What power amp should I add to my setup?

[NeoVisionist]

As below, I have 8 ohm fronts and 4 ohm surrounds- one of which sometimes distorts/clips/sounds sh!t (delete as appropriate)- and I have my receiver which is driving everything (the little trooper!) set to 4 ohm mode for safety (so why the distortion/clipping/sh!t sounding?) which I've just read greatly limits the potential output of the Onkyo.

I only watch movies, and I play the volume loud ("THX REF" on the dial, so 83 I think).

What power amp can I add to the system between the Onkyo and the speakers (is there such a thing as a 7 channel power amp that can drive everything?) that will ensure everything is running the proper ohm ratings and has ample power for explosions/soundtrack/shouting?

Cheers

[RageATL]

Originally Posted by NeoVisionist

As below, I have 8 ohm fronts and 4 ohm surrounds- one of which sometimes distorts/clips/sounds sh!t (delete as appropriate)- and I have my receiver which is driving everything (the little trooper!) set to 4 ohm mode for safety (so why the distortion/clipping/sh!t sounding?) which I've just read greatly limits the potential output of the Onkyo.

I only watch movies, and I play the volume loud ("THX REF" on the dial, so 83 I think).

What power amp can I add to the system between the Onkyo and the speakers (is there such a thing as a 7 channel power amp that can drive everything?) that will ensure everything is running the proper ohm ratings and has ample power for explosions/soundtrack/shouting?

Cheers

YEARS ago, I added three Marantz MA500 monoblock amps to my Denon 3802 to power my front soundstage speakers (L, C and R only; I don't have surrounds in this room) and it has worked out fantastically. It gives me PLENTY of slam for movies. In my configuration, the Denon is simply there for audio processing, none of it's 7 amps are being used. So yes, this is most certainly a possibility. So while you're thinking a 7-channel amp, you can get away with a 3-channel amp sort of like what I did and let the Onkyo push the surrounds on its own as there's not much audio information going to those channels anyway. You might even be able to get away with a stereo amp to power just your two fronts, but I'd go with a 3-channel if I were you to get things uniform across the front. Outlaw Audio carries monoblock amps for $379 each:

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/2200.html

...or you can look up the ones I use throughout both of my systems, the Marantz MA500 (discontinued but available on eBay).