External Power amp or integrated for my receiver?

[ReneTS]

Hi

I am considering buying an external power amp, like the Nuforce MCA-20 for my Marantz SR5009 receiver. But since it is mostly to increase the music quality in stereo, would it be better to ad an integrated amp with home theater input like a Hegel H80 or Musical fidelity M 3si? They all cost about the same where I live. What would you chose?

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

I would go for a completely separate system for my music, but use the "Aux" input in the amplifier (or pre-amplifier) to feed in the front left and right channels from the receiver, thus using the "proper stereo" speakers as the front left and front right speakers for the surround sound. Most receivers have RCA plug feeds on the back for this. You just run standard stereo interconnects from the back of the receiver to the back of the "proper stereo" (pre)amplifier.

IMHO even the best receivers today don't stack up well against a dedicated "proper stereo" (note to everyone else - asbestos underwer in place - flame me about this all you want).