Using 2 room analogue out on AV amp to power stereo amp

[gilesw]

Hi AOSers,

At the moment I have an odd setup:-

DAC Source --phono -> Denon AVR 3805 pre out --phono -> mini-t amp --> Monitor audio silver 8i.

To see the ports on the amp:-

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=56921&stc=1&d=1302711697

I've just done this because it gives me a slight improvement for stereo while still allowing me to enjoy my movies. In terms of upgrades I've been thinking about either getting a better a/v amp. In which case do a/v amps generally come with this pre-out setup? or just getting a better stereo amp to improve on the mini-t.

The amps I've been looking at are the Dayens Ampino and TBI Millenia both coming in at £300-350 with current exchange rates.

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/3_mini_amps_e.html

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/dayens/ampino.html

http://www.stereomojo.com/Dayens%20Ampino%20Review/DayensAmpinoReview3.pdf

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue62/millenia.htm

Hmm I've just been reading around this and it might be best for me to just get a t-amp with 2 inputs, plug the dac directly into it and use the pre-out from the denon to listen to 5.1.



[netbook]
| usb
|
[dac] [ ps3 / htpc ]
| |
| analogue phono markg |optical cambridge audio spdif
| |
| |
[cd input on stereoamp] [Denon AVR 3805] -spk- [surround spkrs]
| | pre-out
| naim spkr cable | chord analogue phono
| |
[front speakers] [aux input on stereoamp]
|
| naim spkr cable
[front speakers]


This rules out the Millenia amp as it only has one input.

[Reid Malenfant]

You could always purchase one of Stan Beresford switch boxes, he makes a very high quality one indeed, not sure of the model number, but I'm sure a PM to him would be enlightening :)

That'd give you more inputs...

[gilesw]

Heya Reid,

Thanks for the tip, that's something I hadn't thought of. I've been doing some testing of each amp individually this evening and the Denon avr seems to have more bass oomph whereas the mini-t is more revealing but not much in it really. I think what I need to do before I make any decisions is to get a decent stereo amp in there and see if it makes an appreciable difference. Hopefully I can borrow one off a friend or another Brighton based AOSer.

g.

[synsei]

Your MA 8i's are probably not a great match for the Mini-T to be honest, they have a tendency to brightness if partnered with the wrong components. The Mini-T can be ruthlessly revealing of upper frequencies which may just tip the 8i's over the edge which in turn will overpower the bass making the speakers sound a little light in the bass and thin sounding.

[gilesw]

I didn't find the mini-t too bright, just not a full sounding as the Denon. I do wonder about my speakers as they would appear to now be the cheapest part of my setup as I now have a young dac in there as a source. I modified them years ago on the advice of someone working at sevenoaks hi-fi of all things. I swapped the capacitors over in the crossovers for the ones he recommended and added some audio cladding. They're now 10 plus years old, I dunno if speakers have come along a lot since then.

[gilesw]

I'm a bit of a novice with system building, I think I may have just lucked out with my choices in the past. I'm happy with my new single source so presumably I should get the amp next, probably the dayens ampino, then get some speakers which I should be able to demo by taking my own kit to a hi-fi shop. I like the look of the epic epos 5.