Feeding the hungry SRS 1.2TLs

[tugboat]

Okay, I was going to get a Sunfire amp or two, but then realized that it would only be run by a 6 year old Pioneer DD reciever. Not a good thing, but don't want to put too much money into this right now.

Here's what I got. I'm pretty sure this will do the job, but want to see what others think. I just purchased the Denon AVR-5803 receiver. I puts out 170w per ch into 7 channels. The power for all the surround and center should be fine. I'm assuming the 1.2TLs will work well with it also. Really don't want to add an external amp for fear of tonal differences between the receiver's and the external.

Any thoughts on this? I think it should work just fine and will have the neighbors moving within a few day. :)

[dorokusai]

There would be nothing wrong with running anything SDA, with an older AVR. If it has pre-outs, then your options increase, and allow you for outside amplification. What do you mean not good?

I firmly believe the more power the better for SDA's.

I know they will work, but they aren't, in any way going to perform like they should, IMO. Do you have other speakers, or are you just ready for HT?

The only givens we have are, SDA SRS and a Denon 5803.

[tugboat]

Well the old AVR only has DD5.1. I want DTS and all the other formats out there, so the only choice is to upgrade the AVR first. Figure with this Denon model, I'll be all set for quite some time. As for the speaker setup...

1.2TLs for front mains
CS350 for center (until I can replace it)
LS FX dipole/bipole (for some reason not listed on this site anymore) for rear
RT800 for rear

Not the best combo right now, but it'll do until I can sort it all out and get it all.

[PolkWannabie]

Suggestion ...

Think receiver or pre amp that has all the features you want but not all the power, then think amp.

For the $3k+ you'll spend on this receiver new you could spend $1k on a receiver with all the functionality you'll need and $2k on an amp.

The receiver, no matter what you get will be obsolete in a year or two, the amp can go on giving and giving for a long time.

When you eventually want features that the receiver/pre-amp doesn't have it'll be a lot less expensive to sell what you have a get a new one.

[tugboat]

Thanks, Polkwannabie.

I hear what you're saying. I plan on keeping the receiver for as long as possible. I had the last one for over 5 years! I like the idea of it all being in one package (at least for now). I'm sure later on down the road I'start exploring all the options of separates.

Thanks!

[jdhdiggs]

Before you completely nix seperates, check outlaw audio's offerings. They sell a pre-amp / amp combo for $2,300 that would have 7 channels at 200W. If you only have speakers for 5.1, I believe you can bridge some of the channels or do biamping with a splitter if the 1.2TL's support that giving 400W on those channels.

[hoosier21]

If I read his first post correctly, tug has ALREADY bought the Denon 5803, so it is a done deal.

My small amout of time spent playing with it in the store, the 5803 seems to be great receiver, it will do fine driving your HT set-up including your SDA's. Now your speakers are a very difficult load for that receiver, be sure it has proper air flow for cooling and you should not have a problem.

If you have bought this receiver and have it hooked up, let us in on you experience, how does it sound? Does it heat up? Shut down?

I would want a separte amp for the 1.2's but that is just me.

[F1nut]

Originally posted by hoosier21
I would want a separte amp for the 1.2's but that is just me.

Tugboat, trust what he says, he has owned at least 8 pair!

[madmax]

I too would want a separate amp. Approximately 375 watts per channel is a good starting point. Below 200 or so just doesn't really make them strut.
madmax

[Tour2ma]

Yeah, but it's not like they'll be unlistenable at 170 wpc...

tb,
Take your time, enjoy what you have now and plan for where you'll go. There are many possibilities. Certainly Denon has power amps that will match your 5803's amp section for nice bi-amp set up.

[tugboat]

Thanks for all the input. Yep, I already purchased the receiver and it should be here any day now. It will be in an open back and front cabinet with about 8" of airspace above it. I'm also put an exhaust fan in the top to pull the hot air out. Shouldn't be a heat issue.

When the day comes that I need the extra power, I'll get external amps. As it is now, my current 100w p ch reciever is enough as I am unable to let them loose living in an apt. Oh well.

As for speakers... I will be using a 7 speaker setup. 1.2TLs front, CS350 center (until I get the CS1000), L/Sfx sides and RT800s rear. Should be pretty sweet once it's calibrated! I'll post my findings once it's all setup!

If the bonus fairy is good to me this year, I might get the 7 ch Sunfire amp! That should be enough to bring them to life!

[amulford]

I think you might want this to drive your SDA's, not the seven channel:

Sunfire Signature Stereo Amplifier (http://www.sunfire.com/cinemseriesII.htm)

Just my .02

Don't get me wrong, but IMO I'd want to use the SDA's strictly 2 channel when not using them for HT.

The seven channel would be awsome for HT, though I have not personally heard one. I do plan on demoing one in the near future.:cool:

[PolkWannabie]

It's 5 channel predecessor @ 425 wpc is excellent for HT and fine for stereo and is a lot more versatile and less expensive.

[tugboat]

Oh man, my heads going to explode! Think I'll go back to a 13" b&w TV and the AM radio of Goofy I got when I was smaller! :))

Well, bonus permitting, I might look at a sunfire 5ch and a 2ch. Then I could have a decent 2ch just for the badboys and the other 5ch to run the other speakers. That would give me the best of both worlds!

Thanks again!