Help with receiver / amp

[minimo]

Hello,

I want to get a dedicated amp for my front L R Towers. And I want to know how to use my onkyo 876 as a preamp only for these channels. Is there a way that I can do that?

Thank you for your help guys!!!!

[Steve]

Sure. You get an amp (2 channel is all you need) and run cables from the pre-outs of your 876 (front channels only) to the amp, and leave everything else connected to your receiver as is.

[minimo]

Cool, I was thinking about getting this amp
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...00_Watt_8.html

Do you guys think this is a worthy upgrade or should I just leave it the way it is. I just don't feel like im getting the best out of my front toers. Reccomendation are very welcome!!!!

The thing that bothers me most about that amp is that it is silver, and I would like a black one, but the price is ver comfortable.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by minimo

Cool, I was thinking about getting this amp
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...00_Watt_8.html

Do you guys think this is a worthy upgrade or should I just leave it the way it is. I just don't feel like im getting the best out of my front toers. Reccomendation are very welcome!!!!

The thing that bothers me most about that amp is that it is silver, and I would like a black one, but the price is ver comfortable.

That amp and many amps like it are made for pro and DJ applications. There are several problems with them for home use.

1. They have built-in cooling fans that tend to be too noisy.
2. Some don't have RCA inputs and regular speaker wire outputs.
3. They generally publish exaggerated power ratings like 2,000 or 3,000 watts that are total B.S. Those numbers are peak power ratings and are meaningless. You have to look at the RMS ratings per channel at 8 ohms when all channels are running. Unfortunately, many of them do not publish those or they are hidden deep in the manual.
4. The other factor is distortion. Some can generate very high outputs, but at high distortion levels. Make sure the distortion level is published and low.

That is why many of these pro amplifiers are cheap. You are better off buying a quality stereo power amp (used or new). The cheapest quality stereo amps are made by Emotiva. A little more expensive are Rotel, NAD, and Outlaw. There are plenty of good used stereo amps from Adcom, Carver, Onkyo, Yamaha, etc. on Ebay and Audiogon.