Amplifier recommendations

platypus · 21 Dec 2016 at 08:46

I'm after an amplifier that would happily drive two sets of Q acoustic 3050 floorstanders, and two sets of 3020 bookshelf speakers. I'm currently using a beautiful little hardman kardon but it won't output to 8 speakers. Is 8 a little ambitious? Or am I better off looking at one of these speaker selector system things? Not sure what they do to the sound though.

Ta.

hornetstinger · 21 Dec 2016 at 19:45

You need a distribution amplifier, or a AV amplifier with 9 channels. Then use a all channel stereo mode.

No way a 2 channel amplifier can drive so many loudspeakers.

You are overloding your amplifier, it's probably 1ohm load or something crazy.

james.miller · 21 Dec 2016 at 20:00

^^^ Well, if they are all in parallel and assuming 4 speakers per channel then yeah it would work out at 1.5ohm per channel. But he could have two pairs of speakers in series in parallel per channel. each pair would preset a 12ohm load, in parallel with another 12ohm pair which would present a 6 ohm load at the amp terminals. Should be doable.

We need to know what your trying to achieve, platypus.

hornetstinger · 21 Dec 2016 at 20:03

running in parallel probably means not much volume to each speaker though, but at least safe speaker load. Those speakers have quite a low sensivity as well.

FurryLemon · 23 Dec 2016 at 09:22

I'm assuming you'll be having two QA 3xxx series setup's in two different rooms. For this you need an AVR with a second HDMI out and 8+ channels.

At the bottom end of the price range is the Denon 4200/4300 or Marantz 6010. Both can be had for 500-600. (these are the sweet spot for your speakers, spending more won't see any benefit)

Higher up you have the likes of the Denon 7200wa. That comes in around 1500 or so I believe.

Even higher still is Arcam and the like, but those are too expensive for your speakers tbh

Rule of thumb is your speakers should cost 2-3x the amount of the avr. So a 400 quid avr is good for any speakers up to the 1200 quid price bracket and so on.

Personally I'd have a 2 channel stereo amp running the 3020s in the main viewing area which leaves the avr a little more juice to run the rears and 2nd setup.

platypus · 23 Dec 2016 at 13:50

james.miller said:
We need to know what your trying to achieve, platypus.

Sorry I should have been more helpful in my op.

I want to achieve a system playing music throughout the house. Which I suppose I could go the route of Sonos, but I don't really want too.

FurryLemon said:
I'm assuming you'll be having two QA 3xxx series setup's in two different rooms. For this you need an AVR with a second HDMI out and 8+ channels.

Doh, read all the posts before replying. Yes exactly this.

FurryLemon · 23 Dec 2016 at 14:34

Only music?

tom_nieto · 23 Dec 2016 at 16:55

How much flexibility do you need in the system? Do you need independent volume control for all rooms and multiple different inputs playing at the same time? Have you got a central point that you've already got all the wiring going to? Any video requirements?

Sonos is a very good way to control music. Another way is to use apple airport or Apple TVs and control streaming from a computer. I have the latter as I have limited zones and can only be in one place at a time!

Anything is possible, but you start having to pay serious cash out for more than 2 independent zones, especially with surround sound.

platypus · 27 Dec 2016 at 16:12

@Furry - yes, only music. And at that classical is the priority, and vinyl important (if that makes a difference).

@tom, as above no video requirements, flexible volume would be good but its not vital, controlling it via wifi would be nice also but again not vital as I already have a wifi-centrally control setup (via kodi). Surround sound is not needed at all. Same input to the system, and output to all speakers. We will have a central point that everything goes too once our extension is built (eta on that 6-12 months!).