, and ears. However, in my opinion, you can get a much better quality of musical sound from those speakers by going with a nice pre/pro rather than relying on your receiver to act as your permanent processor. The RF-7 is an extremely detailed speaker that, in my opinion, needs a nice pre/pro to sound great with music (or you can also venture into tubes). However, when you get RF-7s set up correctly, whoa baby!!! In the end, the only thing that is important is what sounds good to you. If you add an external amp for your RF-7s, and all the music you like sounds great to you, please STOP. Do not follow my example. I still can't stop. Upcoming is the tube addition (at least a partial addition). Oh, and all of what Fish said...... Carl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 I run a Denon 983 for the processing and LFE channel and center channel and surrounds. Denon old stereo amp with equalizer to the left right front channels. The master volume on the 983 controls all channels. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougdrake Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 I agree the pre-amp may be the place to start. My Denon receiver, as a pre-amp, is kind if "hissy." Be that as it may, I'd suggest looking at a good used Acurus 2 or 3 channel amp, in the 200wpc range. They are nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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