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DynAudio Audience 52: What Amp?

I currently have these running on a mid-fi Yamaha A/V receiver, and while the sound is Ok, I would like to add and external 2-ch amp to open them up and let them sing a little bit more :) As most people know, they like the juice. Looking to spend sub $500......I have a few questions.

Do I need an integrated amp? Im guessing I do not and that the yammie can serve as the pre-pro. Although, are there any benefits to using an integrated?

I would like a warm sounding amp. The Dyn's are reveiling, and the yammie is on the bright side. Will a warm sounding amp offset this condition? Im hoping it will.....

Power. Not sure on exact room dimensions, but Im guessing they are in a mid-sized room. Right now the yammie puts out 100wx5, 20-20khz, %0.06 thd. Im guessing I will need an amp with at least 1 & 1/2 times that power to notice a difference. Although Im assuming a will need something that will provide substantially more current that the yammie due to the speakers 4 ohm rating.

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

spec_agnt50b3
rcprince
3,059 posts
 
I am, horror of horrors, actually building a small home theater system in a back bedroom, and am going to use the smaller Dynaudio Audience 42s for the system. In listening to a couple of AV receivers with them, the one that stood out as the best sonically with it to my ears was the current $1300 Rotel unit, and not by a small margin, either, compared to the $500 Marantz I was listening to (closer call with an Arcam). I would therefor recommend a Rotel amp (assuming you just don't go whole hog and replace the Yamaha); whether you can do it depends of course on whether your Yamaha has a pre-out function, or at least a tape loop. Not knowing how the Yamaha works, if it does have a way to bypass its active preamp circuitry (usually through its tape loop), get an integrated with a better pre section than the Yamaha's; if not, then it makes no sense to go through two active preamp circuits vs. one. I think you'll find that a lot of the Yamaha's sound comes from its preamp section; using it with a warm-sounding amp may not necessarily cure the problem.
davt
500 posts
 
I have a pr. of the 52se and I use a Rotel RX1052 two channel reciever and am very happy, Plenty of power, I do not find the Dynaudio's overly bright at all and in fact picked them after months of auditioning due to their warmth and that they are so easy to listen to. If you are driving more than one set of speakers though the impedence may be an issue. The Rotel handles the 4ohm load without any difficulty but I would not want to drive two sets or a surround of them.
spec_agnt50b3 OP
2 posts
 
Thanks for the insight. The yamaha does have pre-outs for the mains, center, and rears. I appreciate the advice in regards to the intergrated. I might as well go with it if I am looking for a discernable difference in sound.

Good luck with the 42's in the HT set-up. Should be nice and coherent if used all around. Peace_
rcprince
3,059 posts
 
Thanks. It certainly sounded good at my dealer's, and apparently they're coming out with a sub to match as well. I've always liked the smaller Dynaudios everywhere I've heard them; of course, I also like their big speakers!

Do see if you can use the tape outs in your Yamaha with a Rotel integrated, that might be your best bet sonically for two-channel.
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