power amp suggestion

[rhome]

Choice of Onkyo M-501 power amp @ 150 watts or Yamaha M-45 @125 watts. My HT: Receiver - Onkyo TX-DS787, mains - Polk RTI10b, center-Polk CSI5, surronds - Polk FXI5, sub - Velodyne CHT120 and Sony & Onkyo CD. Also Samsung Blu-Ray DVD. Using Monster Cable Z Series. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Want to BI-AMP system.

[Valentine]

If you are looking for sound quality then go with the Yamaha M-45, i believe it has an Class A Switch that you choose to use... Instead of A/B... but if your wanting to biamp i would bring home both.... M-501 for mids, and M-45 for highs... M-45 is physically large and will run pretty warm if running in pure class A.....

[stuwee]

The Onkyo is a perfectly fine amp, but that Yamaha is a gem, as mentioned, Class A for the first ten watts. Nice beasty trannie. And the bonus of great techs to fix any problem that might happen later, Tom in Iowa, his username 'avionic' on several forums, Audio Karma, Sound Thinking and Phoenix Audio Community Forums, and Jerry username 'jbeckva' at Phoenix Audio in VA. Both excellent Yammie guys.

[Joe08867]

I own a Onkyo 501. It is a nice amp but runs out of steam pretty early. The Yamaha is a better amp in almost all respects. Although I will say the sound quality of the Onkyo is nothing to sneeze at. Probably why it's been around so long.

If you Bi-amping them I would run two of the same amp. And at that point either would be very good.

[dave e.]

I would suggest a Quad 909....Can pickup a very nice used unit for about
$900..///1500 new....After reviewing dozens of amp units over the last 6 years it is really hard to beat the 909 unless you are looking at spending $2500+...140 into 8 ohms////240 into 4 ohm load...check out reviews at audio review.com and what hifi...good luck

[Joe08867]

He's not looking top spend 900 either. Have you seen the amps he's talking about?

[heiney9]

Of the two I would choose the Oink over the Yammy. Yammy amps aren't that great, merely average and the whole "class A switch" is a gimmick that means nothing.

H9

[mdaudioguy]

I would suggest a Quad 909....Can pickup a very nice used unit for about
$900..///1500 new....After reviewing dozens of amp units over the last 6 years it is really hard to beat the 909 unless you are looking at spending $2500+...140 into 8 ohms////240 into 4 ohm load...check out reviews at audio review.com and what hifi...good luck

Wow, dave e.! It sure did take you a while to get up the nerve to make that first post!! I may be a tad late, but Welcome to Club Polk!
(Really, we won't bite....)

[djperez81]

Wow, dave e.! It sure did take you a while to get up the nerve to make that first post!! I may be a tad late, but Welcome to Club Polk!
(Really, we won't bite....)

LMAO i almost fell out of my chair when i went back and seen the join date. Weclome to the club Dave!!!

On another note I used to run an onkyo m282 and it was 100wpc and sounded good and never got hot even when i was jamming for hours. But i also have never heard the Yammy.

[20hz]

had a onkyo 501 it was okay but when I used it to drive my subs I found out it cant take anything under 6 ohms .
I bet M-45 is fine at 4 ohms plus sounds a bunch better also .

[Joe08867]

had a onkyo 501 it was okay but when I used it to drive my subs I found out it cant take anything under 6 ohms .
I bet M-45 is fine at 4 ohms plus sounds a bunch better also .

The problem with the 501 as I stated is it runs out of steam. It is rated at 4ohms but I wouldn't push subs with it at all.

The 282 on the other hand will handle it much better.

[WilliamM2]

Actually, the 282 is rated for a minimum of 6 ohms, but would be okay with the OP's speakers. Little shy on power though.