Integrated amp + power amp recommendations for Revel 226+426

[transmogrifier]

Hi All, I am looking for advice on (1) Integrated amplifier. (2) Standalone power amp. (3) RCA/XLR business.

Current situation: I have a pair of F226Be's paired with 426Be + KEF KC92's. I am driving them with a SR7002 and have been doing some research about an upgrade. I am interested in Dirac ART and as such want an amp that supports it (I am planning on committing heresy by including my Heresy ii's as the surround; I moved to Revel from Klipsch and want to find a place for my old speakers).
My watching/listening room has tile floors and I am not an audiophile by any measure. Mostly use spotify and movies span the gamut.

Reading through all the information here this is what I have arrived at
1. Denon 4800H (and I will buy the Dirac ART package)
2. A buckeye class D amp (NcX 500 3 channel)
3. For the average listener like me RCA vs XLR outs don't really matter.

I want to keep the budget about 5500$ (including Dirac). Is this a good choice? Would you recommend something else? Money is certainly a constraint and a few 100$'s+is palatable; +1k is not.

I would greatly appreciate any insight/experience y'all have.

Best,
C.S.N

 

[kyuu]

The only reason to switch amps, as far as I'm concerned, would be for room correction. Therefore, I would go with the Denon of your listed choices.

 

[Mort]

I would skip the buckeye amp unless you are highly confident that you lack power. It's a nice to have, not a must have for most of us.
4800h is the model I owned and it's great as long as you don't need more channels or power.

Get a large rug to cover the tile. I personally would invest in different subs next, although those are not terrible, 9" drivers are not considered big by home theater standards. For 98% of music they should be fine.

 

[transmogrifier]

Thanks Kyuu, Mort! The amp is 18 yo, it's done it's time and I am hoping to get something with better features, which will last me a while. I have dual KC 92's, haven't tested many other brands+configurations, should probably go to an audio store and check it out. I got the rug recommendation from a friend as well; gonna make that change!

 

[Oddball]

Would help if you did let us know how large is the room and what are your SPL expectations as well as how low do you want to go in bass extension.

There is not much difference between 4800H and cheaper 3800H, but consensus is that 4800H is a slightly better unit on all counts, but if the premium is worth it is individual. Amps will not be much better on 4800H though, despite what Denon calls monolithic or something like that design.

Best bet is to get the AVR and try it out. If works well at your desired SPL, no need for the amp. Potential upgrade routes if you don't need an amp IMO would be first and utmost - 4 Atmos speakers, followed by distant 2nd looking into a larger sub that could dig lower than already great KEFs - if that is anything that makes a difference to you. ART picks 1 sub as lead sub and then rest are supporting. Having a big sub as lead might marginally improve the experience in HT.

 

[transmogrifier]

Thank you! I didn't know the size of the room, had to measure it. 25x14 ft and listening distance is ~ 3m. I typically listen ~ 75dB on the receiver (and the occasional 80dB music if no one is around). I donno how to answer the bass question, I have left the crossover at 80, which is the default on my Marantz (single sub system, I use a wye connector). I really don't know better to do better.
Part of the reason I was thinking about an external amp like Buckeye is that I read online content about ART pushing power requirement; however, not knowing anything about it, didn't know what to believe. I started with 80db, added 20db for headroom (Sorry, no clue what this should actually be,), did the napkin math and arrived at 180W for 100db peak at 3m ([email protected]/1m). I can do the arithmetic but whether it translates to listening experience, no idea :-(.

 

[Mort]

Thank you! I didn't know the size of the room, had to measure it. 25x14 ft and listening distance is ~ 3m. I typically listen ~ 75dB on the receiver (and the occasional 80dB music if no one is around). I donno how to answer the bass question, I have left the crossover at 80, which is the default on my Marantz (single sub system, I use a wye connector). I really don't know better to do better.
Part of the reason I was thinking about an external amp like Buckeye is that I read online content about ART pushing power requirement; however, not knowing anything about it, didn't know what to believe. I started with 80db, added 20db for headroom (Sorry, no clue what this should actually be,), did the napkin math and arrived at 180W for 100db peak at 3m ([email protected]/1m). I can do the arithmetic but whether it translates to listening experience, no idea :-(.

Although that's not a small room or distance, 75db is not that loud. Once you get the AVR in place you can decide on the buckeye or sub. You may not need anything else.

