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Stepping up to the next level ? HT and Music

A little about the system.
I have a Onkyo 5509 Pre pro , 2 Emotiva Xpr 2 amps bi amped powering Tyler Acoustics D1x speakers . 1 Tyler center channel speaker and 4 tower speakers for surrounds and back powered by a Rotel 5 channel amp . 2 Chase 18.2 subs powered by a Suntron M 600 amp. the room is 17 x17 and I can seal it off with a door .

No problems with the system for movies and no glaring problems for music . I would just like it to sound more musical but still run my subs at the same time .

I know music lovers say no to subs but I really like the layer they add to music . So what are my options ?
1. Add a pre amp for music ? But what about the subs ?
2. Better Pre pro like a Classe ssp 800 but loose room correction .

I have had a tube amp in the mix and really liked it . The sound wrapped around my speakers but was not loud enough when I wanted to turn it up . Also cant justify running tubes always when watching movies and tv and the associated heat that comes from them .

Im looking for suggestions that I may have overlooked or advice from those who have had similar problems .
Like I said , it sounds good but would like to take it to the next level musically . I mainly listen to cd,s but am looking at a music server and or computer audio . No vinyl at this time but may add at some time later .

Thanks , Lambeau
lambeau
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"02-23-15: Lambeau
Martykl , On the contrary. I don't know witch direction I am going to go . I have talked with a Parasound dealer about 2 hours from me and he wasn't sure the P5 would be able to run my subs on both units with out a switch . Maybe someone else will chime in that would know . Still searching."

Once you upgrade, you may find that you don't need or want the subs. But if you do, you can put an input selector in front of your amp that powers the subs, and switch back and forth between your HT preamp and your stereo preamp.
ptss
1,962 posts
 
Lambeau. "Before" trying anything else-try a few good power conditioners in your system-for a dramatic upgrade and what you may come to realize is your best long term investment! Fuzz in-fuzz out. We are not going away from AC power anytime soon. Equitech 2Q will handle everything you've got and more!
We all got pleasure from gear in the 70's and 80's and everything has improved--EXCEPT--AC power is not allowing us to hear it. Audience, Shunyata,MIT,Sound Application,Equitech. Do some research and check out the 5 Star facilities including NSA and NASA and the US Navy are using. Do you think anyone puts crappy gas(read electricity) in their vehicle and expects it to perform well?
avgoround
287 posts
 
Yeah, I don't know much about those speakers, but I'd be likely trying solid state amps for HT /music system, especially passive lower/medium sensitivity speakers. If you need tubes to make the sound work, and need more power, I'd recommend a tube preamp for your 2 channel duties, which can easily be looping in the AV pre/pro to an auxilry input, bypass/passthrough, etc. No problem really.
So, I'd solid state beefy high end amps for all channels (obviously, main 3 up front are most important), good quality, clear, detailed, and dymamic sounding pre/pro for movies - DEFINITELY ONE WITH DSP ROOM CORRECTION! - and add the 2 channel high end analog preamp for the tube sound you like.
I see no problems, just try to taste, and keep what you like. Done this kind of combo for years. Then, of course your source components that work for you, high end dvd, cd, tunner, whatever..
(I would, however, still cross over the mains up higher to help power handling, and let active powered subs do bass in the HT system -just sounds better, ALA THX setup. See what you think)
audiotomb's avatar
audiotomb
1,112 posts
 
Buy an Arcam AVR much more natural sound
Ag insider logo xs@2x
dbphd
1,616 posts
 
re my 2/22/15 post:  I've since added a Bryston SP3 that takes HDMI from an Oppo BDP-105D and Sony XA5400ES, and passes front LR via its zone function to a Parasound JC 2 BP analog preamp.  It also sends LCR directly amps, so there can be separate stereo and surround setups in the same room.
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