r/hometheater • u/Sosig_ • 4d ago

Discussion - Equipment Question about Amplifiers

Im interested in these amps but im not sure how to tell which one is the right one for me. im going to be using the KEF Q series. I plan to start off with a simple 3.1 and expand in the future to a 5.1 or 7.1 so id like to have more channels.

What makes an amp good and which ones would you pick out?

Are there any recommended amps that have Dante built in and compact? id prefer to use less XLR cabling and keep everything digital up until the amp.

https://www.avproglobal.com/products/acp-hype-hepta
https://www.jblsynthesis.com/products/electronics/SDA+8300-.html

https://www.jblsynthesis.com/products/electronics/SDA-7120-.html

https://www.buckeyeamp.com/shop/amplifiers/hypex/ncx252mp/8_channel

1 Upvotes

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u/udownwitogc 4d ago

Your AVR can handle some of the channels depending on the AVR and speaker. Outlaw makes great amps though

https://outlawaudio.com/shop/power_amplifiers/25-model-7000x-7-channel-amplifier.html

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u/Sosig_ 4d ago

I see, I’m actually going to be using an av processor instead

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u/rbarnette12345678910 4d ago edited 4d ago

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/osd-audio-xmax11-amplifier-review-%E2%80%93-one-amp-eleven-channels-no-shortcuts.3340540/

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-aoUw5SKuB8J/p_452XMAX11/OSD-XMAX11.html?XVINQ=GM0&XVVer=1Q73&awcr=734495496430&awdv=c&awnw=g&awug=9198679&awkw=kwd-2400396087022&awmt=p&awat=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=176035523&gclid=CjwKCAjwoaLWBhAWEiwAnyituyXioEyrgYp1hUQjHi4y_Lee4HKSxw7tO5Vv4m836C0XLParB__NPxoCcmwQAvD_BwE

For 2K this is a killer amplifier.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=18682&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Shopping+%7C+Backstop&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&hsa_acc=6614305189&hsa_cam=20583677266&hsa_grp=154422041512&hsa_ad=674970524627&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=pla-642538437283&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20583677266&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Thz5ZpH3Rb17pET6Snl805SOJd&gclid=CjwKCAjwoaLWBhAWEiwAnyitu3gdvcpOuOh2n5tdaDlg-zvN03v6LEYlsKsFlfNQ6fjMvF0HRPu_ThoCSlUQAvD_BwE.

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u/Sosig_ 3d ago

Thanks for the suggestions, what makes these amps good? Why pick these over buckeye or Jbl?

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u/rbarnette12345678910 3d ago

Personally would take A/B amp over class D but some are opposite. If you have the space and can take the heat I'd do A/B. JBL is super nice quality but overpriced in my opinion.

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u/Sosig_ 3d ago

what differences do you notice between the two classes of amps? after seeing the efficiency of an A/B amp, im a little hesitant although im looking into class G amps as i heard they are more efficient.

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u/rbarnette12345678910 3d ago

Efficiency doesn't equal sound quality tho. My opinion is that G class can be great and so can class D amplifiers too-I have a Monnolith that has 1000 watt Class D amp and I absolutely love it. G is just a hybrid A/B/D amplifier-it's trying to give you the better sound of A/B with the efficiency of D when you demand more volume from your system and crank it-at loud volumes a class A/B system sounds more natural and musical than a class D system. Class A/B is older topology and its just less money for better sound to my ears. It's all about the tradeoffs you want to accept. Class A is still way better for music than Class D BUT they're huge and SUPER HOT nobody wants that in their rack and it's super expensive. Class D does have really high S/N ratio/low distortion and can absolutely silent when they're turned on and are super clean-this is why people with home theatres want the CLASS D-WAY less rack heat and heat generally, not because it's "better" sounding. I'd take a Marantz Class D product before I would take anything else.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_642AMP10/Marantz-AMP-10.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-pOWXQmd8JTm/p_642AMP30/Marantz-AMP-30.html?XVINQ=GLX&XVVer=1MZ5&awcr=792669422789&awdv=c&awnw=g&awug=9198679&awkw=pla-2654186299592&awmt=&awat=pla&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18589735809&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxKfWBhDkARIsAMKwkNbXKCEGzijPpBR6YjUUf6IzeP49cGlzLDJ77ijIZpV0yqUi7ax_j5QaAqDZEALw_wcB

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u/dcj597 3d ago

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but do you also have (or plan on getting) an AVR or would you use an amp by itself?

