Power amp worth it?
Discussion
Hi, loving my Yamaha RX-A1050 amp. Sounds fantastic but like all things I cannot help buggering around with things and am now thinking of a 2 ch power amp to drive my fronts, something off eBay like a Naim NAP150. My question is, is it a waste of money? I have a BK sub for the bass management stuff so the amp isn't doing that much really.
I have a Yamaha RX a3010 for home cinema and just sold an Audiolab 8200P replacinging it with a Behringer A 500 - £150 off Amazon and am absolutely chuffed with it, driving my 4 ohm Kefs superbly!
wormus said:
Hi, loving my Yamaha RX-A1050 amp. Sounds fantastic but like all things I cannot help buggering around with things and am now thinking of a 2 ch power amp to drive my fronts, something off eBay like a Naim NAP150. My question is, is it a waste of money? I have a BK sub for the bass management stuff so the amp isn't doing that much really.
I'm a Naim fan and you are likely to get your money back as long as the 150 isn't in need of a service (though that would not be too expensive - use Darren at class A in Sheffield as he is authorised but cheaper than the factory - you can check the price from his site if I remember correctly) so might well be worth a punt. The problem is whether or not you will like the end result and you won't know without trying.
I get what you are saying but I've been blown away by how good the Yamaha Aventage amps are for music and the fact they have a pre out and professional quality Dac(s) got me thinking. I think I'll probably stick with it as is for now though as it remains composed even when played loud.
FWIW I have a power amp on the end of my AVR, but it's a more budget model than yours (Marantz SR6010). I already had the Arcam P7 from a previous set up and a colleague rebuilt it for me after a channel went faulty so it's now good as new. It certainly takes the load off the AVR and allows reference level in a decent sized room (6.5 x 4 metres) but I don't know that it makes a great deal of difference at lower listening levels for stereo use. Since I don't tend to listen at reference level, perhaps it's value is moot anyway...
Probably the biggest improvement is because I have a separate Dirac Live unit that has to go between pre and power amp stages so the power amp is more a means to an end to allow the Dirac unit to be used. I'm running 4ohm MK MP150 speakers which are a detailed HT speaker rather than a more musical hifi one, though they are much less harsh than the earlier versions.
Probably the biggest improvement is because I have a separate Dirac Live unit that has to go between pre and power amp stages so the power amp is more a means to an end to allow the Dirac unit to be used. I'm running 4ohm MK MP150 speakers which are a detailed HT speaker rather than a more musical hifi one, though they are much less harsh than the earlier versions.
Well, got the amp earlier this week which I bought off eBay. Almost new, not a mark on it and 33% discount on new. Plugged it in, ran YPAO and cranked it up. Very pleased with the outcome as whilst it doesn't necessarily sound better to my ears, it has a lot more power in reserve and seems to operate effortlessly no matter what volume it's played at. Lowered the crossover to 60hz but didn't like it as much as 80hz.
So to answer my own question, yes it is worth adding a power amp and sub to an already decent setup for a wider, deeper and more open sound at all volumes.
So to answer my own question, yes it is worth adding a power amp and sub to an already decent setup for a wider, deeper and more open sound at all volumes.
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