FORUMS

You are here

Home » Forums » Audio Hardware » Amplification
Log in or register to post comments
April 6, 2013 - 10:07am
#1
aty000
aty000's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 8 months ago
Joined: Apr 6 2013 - 7:19am
Onkyo 5008 need more power to drive Kef 203/2

Dear stereophile community,

I have an Onkyo 5008 with Kef loudspeakers for my Home Theater 5.1 setup. The L/R speakers are Kef 203/3, the others are Kef 2000 satellites with Subwoofer Kef PSW 2000.

Evertything is fine for HT (movies) but I see some limitation listening music at high volume where the Onkyo switch off itself after sometime @ 86 of its absolute volume value. I like to listen music at high volume smiley

Can please somebody with more experience advise me if it will make sense to preout the two stereo channels with dedicated monoblocks or stereo amplifier in order to better drive the Kef 203/2? I am eventually anyway already reaching the limitation of the Kef 203/2 with the 5008? If yes, without going to pay impressive amounts, which one? Rotel? Crown? Bryston? any other?

Regards,

Aty

Top
April 7, 2013 - 8:10am
commsysman
commsysman's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 9 months ago
Joined: Apr 4 2006 - 11:33am
AMPLIFIER

Most HT recivers do not have the power to adequtely drive those speakers, because their power supply is inadequate to properly supply 5 channels with enough current. Those front speakers have an impedance of 3 ohms at some frequencies and your receiver, as you are apparently aware, is not designed for that type of loading.

If you have preout jacks for the front channels on your receiver, adding an amplifier with a much better power supply for the front two channels is the best way to go.

That way your receiver will only have to drive the other 3 channels, which it will be able to do.

Crown does not make high fidelity amplifiers; only low-quality units that are for public address systems.

The Marantz MM7025 is a good amplifier that will drive the KEF 203 speakers properly.

The Vincent 331 amplifier is an excellent one. It will drive ANY speakers well.

The Arcam P38 is another one that is very good and will do the job.

Bryston amplifiers are excellent, but unless you can find a good deal on a used one the cost is going to be at least $4000. I have the 3B-SST2 and love it.

Top
April 23, 2013 - 1:47am
aty000
aty000's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 8 months ago
Joined: Apr 6 2013 - 7:19am
  Hi Amplifier, in the

 

Hi Amplifier,

in the meatime I probably found a good deal for the 207.2 and googled around for good power amplifiers. I also do not want to waste my money with power amplifier buying impressive expensive without a real sound quality difference (I mean without an oscilloscope).

This is the list. Which one will better drive the 207.2 with enough power, or I need even more powerful one?

 

- Classé CA-2300 or 2 Classé CA-M300

- Bryston 4B SST2

- Audiolab 8200 MB

- Rotel RB-1572

- Rotel RB-1582

- Music Fidelty M6PRX

- Anthem P2

- Vincent SP-994

- MacIntosh MC302

 

 

Another question is: once I connected the front speaker pre-out to the power amplifier, things will work fine when listening stereo music. However, when I will be back to listen 5.1, how the volume will be synched between all the 5 loudspeakers having the two front in pre-out with dedicated power amp (let say as an example the Audiolab 8200 MB)?

I really hope I expressed myself good enough and I will be delighted to ear any answer from more experienced people.

 

Thx a lot,

Aty

Top
April 23, 2013 - 10:00am
commsysman
commsysman's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 9 months ago
Joined: Apr 4 2006 - 11:33am
AMPLIFIER

You could use the Bryston 4B-SST2 or 3B-SST2. Either of those has more than enough power to drive your speakers (the 3B is rated for 250 Watts Per Channel at 4 ohms).

The Musical Fidelity M6PRX is be another one I recommend.

The Vincent SP-331 would also a very good choice. It puts out 300 Watts per channel at 4 ohms.Since Vincent is in Germany, that might be a good way to go (the SP-994 would be WAY more power than you need).

Top
April 29, 2013 - 2:58pm
aty000
aty000's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 8 months ago
Joined: Apr 6 2013 - 7:19am
Hi AMPLIFIER, I ended up

Hi AMPLIFIER,

I ended up with a good deal for a CA-2200. Now the Onkyo 5008 front channel is in pre-out with the CA-2200. The kef 203/2 really shine and the difference is noticeable and incredible. I was not able to test your other recommandations with my setup (I leave in a small region and there are not so many dealers will give you equipments to test at home), but what Classé gives out satisfy me very much. 

I thank you very much for your advices.

 

Best Regards,

Aty

Top

    • X