Sorry, realize this is a years-old thread, but I recently discovered this site and wanted to piggyback off the ASR's collective wisdom as it relates to recommendations for my new system.
I'm a newb, so take it easy on me. I recently upgraded from an entry-level/budget 3.1 system (DefTech SM55s, ProCenter 2000) to something a bit more capable (but still 3.1) and have been exploring the need/practicality of supplementing my AVR with a powered amp.
Current System:
-Focal Aria 936 towers
-Focal Aria CC900 center
-Polk PSW-505 sub (will be upgraded to a SVS SB-2000 Pro in the coming months)
-Onkyo TX-RZ50
Use case is a 60/40 split of home theater to music. Music preferences vary widely -- rock, hip-hop, alternative, Disney soundtracks with the daughter, etc. Likely to add surround speakers in the future, though not on the immediate road map. I understand the 936's can drop to sub-3ohm impedance, so wondering if those are going start giving the AVR issues with spirited listening. For that reason, I started researching whether a 2-channel powered amp would be prudent to drive the towers, and came across the NAD C268 as a potential option when perusing Crutchfield. Idea here being Onkyo amp handles center channel, NAD handles towers.
-Is this an advisable route?
-Is piecemealing amps a bad idea for non-stereo listening?
-Is the NAD C268 relevant in 2023/2024, or are there other sub-$1,000 offerings I should be considering?
-Would going an integrated amp route be okay, even though there'd be some duplicative functionality with the Onkyo?
-What else am I not thinking about that I should be?
I've looked at all sorts of stuff -- Arcam SA20, Emotiva BasX A3 (for a three-channel option), etc. -- and it's information overload. Hoping the fine folks here can help distill it down for me.
I'm in the Midwest, USA if that matters.
