Anyone else using an older flagship receiver for active amplification?

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architect7

architect7

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Joined 2003
#1
I'm planning a 3-way OB project on a budget and the market seems to be full of older flagship receivers with fantastic amplification. Receivers like the Pioneer Elite VSX-49TX and 59TX, Onkyo 8 and 9 series, Denon AVR-5xxx series, Marantz, etc. My plan would be to use some type of DAC unit that can convert any source to analog stereo, feed that to an analog crossover or Mini-DSP, then feed that to the EXT-IN of a 6+ channel receiver for amplification.

Anyone else have a similar setup? I'd love to hear your feedback.

Thanks!
 
#3
Not likely, I am planning to keep it under $400 and a pair of XP-3's would be $1k used/$1200 new. Two big old receivers can be had for less than the price of one XP-3, it is amazing how the lack of HDMI/eleventymillion channels has made these so obsolete to the common buyer looking for something more like a video device controller than an audio piece.
 
#4
AV receivers are notorious for having under-dimensioned power supplies, i.e. only being able to drive one channel to full rated power at a time. Or so it says on the Emotiva web site:

A typical receiver is a well engineered series of compromises. It's give and take...size, cost, power, performance - you can't have it all. Don't get us wrong, there are some great receivers on the market today, with great features and great prices. Unfortunately, something's gotta give, and it's usually in the power amp.

Take a close look at the specs of most popular receivers. Now, take the top cover off, and ask yourself, how did they do it? How could that small transformer, a couple of capacitors and that little heat sink and fan be generating and dissipating all the power claimed?

Here's a typical power spec from a popular name-brand receiver that sells for around $2,000:

120W x 7 (8 Ohm 20-20kHz 0.09%THD) - Sounds great, doesn't it? But look a little deeper into the specifications, and you'll see it again, but listed as a 'Channel Power Rating'. What does that mean? It's called 'fine print...a disclaimer.

It means that one (maybe two) channels can make that rated output, at that specification for a finite amount of time. It doesn't mean that all seven channels, working at the same time, and at the same power level, can come anywhere close to the cumulative power rating of 840 watts that the specs indicate at first glance (7 x 120 = 840). You get the idea. Something had to give. That something was power.
Emotiva Audio XPA-3 Three Channel Power Amplifier
Click to expand...
As long as you scrutinise the specifications and reviews of your intended purchase before putting money down, you should be OK.
 
#5
It depends on how much power you need.
You should be good for say 40-60w per channel with multi channel with one of these amp's rated at say 125w per channel.
According to technical reviews my old seven channel AV amp was only good for 45w-60w (all channels driven) despite the 125w rating but actually was capable of more than the rated power output driving 2 channels. Quite powerful as a two channel amp.

You will not want many hundreds of watts for OB anyway.

You could use any av amp's with multi channel inputs and preamp outputs. This does not mean you will get the absolute best performance. Certainly an affordable and relatively compact way to start. I would be wary that the performance could be second rate compared to seperate amp's.
 
#7
Sounds like a good plan. I've done similar, but not with "flagship" boxes.
Just a note: You may want to get a digital interface for your mini-DSP(s) that way you can skip the extra D/A-A/D step.
 
#8
architect7 said:
I'm planning a 3-way OB project on a budget and the market seems to be full of older flagship receivers with fantastic amplification. Receivers like the Pioneer Elite VSX-49TX and 59TX, Onkyo 8 and 9 series, Denon AVR-5xxx series, Marantz, etc. My plan would be to use some type of DAC unit that can convert any source to analog stereo, feed that to an analog crossover or Mini-DSP, then feed that to the EXT-IN of a 6+ channel receiver for amplification.

Anyone else have a similar setup? I'd love to hear your feedback.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

When you say vintage stuff, i was thinking pre-90's , i have recently replaced my early 90's denon av reciever with a modern unit, light smaller and packed with more features. i was not optimistic of the sound, it sounds 10 times better than the denon , a pain to use , but absolutely better sonics. The pre processor might be the difference.

A re-capped super series from the late 70- late 80's are worthwhile , i had the big technics, recapped from the late 70's and it did not lose much to my ML9 at the time... 🙂
 
#9
I could kick myself for selling a Rane MA-6 on Ebay for $250.00. 6 channels of 100W
@ 8 ohm amplifiers. Just need to replace the fan to a quieter one for domestic duty. Still can find them on Ebay for less than 300 USD. Nice huge toroidal transformer inside and built like a tank.
 
#10
Nice, thanks for the replies, all very insightful. That Rane unit looks like a nice option.

My OB project consists of Seas W22EX midwoofers and tweeters, likely the Dayton RS28F. If I add woofers, I will probably power these with a separate amp.

I may go with a DBX 234 instead of the MiniDSP to save $$$...assuming I do not need the EQ function. Unless I am missing something, I will need to find a preamp with volume control to avoid having to control volume independently between the different amps. Does that sound right?
 
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