Help selecting AMP for Polk LSi's - budget around $500.

[Nostalgic]

Hey all.

I have a pair of LSi15's, an LSiC, and a crap psw100 sub coming. (I'm obviously replacing that sub soon enough). Use will be 80/20 for HT/music.

Anyway, I have an HK 435 receiver that is said to be pretty powerful for an AVR.

But, I do want to get the full potential out of my setup as well as prevent any damage to the speakers/AVR from powering their 4 ohm impedance with an AVR rated at 8 ohms.

Also, I will eventually add some surrounds so I'll have a 5.1 system.

Questions:

1)With a budget of about $500 (give or take a little), what would you recommend for an amp? I think I want at least 200 wpc into 4 ohms from what people are saying but who know. What amp do you recommend?

2)I have a separate cable for my future SVS or HSU amp and will use it from the sub out on my AVR. Do people use amps for their subs too or does the sub itself have it's own capable amp?

3) Will the amp you recommended in the $500 range be enough to make my LSi setup sing or will they not be near their potential with that budget?


Thanks everyone! I'm hoping to get it soon since my speakers will be here tomorrow.

N.

[dane_peterson]

1) For $500, you're not going to find a whole lot if you're looking for it to drive 5 channels. You might be able to find some 3-channel amps for that price... one name that comes to mind would be Adcom (GFA-5503).

2) If your subwoofer has a built-in amplifier (also known as active subwoofers), there would be no need for separate amplifier. You would simply run the sub pre-out.

3) The LSis will sound good. But they will sound BETTER once you get more power. The LSis are a power-hungry line of speakers.

My suggestion, sell the subwoofer and put that money towards a quality amplifier. If your goals are to run 200watts at 8ohms, don't skimp out now. The downtime up front goes by a lot quicker than the downtime halfway down the road when you're already knee-deep in this stuff. Truthfully, it's tough to get enough power for a 5.1 LSi setup with $500... in fact, it's darn near impossible. $750 maybe...

[cfrizz]

Welcome Nostalgic. You should be looking at getting 200wpc @ 8ohms which will give you 300 @ 4. The more headroom you have the better.

If you are planning a 5.1 system with all LSI's you should get a 5 channel 200wpc amp, & you won't find any at $500.

So just take your time, save much more money & start looking at the used offerings for multichannel amps on Audiogon so that you can get a rough idea of what they are going for.

[gwh]

I've got 9's, 7's,& C running off a Parasound HCA-855A (discontinued) 125w@4 Ohm x 5.
Works fine for me and the price was about half your budget(used off Ebay).



G

[disneyjoe7]

You could use a Parasound Halo A23 which is rated for 2x 125w @ 8 ohm, 2 x 200w @ 4 ohm. A sweet sounding amp which I think is a plus for LSi speakers.


You could find one used on Gon for around $500.

[unc2701]

Hell, get an Adcom 555 for the 15's and leave the LSiC on the HK. It should be fine pushing just the center, especially if you set it to small. Save up for a more serious 5 channel amp or just keep on adding 555's. Three Adcoms will have two power supplies more (and one channel more) than your typical 5x 200 amp and you can do a lot worse.

[louthewiz]

Emotiva is having a sale on 7 channel amps for 500 clams with free shipping ,
Here is the link.
http://www.emotiva.com/lpa1.html

[Nostalgic]

I was really interested in the lpa-1. However, I have read posts by several people stating that the lpa-1 will not offer much if any difference than my HK 435 AVR.

Any thoughts?

[louthewiz]

I highly doubt it ,that amp has real balls and plenty of power to spare for the price and I can guarentee you that it has plenty of juice for your speakers and it won't wimp out like the H/K will.

[Ron Temple]

I was really interested in the lpa-1. However, I have read posts by several people stating that the lpa-1 will not offer much if any difference than my HK 435 AVR.

Any thoughts?try it...

[Nostalgic]

try it...


I know that's the best way. But, the free trial may not include shipping this beast back to them. Just want some more insight from you experienced guys. :)

[dane_peterson]

For $500, you can't really go wrong. I'm with Ron and Lou, give it a try.

