Adding an external amp to my AVR: Should it improve the performance in this case?

[fadetoblackbs]

Good morning to everyone,

I just discovered this fascinating Forum some weeks ago and wish I had known it before buying some of the gear I own now.
I have a 5.1 System with Monitor Audio 7G speakers (L/R: Silver 500 7G – C: Silver C250 7G – Surround: Silver 50 7G= and a Pioneer VSX-LX-505 AVR.

Both front speakers and the AVR have been reviewed here, with the AVR having a pretty bad evaluation:
“The VSX-LX505 produces average performance in DAC department for an AVR. But fails on multiple fronts in amplification. No way should an AVR amplifier have any kind of timer to reduce power. This is the third Pioneer AVR I have tested to do this and is totally unacceptable.”

Link:
Pioneer VSX-LX505 AVR Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

Speakers L/R:
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7g | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

Specs for the L/R and Center are attached.

So my question would be:
I am thinking if it might help or improve the performance of my system by adding an external amp to feed the front L/R/C Channels using the Pre-Outs of the Pioneer AVR.
Of course the best way would be to order an Amp and test, but maybe somebody can tell me based on the facts and specs if this might make sense or not? I was thinking about any Class D Amp with around 200W/Ch @8Ohm because that is aprox the power my speakers can handle as far as I understand.

So based on the specs of the speakers and the AVR (that was grilled in this forum =)) – do you expect that adding an external amp would improve my setup or is it a waste of time and money? I dont want to order more gear (that is specially built to order in the case of many Class D amps) if the chances of success are already low considering the facts and setup infos.

I am not unhappy with the performance right now, but reading the evaluation and some threads I have a bit of FOMO thinking I might be missing a much better performance by adding a separate amp. I read this is pretty common in the AVR community.
One thing I wish to improve is the experience on "low volume listening".

Thank you very much for every comment and suggestion.

Monitor Audio 500 7G

Monitor Audio C250 7G

 

[staticV3]

So based on the specs of the speakers and the AVR (that was grilled in this forum =)) – do you expect that adding an external amp would improve my setup

No.

It's unlikely that you will encounter the Pioneer's power limiting while listening to music or watching movies.

It would be very obvious if that happens.

Unless you have any obvious issues with the Pioneer's Amps, your money would be better spent on a measurement microphone, room treatment, or better speakers.

 

[Drengur]

No.

It's unlikely that you will encounter the Pioneer's power limiting while listening to music or watching movies.

It would be very obvious if that happens.

Unless you have any obvious issues with the Pioneer's Amps, your money would be better spent on a measurement microphone, room treatment, or better speakers.

This power-time limit the Pioneer has might be such an issue, no?

 

[robh36062]

If you were routinely tripping the power limiter than obviously yes as that would prevent it from happening. If you don't trip it than no. If your not having the problem don't worry about it.

Rob

 

[fadetoblackbs]

So it is not the case that I really notice some problems or limitations. But I was surprised that it is not uncommon to see/read people adding external amps to their AVRs and mentioning the improvements they apparently reach/hear - and that made me curious. Specially after reading that my Pioneer AVR will eventually not reach the power mentioned in the specs and that my speakers have a "recommended amplifier requirement" up to 200-250W that will never be reached by my AVR.
What I dont know (but probably most of you do) is if more "power" will also improve the sound at low listening volume - that would be important for me.

 

[fadetoblackbs]

Unless you have any obvious issues with the Pioneer's Amps, your money would be better spent on a measurement microphone, room treatment, or better speakers.

You did not mention changing the AVR?
Of those mentioned the most easy one to implement would be the measurement mic for DIRAC I guess - you mean like an external UMIC instead of the standard delivered with the AVR?

 

[staticV3]

What I dont know (but probably most of you do) is if more "power" will also improve the sound at low listening volume - that would be important for me.

It will not.

Of those mentioned the most easy one to implement would be the measurement mic for DIRAC I guess - you mean like an external UMIC instead of the standard delivered with the AVR?

Standard AVR mics are disadvantageous in that they usually only work (well) when plugged directly in the AVR.
You can't use them with software like Room EQ Wizard to confirm the results of the AVR's room correction.
It's usually a take it or leave it kind of deal.

In that way, a UMIK-1 is better. You can use it for automated Dirac correction, and for your own measurements.

 

[18000rpm]

Get a power amp from Emotiva which offers 30-day return policy. Then you can test it out for yourself and see if it improves the sound. FYI I use an external amp with my receiver but my fronts are difficult to drive.

 

[Ajax]

I note that your front speakers have a high sensitivity (90.5) meaning that they are easy to drive and that also Amir's review states the unit has reasonable SINAID i.e. the internal DACs perform OK at around 97 SINAID.


I would therefore not expect you to hear any change in sound quality at low volume playback. Personally I would follow staticV3's advice above and purchase the UMIK-1 microphone and focus on learning how to maximise the performance of your existing system using the inbuilt DIRAC.

Should your FOMO become too much to bare, contact Dylan of Buckeye Amps for a loan of a 3 channel Hypex NC252 that puts out 120 watts per channel into 8 ohms - plenty of power for your speakers for around US$800. He supplies modular type amps and may have something he could loan you if you say paid the shipping plus say $100 for his time, check out Amir's review.

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Buckeye NC252MP Stereo Amplifier Review

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