Thoughts on adding a stereo power amp to AV receiver

[admin_exported]

Well after nearly 5 months of unemployment, during which time I had to sell my stereo amp (Cambridge Audio 840A

), I'm now on the lookout for a new one.

I'm currently playing music through my AV receiver, and was wondering if it would be worth looking at a stereo power amp (maybe a Quad 909) connected to my AVR's pre-outs.

My main question (there is one, honest) is: would stereo performance still be compromised due to the fact the AV receiver is doing the pre-amplification duties - would I be better off sticking with an integrated (or pre/power combo) stereo amp and sending my music sources directly to it?

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe do it the other way around - if you can get a hi-fi amp with an a/v throughput then you can use that to play your music and have the surround amp for movie use. the a/v throughput mean the volume level is controlled via the a/v amp and it bypasses the stereo amp's gain section .........

I know Moon do this - as I have one - but other manufacturers probably do also.....

 

[Anonymous]

Cyrus integrated and pre amps also have AV inputs that can bypass volume control so you only have to set the volume on AV amp for home cinema. It is normally the pre-amp part of any amp that is the limiting factor on sound quality. Of course some speakers work much better with more powerful power amps but certainly not all speakers are like that.