Just curious as to what kind of amplification and everyone will be using with the new 950 once in comes out. I have the Outlaw 750 and the ATI 1502 for the remaining two channels. However, I currently have the ATI powering the fronts and will probably stick with this setup.

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I have the 750 and a NAD 218thx most likely will remain the same. I like the sound that you get from a powerfull 2 channel amp.

m-mmeyer

I'll be using the 750 and used two-channel Parasound HCA-800.

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Gonk

oh this is just great. I'm in the boat of having to decide what to use for my other two channels, so I get all excited when I see this topic ... but noooooo ... there are three posts and they are each recommending different amps!? This isn't any help! Give me some concensus people!! Argh!!





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pat----

email: pat@sklenar.info ---===--- home page: Grumpy's Lair

Hey pat how about the Krell its 2x300 watts and its for the low low price of $9000 bucks.
You just cant get better than that. Sell your
new house or something. In all seriousness the marantz monoblocks are a good value, they sell them at harveys electronics. MA-700
I think but they are only $500 bucks THX certified and are 200 watts each.

[This message has been edited by JeffreyMercado (edited December 29, 2001).]

Well sorry about being different but...If money was no object I would maybe go sunfire or something with tubes. I love that tube sound a friend has some monoblock tube things they sound nice. I have a hard enough time deciding what dvd to play much less what to upgrade when I win the lotto.
serious though I've found that everybody likes something different about the same things, be it be amps or speakers. And going to hifi shops is just more confusing. It would be nice if we all heard the same thing and a magazine could just say that the acme amp is the best period, and we could all drive escorts and life would be good....or would it?

m-mmeyer

Bah, who needs concensus... I'm deviating from the others by adding the two-channel amp for the center surround and letting the 750 handle the "traditional" 5.1 stuff. How's that for really screwing with things? I found a 100 WPC two-channel amp used for a nice price a month or two ago and went with it. It was a simple and inexpensive way to solve the problem of stepping up from the 1050 to the 950, especially since I'm currently very happy with the job that the 750 is doing with the mains.

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Gonk

Well I will chime in with some different amps as well.
I have a Rotel RB993 (200x3) for the fronts and 2 Rotel RB981's (130x2) for the 4 rear surrounds.

I have been using a B&K av6000 for the fronts ( biamped) and an old pair of (don't laugh) Kenwood L05 mono block amps for the rear ( they are pretty decent amps to tell the truth I don't hear that much difference from the Kenwoods to the B&K) May change this setup once I get the 950 as I wont have enough channels to biamp any more if I go for 7 speaker setup

I have a Bryston 9B-ST. Couldn't decide between Rotel, B&K, and Parasound and no local dealers, so when I saw a used Bryston for sale, I went for it. Can't beat that 20 year transferrable warranty. I have made the amp clip at really loud volumes with my 4 ohm speakers. Someday I may buy a more powerful 2 channel amp for the mains.

I currently have a Parasound HCA-1500A in my system that a friend bought used. In comparing the 205W Parasound to the 125W Bryston, the Parasound has a tad more punch when I don't use my sub. The Bryston is much clearer and makes the Parasound sound muffled or muddy by comparison.

I'm currently using an Acurus A125X5 with my receiver providing amplification for the center rear surround. Once the 950 arrives I may look for a good used Acurus 2-channel or I may just use my Yamaha B-6 (it's 200 wpc & fairly compact). Depends on how much free cash I've got whenever the 950 is released and/or how big a 2x4 the IRS uses on me this year.

I'll be using 2 Acurus 200x3 amps.

Craig

I'm going with the 770- even though I will have to wait a little longer to get my amplification and get set up. Hey- it comes with a circuit breaker!- now that's hard to beat!

I have a set of power hungry Carver AL-III+'s that need some serious power, so they get the Nakamichi Stasis PA-7 2-channel. I am thinking of going with the 5 channel 750 or the Acurus 125x5 for the rest.

Jeff

I'll be using Marantz MA-700 (200 wpc) monoblocks all around.

Mark

I'll be using a Parasound HCA 855A. Probably will look for another parasound when I decide to go to 7 channels.