 

[Oddball]

Without going into details of your calcs, you should start with AVR and take it further if need be. ART is not really pushing the power requirements. It just likes more subs for the most part. Your support speakers might make a difference if unusual cases, but if you have subs to fill in the sub range with output that is required and filling in the dips from one sub to another, you are all set.

 

[tineared]

Hi All, I am looking for advice on (1) Integrated amplifier. (2) Standalone power amp. (3) RCA/XLR business.

Current situation: I have a pair of F226Be's paired with 426Be + KEF KC92's. I am driving them with a SR7002 and have been doing some research about an upgrade. I am interested in Dirac ART and as such want an amp that supports it (I am planning on committing heresy by including my Heresy ii's as the surround; I moved to Revel from Klipsch and want to find a place for my old speakers).
My watching/listening room has tile floors and I am not an audiophile by any measure. Mostly use spotify and movies span the gamut.

Reading through all the information here this is what I have arrived at
1. Denon 4800H (and I will buy the Dirac ART package)
2. A buckeye class D amp (NcX 500 3 channel)
3. For the average listener like me RCA vs XLR outs don't really matter.

I want to keep the budget about 5500$ (including Dirac). Is this a good choice? Would you recommend something else? Money is certainly a constraint and a few 100$'s+is palatable; +1k is not.

I would greatly appreciate any insight/experience y'all have.

Best,
C.S.N

I think your original plan was an excellent one.
The Buckeye will easily power your front three speakers and the Denon can power the rear Klipsch surrounds and any you may add later.
You can try and power those five speakers with just the Denon, but that's asking a lot and will probably cause the receiver to get pretty warm when operating in surround mode.
You chose very high performance speakers for your front three, so it all depends on how loud you decide to play them.

 

[Mort]

You can try and power those five speakers with just the Denon, but that's asking a lot

For 75db at 3m with a 90db speaker? The x4800h is plenty.

 

[transmogrifier]

Thanks oddball, mort and tineard, I will start with the 4800H and see where it takes me!

 

[transmogrifier]

Hi All, Sorry to re-hydrate the thread. An update and I need guidance again. I did get the 4800H and it's been a great experience so far.
I am considering atmos speakers based on the recommendation in this thread. Is there a recommendation for the speaker itself? I am considering getting four. I have eight foot ceilings and thinking about in-ceiling speakers. Suggestions in other threads feel a bit equivocal.

 

[kyuu]

I am considering atmos speakers based on the recommendation in this thread. Is there a recommendation for the speaker itself? I am considering getting four. I have eight foot ceilings and thinking about in-ceiling speakers. Suggestions in other threads feel a bit equivocal.

What's your budget?

As far as the number goes, I have what may be a controversial opinion: there's no point in getting more than 2 Atmos speakers unless you're doing an honest-to-god home theater setup with multiple rows of seating. There just isn't enough space in most domestic setups to have meaningful separation between two pairs of height speakers.

 

[Mort]

I use the KEF ci200qr . Would go well with your mains.

 

[transmogrifier]

Thanks Kyuu, Mort. I was hoping not to spend more than 1000$/pair. If I can get away with less, I would rather do that. I am at this point where I am like...just a little more, it will make it perfect, why stop now?

Single row of seating for now. I don't really get to sit and watch a full movie in one go anyways.

 

[kyuu]

In that case you'd want to downsize a bit to the Ci160QR for the Kef lineup. Should still be more than adequate for Atmos duty. Alternatively, I personally use the Revel C363 for surround duty and can attest that they are excellent. If you want to max out your budget, the C563 should be even better.

 

[Mort]

In that case you'd want to downsize a bit to the Ci160QR for the Kef lineup. Should still be more than adequate for Atmos duty. Alternatively, I personally use the Revel C363 for surround duty and can attest that they are excellent. If you want to max out your budget, the C563 should be even better.

Or buy used. That was my solution.

 

[Oddball]

Or buy used. That was my solution.

Like what used?

 

[Mort]

Like what used?

The ci200qr can be gotten for less than $1k used pair on eBay.

 

[transmogrifier]

Thank you kyuu, mort, oddball. y'all are awesome!
Kyuu, you think two are sufficient because it is hard to discern the difference between two vs four? Or, the cost doesn't justify the improvement or something else?
I have a large-ish living room and I have +/- 5ft from the main position.