Ok, when using a 5.1 HD source what device performs what role exactly? Does the av receiver process all the channels or does it only affect the centre, rears and fronts leaving the stereo amp to deal with fronts?
Well if you think about where the pre-outs are, the it becomes obvious how the processing is done and where the front channel signal is derived from. So, for a moment imagine that your one-box AV amp gets split in to two parts:
A pre-amp, this does all the signal switching, decoding (DD/DTS/True-HD/DTS-MA/DPL etc etc), lip sync, speaker set-ups, networking, USB playback, volume control blah blah blah.
Then a power amp All this does is take a multichannel signal from the pre-amp and the provide the muscle to drive the speakers. That's it. Nothing more. Pure & simple.
That's all an integrated amp really is. It's a pre-amp and a power amp in one box, sharing a single power cord, and where all the pre-to-power connections are inside. Your Yam' is basically this too. Except there's a second exit for the pre-amp signals. This is the 5.1 or 7.1 pre-amp outs on the back panel. So there's one set inside and one set outside. Both sets are active simultaneously. However, if you are using an external power amp for the front channels then the Yam's front L & R speaker terminals wouldn't have any speakers connected so there's no work for the amp on those channels to do.
Okay, so if you followed the pre-amp / power amp idea then you've already worked out that all the decoding for AV sources is done
before the signal reaches the pre-amp output sockets (the pre-outs). IOW, any signal coming from the pre-outs is already decoded/processed/timed/set-up exactly as if you were running the AV amp as normal. So anything connected to the pre-outs is going to receive that processed signal too. This includes a 2ch Hi-Fi amp being used as a power amp for the front channels.
So, when you are playing the system in AV mode, and using the Hi-Fi amp for the front channels, all it's really doing is acting like a 2ch power amp but one with the addition of a volume control that needs to be set to a specific point to be balanced with the rest of the AV amp channels. You keep one input on the 2ch Hi-Fi amp dedicated to AV use - say the AUX channel. That's pretty much it.
bearing in mind different amps produce different sounds, will there be any noticeable sound across the front row due to different devices powering the centre compared to the FL+FR?
^does this make sense?
The front L&R will have a bit more scale (better dynamics) and probably improved stereo separation. But you must also remember that the AV amp won't be working as hard. There's now no load on the front L&R channel amps, so there's more power on tap for the centre and rears. So you'll gain some scale there too.
If you went wildly OTT with the front stereo amp then that might cause some issues, sure. Say you bought some horrific disco PA amp with loads of EQ and screwed up the sound completely, then yes, you'd have a problem. But in all the times I have done this with decent Hi-Fi stereo amps then it hasn't been anything but positive. Also remember, 70% of what you hear in a movie comes from the centre channel. You also have the full ability to set the front L&R channel level where you need, so if it needs reigning in a little then you can do that.
personally i like a treble heavy sound, not really purist but hey ho, there must be a decent dealer here or near cambs. ill look into it
If you're looking for something a little more forward-sounding then I would try some silver coated speaker cable. Chord Carnival Silver Screen is a bit more toppy than plain copper cables.
Amp wise; Rotel, I would have thought. Some might suggest Cyrus. It has quite a lean fast character but can also be described as slightly clinical. Naim shares the "fast" sound but retains better musicality IMO. There is a caveat though with all these amps. It's that as the ranges and generations have evolved there are products which exhibit the house sound traits more strongly than others. What I would suggest is narrow down the choices first. Find a couple of brands that produce the sort of sound you are looking for. Then home in on specific models.
thanks! as always thanks for your input!
You are most welcome
