The GEt purchase I made (see my signature if you're not familiar with what I'm running) was intended to be the first phase of a system upgrade. The second phase was intended to consist of either a higher end AVR or a better mid-range AVR and a higher end integrated amp with HT bypass. E.g. Either getting a NAD, Cambridge, Anthem, etc. AVR and be done, OR get say a Marantz or Pioneer AVR and something like the Parasound integrated which has HT bypass.

As I did my research, a couple other options presented themselves and I'm looking for some input. So here are the options.

1) Put all your money into the best AVR you can afford and be done.
2) Shave a little budget off your AVR but still get something more than mas market, get good processing and a good "musical AVR" and buy a 2ch amp for the Triton Ones
3) Shave a lot of budget off your AVR and do the integrated amp thing which gives you an entirely separate front end for music vs. HT
4) Go full blown separates if you can, allowing you to maximize both HT and music.

Here are my thoughts.
#1 will most likely result in the biggest sacrifice to the music side of the house but will be the most SIMPLE set up.
#2 has the same pitfalls as #1 but I'll get real power going to the Tritons
#3 moves the prioritization from HT to music. Taking a bit of a hit in all likelihood on the HT side. BUT you get a good preamp and amp for the Tritons for music and the AVR is completely out of the signal chain while playing music.
#4 I feel like this option would require pushing the budget up a the chain a bit but I'd be looking at Marantz or maybe the new Anthem AVM60 and the something like an emotiva or outlaw amp. I've never had HT separates so I'd have to guess this would be the best HT setup I'd ever have owned to date but, you're relying on the HT Pre/Pro manufacturer to have given a care about 2ch audio which may or may not be a safe assumption.

Thoughts?

Imahawki,

Some great questions and I went through a lot of this myself in building my system. Ultimately, I think it depends on how much you use your setup for music. You've described home theater and gaming use, but not much for music. I have a hard time imagining anyone not using their T1s fo listening to music. As beautiful as they sound, it would be a shame for them not to get a chance to stretch their legs on some high quality stereo or multi-channel music.

I decided I wanted my T1s to have the best (within a reasonable budget) support possible for music, as well as home theater. Using my existing AVR, I set about purchasing 7-channels of amplification. With everything I read, monoblock amps were the best way to go for music. With Emotiva, Outlaw Audio, Red Dragon Audio, Wyred for Sound, and all the other options out there, their is a solution for nearly every budget if you are willing to save and be patient. So, I started with the XPA-5 and later added my XPA-1Ls, one at a time.

My next step was to add a dedicated pre-amp with home theater bypass and all the connectivity options I would need for various sources. The XSP-1 was a no brainier for me since I had already decided on Emotiva amps. It offers balanced connections, tone controls, home theater bypass, subwoofer integration, a full phono section with MM and MC capabilities, and very high quality sound for less than $1,000. With both XPA-1Ls and the XSP-1, I spent around $1,800. You could simplify this setup with a good integrated amp and get most of the same capabilities. Anthem, Parasound, and Hegel all make great integrated amps with HT bypass. While I really loved the Hegels, they were significantly more expensive and I felt I could achieve similar sound for less.

That essentially brings me where I am today with the addition of a few sources for music in a CD player with balanced outputs and most recently a turntable. Now it is a matter of selecting the best Surround processor to fit my needs and budget. For me, that means spending under $3,000. At that price point, my options are a factory refurbished Marantz 8802A, a new Marantz 7702 MKII, or the Anthem AVM 60. This list is based on my desire to eventually add Atmos. If I were not interested in Atmos, I would have simply gone for the Emotiva XMC-1 and skipped the dedicated pre-amp.

Using your current AVR as a pre-amp would let you build your system slowly as your budget permits. I believe the T1s deserve the best supporting cast you can offer them. Obviously we all make compromises or else we would have Pass Labs amps for each channel and be hooked up to a Bryston, Krell, Mark Levinson, or Theta processor. That is certainly not my reality. There are tremendous values out there to be had. I am extremely happy with the route I have chosen. It's been difficult waiting and adding each component one at a time; however, I feel that patience is a virtue that offers great rewards.

You already have a great foundation with the speakers you've selected. As you've illuded to, you could simply add a high quality AVR and have an amazing setup! The Anthem MRX 1120 would be a great choice and provide you a near term future proof solution. Here comes the but. Based on some of your comments on the forum, I think you crave more just as I did. You may be better off spending a little more the first time and eliminate the possible regret and the costs of upgrading a second time because you went too low. You already know what you want to do, just clear away the noise and go for it.

Cheers,

T Cobe

Well, here I thought I wrote so much and I still wasn't very clear. Yes, music is a priority. I am REALLY a movie buff but I figure all benefits will follow. I was pretty happy with my HT setup when I had Klipsch gear so certainly I wanted to improve on that ESPECIALLY (but not exclusively) on the stereo music side when I purchased the GEts.