I've got 2 Audiosource AMP 7's for my mains and rears (200W x 4 @ 8 ohm total), and one AMP 6.3 for my two subs (~250W x 2 @ 4ohm).

They all use higher power digital Tripath chips than are used in Bel Canto's EVO amps -which are currently regarded by many pro reviewers as some of the very best amps being made.

Too bad Phoneix Gold just bought Audiosource and when they re-tesed these new amps, they found them to have some RF interference and pulled them from the market, but you can still find some if you search the online stores -and they're real cheap too.

I have zero problems with them though, so I'm keeping'em (they said the RF prob. might effect radio signals, but I don't listen to that compressed ad-filled junk anyway). I could always shield them myself if I needed too. Obviously Bel Canto does this well enough in their amps.

There's nothing that's adversely effecting the amp's sound at all ('sept a ground loop hum that's easily fixed).

Extremely accurate.

They've got very good power supplies and are ~90% efficient, so it's very good power sup. is actually equal to about double it's size in any analog solid state amp.

And even when cranked, they stay cooler than my DVD player! Great for AZ in summer!

Now I just need a great signal from a new 950!!!

My Denon rec. -as preamp- is pretty weak overall, but when I run my DVD player directly into one AMP 7 -(using the DVD player as preamp) it sounds AWESOME with CDs (though no subs in the mix that way)! HUGE diff.

I'm sure the 950'll sound even better, and with bass managment!!

Now ship it!!

And don't delay another 6 months just to add firewire inputs! Just kiddin'..., I don't think that'd happen.... I hope!

Since it is pretty useless to know the amps without knowing what the source is and what they drive, here is my whole setup:

- Lexicon MC-1 Pre/Pro
- Arcam DV-88 DVD player
- EVo 200.2 amp for the fronts
- Anthem MCA-5 Series II amp for the rear, sides and center
- Newform Research R645 fronts, R630 rears
- M&K Surround-200 MkII sides
- Soundline Audio SL6-5 center channel
- SVS 16-46CS Subwoofer
- Silversonic and Nordost cables, monster power regulator

I am pretty eager to see what the 950 will sound like... I currently am thinking about ditching the MC-1, so if the 950 is good enough it will stay, if not, I'll get the MC-12 and keep the 950 as a "gap" preamp - for these situations where I have a hole in my system while upgrading something - maybe I'll get a separate pre-amp just for music, who knows. But, let's get back to the amps.

The Bel Canto is *AWESOME* musically, it really works well with the R645, the soundstage is amazing. BUT, it won't hide anything coming from upstream, so much that is why I am ditching the MC-1; it just isn't that good for music - it is great for home theater but I now want something that has support for progressive signal for video switching and analog bypass so I can use the DAC in the Arcam (which is very good musically) without involving the pre/pro. I just hope that the 950 analog path is pretty neutral.

I use my setup for a lot of movies, about 4-6 DVDs a week... I am a very "visual" person so, during a movie, I tend to focus more on the picture than on the quality of the sound so I loose track of the "system" itself fairly quickly - could be because the sound is so good. What really gives me a hard on though, is listening to classical music; whoaaa, It's all about hearing the silence baby! The Bel is awesome for music, but I could not afford to have all channels with that. I guess you have to choose your battles.

I think Bel Canto now have a 6 channel unit but as a downside, they are fairly expensive. However, I am VERY impressed with the Anthem, I wonder why they are not getting more positive press, they make a great product all around - it sure makes the Bel look cheap... I compared the MCA-5 to a Bryston 9B-ST THX in direct A-B comp and to me the Anthem just sounded better and was also cheaper (can't beat that), the Bryston has a better design from a power supply standpoint but real-life, I could not hear it, even when driving the system hard. Anthem now have a 7 channel unit, the PVA-7 - that would fit perfectly for a 7.1 setup. If money was no object, I would have 7 Bel Canto's in mono configuration ;-)

I have never heard the Outlaw amps, I learned of the company after I bought the Anthem so I never gave them a shot - I definitively would have since they have a money back trial period. The fact that the 950 is going to be tuned with their amps *could* also be a plus. I listened to Aragon, Parasound, Bryston, NAD, Linn and Anthem. I really wanted to listen to Acurus, Proceed and Odyssey amps but could not find them when I was ready to buy, the Anthem turned out great anyway. Meridian, Levinson and Krell were out of my range. The Bel was an impulsive buy, I wanted to see what the hype was about (no comments please).

