Need help on a new amp

[admin_exported]

Hi

I have recently purchased B&W MT-25 packge. I currently have an old yamaha amp. I need a new one and not sure what one to get.

Which one would be best for my speakers. I have a buget of around £400.

Is it worth going for a new onkyo 308 or 508 if im not to worried about the amp being 3D ready. Many thanks any help or advice much appreciated

 

[chudleighpaul]

Just curious, why do you need to replace the Yamaha? The older models are built like tanks. I would never change mine unless something serious goes wrong with it.

 

[Anonymous]

It's a yamaha dsp a2 I think nearly 10 years old. It has not got all the latest sound formats on there I thought this would make a big difference am I wrong?

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry a dsp a5

 

[chudleighpaul]

What do you want it to do? If you want HD formats then as long as it has 5.1 analogue inputs then you can use a bluray player with 5.1 analogue outs, it will sound terriffic. Obviously if you feel you cannot do without HDMI switching then replace it, but I have had AV amps for 15 years and have never used video switching. I use them purely for audio.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Given that the A5 has a six-channel 'external decoder' input, all you really need to do is make sure you buy a Blu-ray player with multichannel analogue outputs - see the Group Test in the current issue of the magazine for some ideas - and you're sorted.

I'd stick with the amp you have now...

 

[Anonymous]

Yea it's for my blu ray player really and would like the onkyo iPod dock the one with a digital out. My blu ray player Is a Sony bd360 is that compatible? Sorry for being dumb how will I then connect this to my amp?

 

[caddyhound]

Your Sony BD360 doesn't have the analogue outputs ,you need the BD760 for that.You still get the DD /Dts soundtracks through your amp so it's a decision on whether the improvement HD sound gives through your speaker system is worth the cost of changing either player or amp.

 

[Anonymous]

Is there a big difference in HD sound and dts sound?

 

[Sorreltiger]

I use my dad's old A5 at work (I'm a music teacher) and it fills a large room with ease. It's nowhere near as clear as my 3800 at home, but not hugely inferior. I think you might have to spend around £1000 to get an improvement, so the multi-channel blu-ray would be the more cost effective option.

 

[chudleighpaul]

You could go for the Pansonic BD80 or the new 85 , either would give you excellent pics and awesome HD sound with your existing Yammy.

 

[Anonymous]

So if I get a new blu ray player what cable will I need to get to connect it to amp?

 

[Big Chris]

fru7:So if I get a new blu ray player what cable will I need to get to connect it to amp?

You need 3 pairs of analogue interconnects, just like those that connect your CD/Tuner/Turntable to your amp.

 

[Anonymous]

Then all you nedd is a phono cable to single jack for your iPod to connect into an external input of your amp (which may even be on the front for convenience) and select the approropriate input selector and you have your iPod through your amp !!! I have to agree, save your money and keep the workhorse Yamaha for now anyway...don't get caught up with the HD audio formats which to be honest won't show a massive improvement in a standard domestic 5.1 set-up....good luck...