Is the Pioneer SC LX 81 too much of an amp for KEF KHT 3005 SEs?

[admin_exported]

I'm going to buy Pioneer BD51 blu ray next week and I'm looking to get an amp to pair it with. My current amp is an ARCAM AVR200 which is musical, but somewhat lacking in the home cinema area, and outdated. I have a good offer on an SC LX 81 which all the reviews suggest is very musical, as well as a technical toure de force. However, is this too much of an amp for my current KEF speaker set up?

Living in Athens, I cant demo anything,so any advice you have would be welcome.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Hi

It depends how much you can buy it for? compared to the pioneer sc-lx71 amplifier.

If you can buy it for nearly the same price as the pioneer sc-lx71 amp then it might be a good deal. But i would of said the pioneer sc-lx71 ampllifier was more than capable of powering your current setup.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Gel,

I'm still finalising the price but I think it will be around £1250, so certainly a bit more than I can get the sc-LX71 for (around £995).

I'm sure the 71 can drive the system more than adequately, I was just a little concerned about the "looser" sound as compared to the 81 (see WHS&V review). Have you heard both of these amps and can you hear a discernable difference?

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Hi

I have the pioneer sc-lx81 amp it is brilliant.

I used to have the pionee vsx-lx70 amplifier which from all the reviews sounds similar to the pioneer sc-lx71 ampliifer and used it with the B&W MT30 package and it worked really well. So I can't see why the pioneer sc-lx71 amp would not worked really well with your set up.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you now using the LX81 with a more expensive set of speakers than the MT-30s?

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Yes i am now using the B&W FPM series

 

[pioneer7]

I think that the speaker stystem you have, you will not get the best out of either Amp untill you upgrade the speakers the BW system that gel has would work very well indeed, but if you eventually upgrade in the future it will be like having a new set up, so having the KEFs will get you by and give you enjoyment with your new amp, it will not be as good as when you get a new speaker system.

As for which Amp to go for the 81 is a beast as is the 71 and certainly delivers the goods, it is slightly higher wattage than the 71 and does sound a little more dynamic, but that is about it and that is only my opinion, so you could save £200 or so and go for the 71, then with the change get some Blu-rays.

Andy

 

[pioneer7]

By the way Athens Andy the FD-51 Blu-ray is a fantstic player you will not be dissapointed.