I must admit it sounds pretty good so far so I probably won't make many changes for a while except on the pre-pro side - I am still trying to find the *elusive* perfect dual purpose home theater AND music setup...

Don't forget to take the speakers into account in your choice since their power rating, their senitivity and the listening level you intend to drive your system at can have an effect on what you will choose for the amp. Do not overlook the power source and the cables - no need to go esoteric but home depot zip cord can't really be considered seriously.

That is why it is so hard to get a good system together, there are WAY too many variables and, past a certain point, it is VERY subjective. Comments are always welcome.

But enough ranting, I never expected this to be that long.

Good luck,

T.

[This message has been edited by tcouture (edited January 04, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by tcouture (edited January 04, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by tcouture (edited January 04, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by tcouture (edited January 04, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by tcouture (edited January 04, 2002).]

i've been thinking of rotel 1095 & 1080 (5x200 & 2x200) for my future 950. this is because i want to place the two channel amp close to the two rear surround speakers. has anyone tried rotel with their outlaw 1050? lk

I would agree with you 100% on the Anthems very nice. I know some one who has them and they are a very nice amp. I dont have room for one yet but you never know.

m-mmeyer

Will be using my 5 channdel Rotel 985 (or something like that) MKII. Although its on my upgrade hit list, I'll probably have to live with them for awhile.

Hope it pairs well..

I already have a pair of ATI 2505 amps(10 X 250w into 4 ohms) and a Crown K2 waiting for the 950 to arrive. Otherwise, I'd opt for the 770 amp without question.

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Take Care,
merc

I'll be using an ATI 1505 five-channel amp (150+ watts/channel), an older Denon stereo receiver to drive the center back speakers (temporarily), and a Samson 700 pro-amp (350 watts/channel) for the passive subwoofer.

I'd list all my speakers, but unfortunately right now they're a bit of a hodge podge of makes and models (classic Advents and newer Polk RT's and a DIY sonotube sub w/dual 12" drivers-- I am using a regular vertical speaker for the center as I've never liked the boxy/congested sound of most so-called center channel speakers).

Really would like to get a new, identical speaker set up one day soon. Also would like to start using monoblock amps for their convenience (great soundstaging, no interference or cross-talk, and who knows how many channels the next new audio format will have). The Sherbourn monoblocks look interesting and might do the trick for driving the front left/right speakers and use the ATI for the center and surround speakers as a start.

Dan

I'll be using a Marantz MM-9000 (150 x 5) and a Parasound HCA-1000A (125 x 2).

I'm thinking about getting rid of the Parasound and buying 4 Marantz MA-500 monoblocks (125 x 1) and biamping my PSB Status Silver i's.

Frank

Right now I'm using an Adcom 555 to drive my mains and another 555 to drive my two subs. I'm currently using a Marantz MA700 on my center and my rears are powered by my Yamaha DSP-A1. When my 950 arrives I'm going to use an HK Citation 22 (just had repaired) to drive the subs, I'll leave the 555 for the mains and move the other 555 to drive the side surrounds. The MA700 will most likely stay on the Center and I'll purchase a new (used) amp for the rear surrounds. I may chuck it all for the 770 when it arrives.
-MikeS-

Well, If I ever get the money for a 950 and the necessary amp/amps I will pair it with one of the following:

5 nOrh Le Amps
Parasound HCA1205A
Outlaw 750

I'll be using my B&K EX442 dual-monoblock (220 wpc) for the mains. Not sure what I'm going to use for the rears and the center.
Some sort of 3-channel amp obviously.

Although if they don't kick it out by the end of the month I may just buy something else. Maybe a 1050, maybe something else.
Perhaps stick with a pure audio pre-amp.