[cfrizz]

This is the most important thing that you have pointed out!

It's easy for these guys to say try it, they won't be out the shipping costs or have the aggravation of having to return it if you are not satisfied! Then the additional expense & aggravation of getting what you should have gotten the first time around!

I'm a firm believer in doing it right the first time Nostalgic. It is much better to have more than you need, rather than find out the hard way that you should have gotten more after the fact.

You won't have to doubt having more power, which can be used through all future upgrades over the years.

Unless you are one of those people who like to endlessly try new gear just to see the difference it makes, do yourself a favor & go for the gold the first time around.:)

I know that's the best way. But, the free trial may not include shipping this beast back to them. Just want some more insight from you experienced guys. :)

[RuSsMaN]

Pick up an Aragon 2004 for the 15's and thank me later.

[reeltrouble1]

I counted 268 amps I thought would work for you, then my boss said I have to quit wasting my time, I told him this is not wasting time, it's important, it is audio, it is passion, he disagreed.

OK, buy something with high current, I suggest paying more than you can really afford, you will be happier in the end. Broke but happier and misery does love company.

RT1

Edit: OOOOOoooooo, Russ that is a great idea, I should get an Aragon, great amp, so then I will have an A-Aragon and B-Balanced Audio, how about C, what should I get for C, man I will end up with 26 amps this way, effin awesome idea, the Alphabet Rig is Born. I am gong to need a bigger Shed. Christ just realized I already have two B's--B&K and Balanced Audio, should I get another A so I am balanced, naw........it will be like baseball cards just have doubles of some.

[disneyjoe7]

Ted, reach for the Decaf next time ;)

[zombie boy 2000]

Ted...

If that stupid letter "Y" can't even figure out whether it's a consonant or a vowel, how the hell do you expect it to maintain the integrity of a pure signal.

Garbage in, garbage out

[mldennison]

just to offer a different perspective...

i dont think much of putting alot of effort into the rear channels, even for HT. concentrate on getting a nice 2/3 channel amp (lots of good recommendations above) for your front and center speakers and use the HK for the rears. that should allow you to get something very nice for the front soundstage and still stay within your budget. again, this is just my opinion...

[ben62670]

You can get Adcom GFA-555's all the time for $350 off ebay. There are about 12 on there right now. I have one and it puts out 200@8ohms, and 325@4ohms.
kinda a no brainer if you ask me.

[McLoki]

Ted...

If that stupid letter "Y" can't even figure out whether it's a consonant or a vowel, how the hell do you expect it to maintain the integrity of a pure signal.

Garbage in, garbage out
"Y" get a nice Yamaha amp. Maybe something mid-80's for your sda's (like an M-85)

Ted "C" - Carey Audio (http://www.caryaudio.com/) they should have at least a few amps that sound decent... :)

The alphabet rig, sounds like a killer Idea for polkfest.

Michael

[disneyjoe7]

H for Halo

P for Parasound

[Sami]

Pick up an Aragon 2004 for the 15's and thank me later.
I was going to say the same. Got one from Russ and it's a great match for my 15's.

[RuSsMaN]

Y is for YBA.

Yamaha, that's funny!

[reeltrouble1]

ooohhhhhhhhh, I likey YBA, nice, unique, good looking stuff, I could work backwards from Z........man this is going to cost big big bucks, I may have to pan-handle in front of Winn-Dixie with my monkey.....

let me see a Z, not an easy one, Zu makes some nice speakers, don't know about amps....

sorry for the highjack but these amps being thrown around are ones you might consider, well, at least know about as the budget may not allow.

[PSOVLSK]

My system is similar to what unc2701 suggested. I'm running my Lsi7's off of an Adcom 545 and the rest of my system off of my H/K7300. For me, I don't notice a difference good or bad in the sound, but my AVR runs much cooler now. I'm not offering this up as saying it's the way you should go, just thought I'd concur that this is an option for you. On that note, I think you'd probably want the Adcom 555 that unc mentioned...don't think you'd be satisfied powering the LSi15's with the 545.

