Multi-channel amps : suggest good brands

[Spidey]

Hi folks,

I am turning my attention towards multi-channel power amps.

Few brands I read about :
Cary Audio, Parasound,Mckintosh,Densen etc..

What is difference between a multich amp and a cinema processor ?

pls suggest some amps available here.

thanks

 

[sud98]

Multi channel amps are as the names suggest amplifiers that can give you 2/3/5/7 channels of amplification of power. They do not decode or do any processing of the signals and just do the audio amplification into multiple channels.

There are lots of them - at this point of time emotiva is a popular direct retailer of multi channel amplifier. You get it in 1/2/3/5/7 channel modes.

The cinema processors like DVDO Edge/Emotiva UMC1 help you decode the signals from the source (DVD player/BDP Player...) They would typically decode the raw signals of the source into multi channel audio which is fed into the multi-channel amps and the video if it needs any processing (like video scaling). Some of them also acts as the preamp stage for an audio cd but the dedicated pre-amps may typically do a better job.

Hope this helps.

 

[Spidey]

Is a combination of a AV receiver with a multi-ch amp good ??
Presumably the AVR would do the processing or act as Preamp.

 

[venkatcr]

Is a combination of a AV receiver with a multi-ch amp good ?? Presumably the AVR would do the processing or act as Preamp.

It all depends upon what your objective is.

As step 1, for a long time, people have been using an AVR with a dedicated two channel amp to power the front speakers. If you look at an movie, nearly 80% of the audio data is sent to the front speakers. If the amplification of this data is handled by a dedicated amp, you get better clarity and dialogues are clearer.

Setp two is to use either a 3 channel amp, or three mono blocks to amplify the fronts and the centre channel. This increases the dialogue clarity even more.

The final step is something that has become popular over the last two odd years. Companies such as Outlaw Audio and Emotiva have worked on bringing out a surround sound processor that is just a decoder and a multi channel pre-amplifier. You take the analogue out from this processor and feed it to a 5 channel to 7 channel amplifier.

If you are looking at increasing the power for just power's sake, I would suggest you look at other things such as room acoustics and equalisation to improve sound. If, after this, you want to hear all sounds and dialogues clearly at a reasonable amplitude, power amplification is the way to go.

Cheers

 

[Spidey]

To be specific, my Dynaudio Audience 72 are power hungry.

I plan to use Denon 2309 as a pre with a MULTI-CH AMP>

the 2309 just cannot play the dynas.

One multi-ch available here is DENSEN B-340(4-ch)

thanks

 

[venkatcr]

The Denon 2309 is roughly 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms, while the Densen is 120 watts into 8 ohms. Not much different. I would suggest you look at an amp that can deliver somewhere around 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

Cheers

 

[anm]

instead of buying multichannel, one option is to get an avr with front pre outs and use a stereo power amp for the power hungry front speakers.

 

[subhash]

To be specific, my Dynaudio Audience 72 are power hungry.

I plan to use Denon 2309 as a pre with a MULTI-CH AMP>

the 2309 just cannot play the dynas.

One multi-ch available here is DENSEN B-340(4-ch)

thanks

arent you selling the Dynaaudio spkrs

 

[subhash]

hi Spidey

i do understand how it is with an AVR driving all spkrs
If it is big thrills and big bangs you want from your movie soundtracks i suggest you forget the AVR .

you need to have a Pre/Processor and power block combination , prefarably a 2 channel block for your fronts and a 5/3 channel block for the rest
A standalone processors decoding abilities are better off than a built in processor of an AVR ,this can be noticed instantly

regarding power of an avr--Most companies manufacturing avrs will rate the avr with only one or two channels driven under load,which results in reporting inflated power output.........in real life this will drop drastically when all channels are driven. so external power amps will be more powerful and can give you total control over sound in ways a avr cud never come close to

considering this to be your upgrade i wud suggest you stick to the combination of processor + power amp (2 channel for fronts and 3/5 channel for rest) A separate 2 channel for the fronts will keep you happy with music too

 

[subhash]

The Denon 2309 is roughly 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms, while the Densen is 120 watts into 8 ohms. Not much different. I would suggest you look at an amp that can deliver somewhere around 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

Cheers

spidey do chk the power rating of the densen amp again, if am not wrong it says 60w @ 8 ohms and 120w @ 4 ohms

 

[venkatcr]

Here is the data from the Dense website"

Power output in 8 ohms: 2 x 120W
Power output in 4 ohms: 240W
Power supply size: 750VA
Storage capacity: 110.000uF
THD + Noise @ rated output: Less than 0.1%

It does not talk about driving all four channels.

Cheers

 

[audiodelic]

Every view out on the internet says those dynaudio's(4ohm, 86 sensitivity) are very power hungry but they come to life with more power.

Check out the emotiva upa-2 and xpa-2. Or two upa-1's might give more power.

 

[spirovious]

Are you searching multi ch amp like Rotel?Highend Denon?

 

[Spidey]

I am musing about a pre power setup for home cinema.

Or Would a heavy AVR/amp like Onkyo 905/906 be a suitable solution?

 

[spirovious]

Denon pre/power is much preffered.

 

[subhash]

I am musing about a pre power setup for home cinema.

Or Would a heavy AVR/amp like Onkyo 905/906 be a suitable solution?

905/906 cud be good ,may be hard to find unless used as these are discontinued

A seperate pre power wud be better ,also with this you have the option of upgrading only the power amps whenever u feel the need

 

[subhash]

Denon pre/power is much preffered.

Dint know this , but i think its priced too high here

 

[spirovious]

All dedicated setups are in Lakhs.

 

[Spidey]

hi Spidey

considering this to be your upgrade i wud suggest you stick to the combination of processor + power amp (2 channel for fronts and 3/5 channel for rest) A separate 2 channel for the fronts will keep you happy with music too

Hi subhash , can u suggest such a combo/config ??

Denon pre/power is much preffered.

Denon combo is around 4 lacs+ , i think.
good but too costly.

 

[Spidey]

My basic query again :

Would a heavy amp like Onkyo 905/906 serve the purpose and avoid going into a pre-power?
how much is wattage of 905 , is it 200W per ch?

thanks