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Bronze Member Username: PatrickbatemanMA Post Number: 33 Registered: Oct-05 | I have a question that I am sure has been asked many times. I am MA Silver speakers, upgrading to the new GS10's soon. I have a Marantz 5400. Do I upgrade to a better receiver, say an Outlaw or a NAD or a Cambridge Audio etc., or do I just add a nice 2 channel amp? |
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Gold Member Username: Edster922Abubala, Ababala The Occupation Post Number: 4036 Registered: Mar-05 | if music SQ is a priority, I'd say get the amp. If you want more bells and whistles, a more expensive receiver. |
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Silver Member Username: Rysa4Post Number: 472 Registered: Jul-05 | 2 channel amp for music, no question! |
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Silver Member Username: KanoBC Canada Post Number: 964 Registered: Oct-04 | Depends on how you use your system. If connecting using analogs from a CD or DVD player for music playback, an added power amp will have a greater affect since all processing and DAC is done in the player. Also with this set-up the quality of the player greatly affects sound quality, more than the amp will. If you are looking for a large improvement watching movies through a digital connection, upgrading the receiver may yeild an improvement. However the processing and DAC in the 5xxx Marantz receivers is quite good, you will have to go quite a bit higher to see an improvement. |
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Gold Member Username: NuckPost Number: 2631 Registered: Dec-04 | Perhaps 2 mono block amps with the Marantz for the new speakers and try analog and digital to choose the best DAC's. |
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Bronze Member Username: PatrickbatemanMA Post Number: 34 Registered: Oct-05 | I will be around 60% music, 40% movies Am I right in thinking adding an amp, and then it is much easier to replace the receiver when technology changes? How much will the processor, or receiver, effect the amp? |
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Gold Member Username: NuckPost Number: 2632 Registered: Dec-04 | The amp(s), should be invisible, only adding power. Any deficiencies in the source, process etc. will be, well, amplified. |
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Bronze Member Username: PatrickbatemanMA Post Number: 35 Registered: Oct-05 | So here is another dumb question. The sub will still run out from the receiver, is this right? And the crossover on the receiver, say 80hz, will be sent to the amp? |
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Gold Member Username: NuckPost Number: 2635 Registered: Dec-04 | The sub will be unaffected with external amplification. |
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Gold Member Username: NuckPost Number: 2636 Registered: Dec-04 | What sub do you use, Pat? |
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Bronze Member Username: PatrickbatemanMA Post Number: 38 Registered: Oct-05 | I have a Rocket ULW10 on its way and expected on Friday |
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Silver Member Username: KanoBC Canada Post Number: 969 Registered: Oct-04 | What CD/DVD player(s) do you use? |
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Bronze Member Username: PatrickbatemanMA Post Number: 39 Registered: Oct-05 | I am only using a Marantz 4300 for CD, and am shopping for a new DVD player as well |
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Gold Member Username: NuckPost Number: 2650 Registered: Dec-04 | The Marantz 4300 is fine. Spend a hundred bucks for a dvd player, no more is necessary. A couple of Outlaw mono-blocks and you are quite good to go, Pat. Yup. |
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Gold Member Username: NuckPost Number: 2651 Registered: Dec-04 | Get some BlueJeans cables and you have it all. Home Depot ripcord is fine, no problems |
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Silver Member Username: KanoBC Canada Post Number: 971 Registered: Oct-04 | I've been very impressed with the cables I recently got from Wireworld. I noticed a difference going from AR interconnects to the bottem offerings from Wireworld (Terra). The ARs were $22 a pair, the Wireworld $35. http://www.wireworld.com |
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Silver Member Username: Jamesp, Post Number: 157 Registered: Apr-04 | Patrick, Have you thought about an integrated amp with HT passthrough? If you are running floorstanders for mains and do not need the sub then the integrated would certainly sound better than buying an additional amp. You could turn off the HT passthrough functionality off for strictly 2 channel listening. I believe this may achieve better sound since the pre pro in a decent integrated would probably be a little better than in your Marantz AV. |