ATMOS - Talk to me about channels on my AVR...

[RoyMi6]

Building my new cinema room in the next 24 months and just trying to figure some of this out as all my knowledge seems a little outdated (although it was never that extensive!)

I had a 7.1 setup in my previous house that I installed about 9 years ago. I've got some speakers that I plan on reusing (B&W fronts and centre, and a pair of Wharfedale WH-DFS for the sides) but will be buying/adding: 2 x rears, 2 x ceiling speakers, 1 x sub, 1 x buttkicker.

In my mind, I just want to put "7.2.2 ATMOS AVR" into google and get some optoins... but this doesn't seem to work

As I write this though I think I've figured out that there's basically "number of channels the amp can process" and "number of channels the amp can drive"... Also looks like this is often lumped together into "9.2" as it's basically driving 9 channels and then you split it as you like. Is that what I'm best looking for?

So the DENON-AVC-X3700H looks like a bit of a winner... (I think "expensiveaudio".com links are allowed but will avoid posting just in case).

 

[lucid]

Yep 9.2 is your search term. The .2 is the two subs bit, but do check whether any amp on your shortlist has (i) EQ for the sub channel at all; some have a brick wall filter that excludes EQing the sub, and (ii) whether it's 2x mono sub channels (probably what you need with a buttkicker) or stereo subs. If the amp is good enough then it should be configurable either way. You'd then do the room EQ with just the real sub attached.

The 9 bit is the number of power amp channels. As you say, these can be configured as 5(.1/.2) + 4 Atmos, or as 7(.1.2) + 2 Atmos, or even as 7(.1/.2) + 2 front height. You might also have the ability to drive an external amp for two additional channels. This would give you the ability to run 7(.1/.2) + 4 Atmos.

As for the Denon, if you mean by "winner" the cheapest way to drive 9 powered channels then yes, but there are higher-fidelity and cooler-running amps, albeit more expensive.

 

[RoyMi6]

Cheers Lucid.

Other thing I didn't nottice that the ATMOS part is on the end. For some reason I thought it was "speakers"."atmos"."subs" - doh!

Yeah, I think I'm going to go for 7.2.4. I'm fine with the idea of splitting out to an external amp for the additional channels. I'm at the stage where I'm just kind of planning how I'm going to be running wire etc and it's likely I'll build the system up over time, so will need to put in wires for stuff that doesn't exist on the first go.

Cheers for the mono/stereo sub tip - never considered that to be an issue as while obviously all subs are mono I had never considered that stereo sub output from the receiver might be a thing.

With regards to specific amp, I'm probably 12 months away from buying something so yeah, I generally mean winner in terms "connectivity" more than cost/performance mertics. I'm a big fan of second hand audio equipment so don't think there's much point of looking at the moment for how far ~£1k will get me in that regard at this moment in time.

 

[Psycho Sonny]

Yep 9.2 is your search term. The .2 is the two subs bit, but do check whether any amp on your shortlist has (i) EQ for the sub channel at all; some have a brick wall filter that excludes EQing the sub, and (ii) whether it's 2x mono sub channels (probably what you need with a buttkicker) or stereo subs. If the amp is good enough then it should be configurable either way. You'd then do the room EQ with just the real sub attached.

The 9 bit is the number of power amp channels. As you say, these can be configured as 5(.1/.2) + 4 Atmos, or as 7(.1.2) + 2 Atmos, or even as 7(.1/.2) + 2 front height. You might also have the ability to drive an external amp for two additional channels. This would give you the ability to run 7(.1/.2) + 4 Atmos.

As for the Denon, if you mean by "winner" the cheapest way to drive 9 powered channels then yes, but there are higher-fidelity and cooler-running amps, albeit more expensive.

I'm wondering if you could get around it running hot and possibly causing lifespan issues by simply running a fan over it albeit you would need a quality fan which is silent which is expensive. Probably a Boneco.

 

[lucid]

I'm wondering if you could get around it running hot and possibly causing lifespan issues by simply running a fan over it albeit you would need a quality fan which is silent which is expensive. Probably a Boneco.

This is already a very active topic at places such as AVForums and AVSforum. Which fans hoe many where to put them how to drive them... yadda yadda yadda Zzzz LOL

 

[decto]

Look at the AC Infinity Aircom, it sits over the amp using internal fans to draw heat away.
Multiple models some of which are temp controlled.

For the number of channels you plan to drive, any AV receiver will struggle, it's just physics.
Consider an amp for LCR as these have the highest demand, I was looking at the BasX A3 - 3 channel.
Others available.

Terrible time to buy AV receivers, prices on 12 month old models are increasing.
Hold off if you can.