Good evening all, Paul from San Diego, CA here as a first time poster. I could really use some expert advice. I currently own:
*Pair of PBN Montana EPS loudspeakers ($10,000/pair, review and specs here:
http://www.stereophile.com/content/pbn-montana-eps-loudspeaker-specifications). *
*This is a home theater setup, so I also have the PBN Audio SPC-2 Center Speaker (
http://www.pbnaudio.com/speakers/montana-speakers/spc-2-center-speaker). I have the front three speakers hooked up with Canare 4S11 speaker wire. *
*For the rear channels, I have the PBN Mini Monitor on custom stands (
http://www.pbnaudio.com/speakers/montana-speakers/mini-monitor). * *The drivers are made by SEAS of Norway for PBN. *
*My TV is a Panasonic ZT-60 65" plasma (review here:
http://www.cnet.com/products/panasonic-tc-p60zt60/). *
*Everything is hooked into a cheap Yamaha RX-A1020 receiver (this is what I need advice on replacing). *
*I use this system for a combination of music and movies, which are all digital and run through JRiver Media Center 20. Music is mostly FLAC, movies are mostly bdmv blu-ray disc rips. In the future, I would like to hook my computer up to an external DAC that then feeds into the pre-pro instead of bitstreaming through my EVGA GTX 680 PC video card like I am now and get some acoustic treatments for the room from GIK Acoustics (anyone have comments on this idea?). *
*So here's my dilemma. I've been scouring the internet for the best pre-processor and multichannel amplifier. I finally settled on connecting these two components with balanced XLR cables from redco.com (W2549 Mogami cable with Neutrik NC3MXX-B gold connectors, $20 each. I've been talked into going cheap on the cables and putting more money in the pre-pro and amp first because there's a more noticeable difference there with the option to upgrade to something like a Kimber Kable later if I feel the need). *
*For the pre-pro, I'm leaning towards the Marantz 7702. I don't see the value in spending a ton of money on pre-pros because the standards change so fast that they are obsolete too quickly to get your money's worth (1080p to 4k to 5k, Dobly Digital to Atmos, etc.). If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know. *
*By far my biggest struggle is deciding on an amp. I think I want a five channel amp to start out with. This would allow me to upgrade to monoblocks for the big front speakers in the future and go from a 5.1 to a 7.1 on the now available channels, and I expect this (ditching the Yamaha for separates) would still be a huge improvement over the crappy all-in-one receiver that's driving everything now. I'm okay spending a bit more money on the amp as the technology doesn't seem to change as quickly. A lot of the models I've been looking at have been on the market for years and are still recommended buys. My budget for this piece is under $10,000. The two multi-channel amps that seem to get the most attention are the Parasound Halo A51 ($4,500) and the Bryston 9B SST2 or 9B SST2 Pro (I have no idea what the difference between the regular and Pro is...) which go for around $7,300 and $8,100 respectively. Unfortunately, I've seen professional reviews that express disappointment in both of these in some regards. *
*Another possibility is buying used. While there aren't as many reviews and it's a little older, the Krell S 1500/5 has gotten only positive reviews that I've seen. *
*So this is where I'm stuck. Is the Krell obsolete or is it still a viable option and is it okay to buy this used? Is there a better used alternative? Are there options other than the Bryston and Parasound that I've missed? Would these newer amps sound better than the older Krell (again, I've seen negative reviews of the newer Krells)? Is there a better amp other than the Bryston and Parasound that I've overlooked? *
*I'm trying to match the output of the amp to the 200 watts at 4 ohms RMS of my speakers so I'm not wasting money on excess capacity. I've listened to options from Classe but it seems to me like I don't need to spend the extra money on the extra power that I'll likely never need. I'm very new to the world of high fidelity audio and I feel like I've reached my limits of understanding. I would really appreciate it if anyone in this community could educate me on the best option for the best price for my situation.