amp recomendation

[cembros]

im looking to purchase an amp to hook up to my sony str da3300es along with a pair of martin logan source 8", a martin logan matinee Dual 5-1/4" center channel and a pair of martin logan fresco 4". I want to absoutly maximize these speakers without buying something i dont need. I would idealy like to spend about 600-700 bucks. I have no clue where to start and any help will be greatly appreciated.

[The Guardian]

Try http://nadelectronics.com/products/h...ower-Amplifier ... it's a souped up version of what I have in my 2.0 music system. I think it's right in your price range (about $600 or so).

Hmm nm I see you might actually want a multichannel amp? I'm not sure you'll get noticeable improvement at that price range if so.

[cembros]

Originally Posted by The Guardian

Try http://nadelectronics.com/products/h...ower-Amplifier ... it's a souped up version of what I have in my 2.0 music system. I think it's right in your price range (about $600 or so).

Hmm nm I see you might actually want a multichannel amp? I'm not sure you'll get noticeable improvement at that price range if so.

do you not think that i would need a multi channel amplifer??

[Oddiophile]

There are a lot of really good multi channel amps out there but a budget of 600-700 is going to limit you. I would look at www.audiogon.com and see what you can find used, you will get more bang for your buck.

[cembros]

how much do you think i would have to spend then to take advantage of these speakers. My current receiver only outputs 100watts pers channel

[cembros]

doeas anyone know anything about the emotiva XPA-5

[cembros]

the two front speakers have a max of 200 watts, the center 150, and the rears 125. My receiver outputs 100watts, do i even need to go to a 5 channel amp, or will a stero or even 3 channel do me best

[RUR]

Originally Posted by cembros

im looking to purchase an amp to hook up to my sony str da3300es along with a pair of martin logan source 8", a martin logan matinee Dual 5-1/4" center channel and a pair of martin logan fresco 4". I want to absoutly maximize these speakers without buying something i dont need. I would idealy like to spend about 600-700 bucks. I have no clue where to start and any help will be greatly appreciated.

As a Martin Logan owner and ML Club forum member, I can tell you what the most common answer would be for (nearly) this budget... Save a few more $$ and watch A-gon for a good, used Sunfire Cinema Grand or 5200. Sunfire amps are a terrific match for ML's as they produce plenty of current, handle the ML's varying impedences with aplomb, and provide a nice, warm, somewhat tubey sound. Lots of ML owners who can afford pretty exotic gear use Sunfires and swear by them.

With patience, they can be had for ~$1,000 and sometimes less.

[The Guardian]

Well, thing is you've already got a half-decent amp in the receiver. You could try a 2-channel like the one I linked to, which will make your mains sound really good and give your receiver a little extra oomph for the rest of the speakers.

[cembros]

if i do go with a 2 channel, will i be neglecting my center which has a max output of 150?

[Oddiophile]

Originally Posted by cembros

how much do you think i would have to spend then to take advantage of these speakers. My current receiver only outputs 100watts pers channel

You can't compare a 100 watt receiver to a separate 100 watt amp, the separate amp with beat it every time. Current is what really pushes a speaker and receivers are limited to how much current they can putout.

If it were me I would pass on the Sunfire, I used one for about 4 years with my Logan's and it was OK. The Sunfire's are good bang for the buck amps but there are better amps out there. Brands I would recommend would be Parasound, Anthem, B&K, NAD, anything that puts out 100+ watts at 8 Ohms should be fine.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by cembros

if i do go with a 2 channel, will i be neglecting my center which has a max output of 150?

Forget about the power output. Take heed of what RUR and Oddiophile say; they're on the right track. And you budget is *very* limited, given that you have ML speakers! Save some more cash and buy an amp that'll do those speakers justice!

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by cembros

does anyone know anything about the emotiva XPA-5

Product info page:
XPA-5
Affordable Audio Review of XPA-5

Their new 7-channel amp is now available, 125W per channel:
UPA-7


I haven't tried this amp before, but Emotiva has a reputation for high build quality in the price range. They have an in home 30 day trail period in case you want to test it out first.

[billt928]

Originally Posted by RUR

As a Martin Logan owner and ML Club forum member, I can tell you what the most common answer would be for (nearly) this budget... Save a few more $$ and watch A-gon for a good, used Sunfire Cinema Grand or 5200. Sunfire amps are a terrific match for ML's as they produce plenty of current, handle the ML's varying impedences with aplomb, and provide a nice, warm, somewhat tubey sound. Lots of ML owners who can afford pretty exotic gear use Sunfires and swear by them.

With patience, they can be had for ~$1,000 and sometimes less.

I have tried many diffrent AMPS with my ML 5.1 surround setup and would have to say the the Sunfire amps are the best and most stable for the ML's