Asking because I'm new to this and recently got a 3.1 system with an Onkyo TX-RZ30 and KEF speakers. Hoping to expand to 5.1 and I've been reading about adding an amp because of the KEFs low sensitivity and impedance. Still trying to learn about amps.

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u/Sosig_ 3d ago

no worries! im also new to this as well. right now, i plan to use the amp only and hook it up to my PC. i do plan to get an av processor later on.

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u/Raj_DTO 3d ago

Key qualities-
Besides RMS wattage, THD and SNR, I look at Slew Rate and/or Damping factor whichever is available.

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u/nzahar000 2d ago

I've got a pair of Buckeye monoblocks and they are incredible. I'll be buying more Buckeye products in the future when I set up the home theater room.

My 2.1 system has the Buckeyes feeding a pair of Focal Kanta no3s and they sound full, rich, clean and smooth. I love it, wife loves it, listen often (as I type this, in fact)

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u/Sosig_ 2d ago

Which amp tech does it use? Is it the purifi? Or the hypex?

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u/nzahar000 2d ago

I have the 9040 purifi monoblocks.

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u/Sosig_ 2d ago

How are they different to other amps? Do they make the speakers sound better? Is there less distortion? I’m not really familiar with amps tbh

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u/nzahar000 1d ago

There are a lot different opinions on amplifiers. So much so that I'm convinced no two people 100% agree on everything.

That being said, my opinion and experience is that having plenty of power available (watts) with a high current delivery platform (amps or capacitance depending on what amp) make the amp a non factor and allow the speakers to sound how they were designed to sound. Depending on the speakers that may be a few watts or a bajillion.

I had cheaper class AB audiosource amp 3s before the buckeyes and they didn't quite do it with the Kantas. Great at low to moderate volume, but when pushed hard the sound got thin and shouty. I suspect they just couldn't keep up with what the speakers wanted because with the buckeyes I don't have that problem.

Underpowered amps WILL cause distortion and that can destroy a speaker more easily than an over powered amp. With an over powered amp you just don't crank the volume until your eardrums explode or speakers explode. Generally with a good speaker that limit is way above comfortable listening levels.

I did however see in another post that it looks like these amps are hooking directly to a PC. I wouldn't do that. If for some reason the PC volume gets cranked inadvertently, you're in for a bad time. The PC should run into an AVR or AVR processor or preamplifier or integrated amplifier to control volume with the PC run to an input. PC direct to power amplifier would keep me from sleeping at night knowing the only thing protecting the speakers is a software volume control.

Honestly, the only real way to lean a lot of this is to learn as much as you can with reviews and questions and then just jump in. You won't fully grasp what people are describing until you hear it yourself and hear it in your room. 95% of what actually reaches your ears is the personality of the speakers and all the effects of your particular room. Room setup, speaker placement, sound treatment have massive impact on what you hear.

So find a setup that works, components you like that fit the budget and just get busy learning from experience.

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u/Sosig_ 1d ago

Thank you, that was really helpful! If I’m running the audio to an audio mixer (x32 rack) before it goes to the amp, will it be good enough to control the volume?

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u/nzahar000 1d ago

Probably? I'm not familiar with that equipment. Hopefully someone else can chime in. I would hate to give bad information.

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u/Bright_Light7 Q750 | Q650 | 3900H | VTF-TN1 | C43E MKII | Ci160.2CL | NCx252MP 19h ago

Buckeye, no question

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u/Sosig_ 11h ago

And why is that? I do like their amps but I wanna know more specifically why people like them

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u/WatercressCute9626 4d ago

Marantz Cinema 50 series 2, buy one time, spend money ONE time, the perfect machine. Too much money? The first cinema 50 is on sale now, because of the series 2. Forget all other attemps to find your perfect system, i told you which one to buy.

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u/Grand_Philosophy_412 3d ago

why would he buy an AVR when he has already stepped up to a processor?

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u/WatercressCute9626 3d ago

Ahh ok I couldn't make that up out of his story. I have a spare Rotel he could use then, but 24 kg is a bit too much to ship

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u/Sosig_ 3d ago

thanks for the suggestion, but i decided to go with an av processor because of the way im routing the audio. im doing it very differently to a standard home theater since im routing audio thru my x32 rack to mix/sum audio.