[disneyjoe7]

Well I run Halo A23 amps for my L / R with my Onk driving the center and rear surrounds. I can say I noticed a difference :D night to day, day to Halo, night to Onk.

[polka boy]

Look for a used Rotel 1075, audiogon.com and specs at the Rotel website. You can get one used for ~$700 in grat condition.

[polka boy]

I checked audiogon.com and the few Rotel 1075's they have are sold. It is 120 W x 5 channels at 8 ohms. Or get big brother the 1095 at 200 W x 5 at 8 ohms. This will cost you more like $1,000 to $1,200 used.

[dane_peterson]

You'd actually be pretty luck to find a 1095 for $1000-1200. They seem to go for more around $1500.

Here's my current "Watching" list on eBay for amps. I'm not going to bid on any of them... just like to keep them handy for situations like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=007&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=170084710108&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220087332971&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=012

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150095555558&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290088226795&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=019

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130083712937&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=003

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250085129937&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015

[slush]

You'd actually be pretty luck to find a 1095 for $1000-1200. They seem to go for more around $1500.

Here's my current "Watching" list on eBay for amps. I'm not going to bid on any of them... just like to keep them handy for situations like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=007&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=170084710108&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220087332971&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=012

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150095555558&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290088226795&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=019

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130083712937&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=003

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250085129937&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015

I have 4 of those same amp on my watch list :)

[josh_parsons626]

Hey here's a question.....alright we already know an Adcom is a damn good cheap amp. What about a damn good cheap pre/pro? What would be some suggestions? And while I'm asking questions is it better to use your DVD player to listen to CD's or a dedicated CD player?

[george daniel]

how about a carver tfm 45,,original owner,serviced/updated by carver about 20 months ago excellent condition, both functionally and cosmetically.

[Ron Temple]

how about a carver tfm 45,,original owner,serviced/updated by carver about 20 months ago excellent condition, both functionally and cosmetically.Send it over...:D

[cfrizz]

Do us ALL a favor Josh & do a search! we are tired of answering questions that you promptly ignore & then ask other stupid questions!

Hey here's a question.....alright we already know an Adcom is a damn good cheap amp. What about a damn good cheap pre/pro? What would be some suggestions? And while I'm asking questions is it better to use your DVD player to listen to CD's or a dedicated CD player?

[george daniel]

Send it over...:D


That could be arranged :D

[Ron Temple]

That could be arranged :D
Ok, I'll PM you...but probably tomorrow...cooking dinner.

RT

[Nostalgic]

Do us ALL a favor Josh & do a search! we are tired of answering questions that you promptly ignore & then ask other stupid questions!

Or at least start your own thread. ;)


Thanks for all of the great input guys. I have lots to chew on here.

N.

[george daniel]

Ok, I'll PM you...but probably tomorrow...cooking dinner.

RT



thats fine,,I'll take some pics

[josh_parsons626]

If I did a search then I wouldn't have anything to say! :mad:

[Ron Temple]

jp...Cathy's getting irritated...better start listening and absorbing or it's gonna get ugly :eek:

gd...very interested.

[josh_parsons626]

Well I was wanting to be pointed in the right direction of where to look. I dont know how to use this damn search all that well. And how are you supposed to learn anything from experienced people if you dont ask questions?

[tonyb]

Do us ALL a favor Josh & do a search! we are tired of answering questions that you promptly ignore & then ask other stupid questions!


Hell has no fury.........:)

[McLoki]

Well I was wanting to be pointed in the right direction of where to look. I dont know how to use this damn search all that well. And how are you supposed to learn anything from experienced people if you dont ask questions?

try to search on:
cheap pre/pro
inexpensive pre/pro
avr with pre-outs
cheap avr with pre-outs

Learn from experienced people by listening to what they have already said, not asking the same question over and over again.

[polka boy]

I do consider myselp lucky in picking up a 1095 silver for $1100 in early Jan. They do seem to have gone up lately.

[cfrizz]

Very nice! Congrats!:D And welcome to Club Polk!

I do consider myselp lucky in picking up a 1095 silver for $1100 in early Jan. They do seem to have gone up lately.