best amp for RC7 and RS7's

[bertsummerkids]

I currently am using a B&K 200.2 for my RF7s and a denon 3802 as my preamp and to run my RC7 and my RF3 surrounds. My question is would the rotel 1075 which is 120watts per channel for 5 channels be worth the money over my current denon for center and surrounds.

and would there be a noticeable difference between the rotel 1075 versus the B&K 200.5 which is 200 watts per channel for the center and surround duty. is this over kill and would using the denon as center and surround be sufficient

[dougdrake]

In a perfect world, you'd have the same amplification to all

channels. Thus, that would mean perhaps another B&K amp

(3-channel) to use in the front and move the surrounds to your current

amp.

Alternately, you could sell your 2-channel and replace it with a

3-channel for the fronts. Maybe another B&K, or Rotel, or

some of the Aragon units Klipsch is clearing out on E-Bay. I

think your rear speakers would be OK on the Denon for the time being -

matching not as critical for the rears in HT use, and I don't know that

you'd see that much gain using the Rotel in lieu of the Denon on the

rears.

In my own set up, I have an Acurus 200x3 on the fronts with my Denon

driving the 4 rear speakers. My goal (albeit low on my priority

list) is to have a 200x2 for the rears, and then switch out the Denon

for a dedicated pre-amp.

[westcott]

It is my opinion that unless you use an amplifier that is 3 or 4 times the power of what it takes to drive your speakers to reference levels, you are really not getting much benefit from a separate amp Vs. your Denon 3802.

RF7's will reach reference levels with 65 to 70 watts of power. If you use my math, that would mean a separate amp would need to be approximately 250 to 300 watts per channel to notice a depreciable reduction in audible distortion over an integrated receiver.

No matter what some people say about Denon products, they can produce some VERY clean power, as long as they are not overdriven. The 3802 will produce 100 watts per channel to all 5 speakers driven. That is very respectible compared to systems rated with only one or two channels driven.

With your budget, it may be hard to improve upon your current sound quality.

Believe me. Before my window treatments ate up my budget for separates, I was pondering the very same question.

I

[MrMcGoo]

The RC-7 will benefit from improved amplification. Ideally, the amp should be similar to your B&K 200.2. A B&K 200.5 on the used market might fit the bill. Then you could sell the 200.2 or keep it toward a 7.1 system.

Bill