My thought process now however is that both the pre-amp and amp in my AVR are pretty poor compared to the rest of the system. Well the DAC is too. I have a low end outboard DAC that is MUCH better and its not even that good. So sure I'd like to spread out the upgrades if possible but I'm hesitant to keep using the AVR as a pre-amp for TOO long.

Budget-wise I think all of these options come out pretty close to be honest. And I DO want to think longer term as you point out. I think I would be happier with a decent AVR and a dedicated stereo pre-amp. Because then down the road I can swap out the amps and pre-amp separately. Of course, I've noticed pre-amps with HT bypass are sadly few and far between.

Maybe I should buy an AVR first, then monoblock amps for the Tritons and then a pre-amp with HT bypass.

Imahawki,

You may want to check out a Hegel integrated amps. Combine that with an Anthem MRX and you would have the best of both worlds with minimal equipment. The Hegels have a built in DAC and home theater bypass. If you get a chance to audition one, I'd bet you would be very impressed.

I didn't want to assume you were listening to music but I suspected. If I was going strictly home theater, I would have chosen the T2s and saved myself a few thousand. Maybe it's just my perception, but I don't feel surround sound requires the same level of detail and resolution. That may be because I have never had it and don't know what I'm missing, but my most critical listening is 2-channel playback. The T1s certainly have no problem standing on their own and create an incredibly immersive sound by themselves.

With the experience I've had with my Integras, I'm done with Integrating AVRs and amps. I'm sure the Anthem would be better but I'm ready for dedicated separates. You just need to decide what is right for you. If you have no interest in 7 to 11 channels of separate amplification, an AVR and integrated amp would serve you well. Just my .02. You have a great setup with your equipment and room. It's going to sound great either way.

Cheers,

T Cobe

imahawki wrote: Well, here I thought I wrote so much and I still wasn't very clear. Yes, music is a priority. I am REALLY a movie buff but I figure all benefits will follow. I was pretty happy with my HT setup when I had Klipsch gear so certainly I wanted to improve on that ESPECIALLY (but not exclusively) on the stereo music side when I purchased the GEts.

My thought process now however is that both the pre-amp and amp in my AVR are pretty poor compared to the rest of the system. Well the DAC is too. I have a low end outboard DAC that is MUCH better and its not even that good. So sure I'd like to spread out the upgrades if possible but I'm hesitant to keep using the AVR as a pre-amp for TOO long.

Budget-wise I think all of these options come out pretty close to be honest. And I DO want to think longer term as you point out. I think I would be happier with a decent AVR and a dedicated stereo pre-amp. Because then down the road I can swap out the amps and pre-amp separately. Of course, I've noticed pre-amps with HT bypass are sadly few and far between.

Maybe I should buy an AVR first, then monoblock amps for the Tritons and then a pre-amp with HT bypass.

Hi, imahawki

I really like the methodical way you are analyzing options (so too for T Cobe). I know this is somewhat outside the box of how component upgrades are evaluated, but with my Marantz SR 7010 AVR, and a NAD C275BEE stereo amp for added OOMPH for the T1's, I have a good base. For whatever reasons, the addition of a Level 3 Reference Anti-Cable on the Marantz has had the effect of moving this combo UP in SQ, and not just a little. Could an Anti-Cable move a Marantz 7701's SQ up closer to the SQ level of a 8802 with a stock cord, or any AVR closer to a pre/pro? I don't know, but the cords do seem to make any source component sound like it's got better DAC's and digital processing.. When evaluating different options that are in the thousands of dollars, it just might be worth adding the test of of a $300 Anti-Cable into the test mix, and maybe even save some on what source components are ultimately chosen.

Just a thought. I know you'll find a great way through the decision process. I just wonder if a better power cord would benefit all future choices, from base AVR, Pre/pro, to monoblock additions or whatever...

Happy listening!

Rick

One thing I'm trying to rationalize is how much power I really need for the Tritons. I mean, I know more clean power is always better, heck, I have a friend who is running 105dB horns off Merrill Audio Veritas monoblocks (400 watts) but, I only have to power the top section of my Tritons which only goes down to 100Hz. The biggest (but not only) reason for megawatt amps is typically to control multiple large woofers playing down into the 20Hz range. This is exactly why Sandy put 1,600 watt amps in the bass section of the Titans. So I'm torn between some of these good 100-150 watt amps vs. 300 watt or even 400-600 watt monoblocks.

This comes into play in particular if I get a HT processor and need 7 channels of power. A pre/pro and 7ch amp will be cheaper than the same pre/pro and a 5+2 or 5+1+1 channel amps.

Honestly right now my eye is on the soon to be released Antham AVM60 with a PVA7 amp. The amp is not a mega powered amp but it is well designed and allegedly particularly quite.