What receivers/amplifiers do you use to drive you Arendal setups?

[Kristoffer Svendsen]

I’m curious, What receiver/preamp/source and/or amplifiers do you use with your Arendal speakers? Have you tested brands that worked better than others? I’m curious to know what you guys are using!

I’m using a Yamaha RX-A2060 to power a pair of 1961 Monitors and a 1723 Sub 1v and it sounds great! I might add a dedicated amplifier down the line if I get something bigger, but I definitely don’t feel like I’m missing much with my current setup.

[Luis Vazquez]

@JR Williams – I’m driving my 1961 setup (towers, center, surrounds and heights) with a Marantz Cinema 50; from a manufacturer spec perspective, both your AVR and mine have similar power ratings (110 / channel with 2 channels driven).  Thus far I’m more than satisfied with the power my Cinema 50 delivers and the way it sounds.  Both AVRs have the ability to add separate amps (preamp output), so keep in mind that in the future you can always add an external amp for the bed layer or at least for the LCR if you feel more power is needed.

As @Lukas and @Neil indicated, you can never have enough power; you just need to use common sense when pushing the volume level.

[Michael]

I’m not doing anything for the time being. From everything I’m reading, getting an external amp won’t really make a difference, except visually (cool factor) Most of the time, any amp is sending out only a couple watts. The large amount of power is for peak moments like drums or heavy bass. Or explosions in movies etc. If I want to listen to music only, the Marantz Cinema 50 puts out plenty of clean power at 2 channels driven to drive my 1723 S Towers. (the Marantz shuts down the other channels when I tell it to do 2 channel stereo) Ported and crossover set to 40Hz along with LFE set to Main + LFE sends the heavy bass to my pair of 800 watt RMS SVS PB-3000’s. I really think doing all that leaves plenty of power to drive the speakers. I think the only way I can justify spending any money on an external amp, is if I find a really amazing deal on FB Marketplace or something. I had the Emotiva XPA-DR3 in the cart all set to buy, mouse hovering over, and said eff that. Doesn’t matter if I can afford it. Over $2,000 for something in all likelihood I don’t even need, is just a waste of money. Sure it’ll look cool next to the 1723 center channel because it’s too big to go anyplace else, but that’s about it. I think $500 is my limit for something I WANT instead of NEED  Over $15,000 invested at this point. I mean, where does it end? lol

[Michael]

@Luis, Exactly and even though Marantz doesn’t list 4 ohm specs, I think the Cinema 50 puts out well over 200 watts at 4 ohms 2 channels driven

[arkmann]

Michael I have experienced the same situation buying equipment many times.  It’s a fun hobby but can be expensive and it’s easy to overspend chasing the next thing you want (it’s all want. We don’t need it).  A good guideline I read and follow is to wait until the next day when making a big ticket purchase.  If you still want it the next day, go ahead and at least you’ll know it wasn’t an impulse buy.  If you decide no, you saved that money for something else you want more.  Enjoy your musical journey!

[Valentin Dumitrasc]

hello all.

I am very happy to be part of this community.

I will be driving the 1723 monitors with a Sugden Masterclass IA-4 amplifier. And will have a crossover at 80Hz (to begin with) for the 1723 subwoofer 2S. I have read most of the topics here,  but I don’t think there is anyone else driving them with a class A amplifier. I am hoping that the fact that the monitors do not go below 5 ohms to be fine for the amplifier. Plus the lower end will be taken care of by the sub.

Happy listening,

Vali

[Lukas]

@Michael B

Just be aware that LFE + Main, means your front speakers are playing full range! and the subwoofer plays in addition to that below the selected crossover frequency! If you want to route the bass to the subwoofer and take the load of the Towers and amp, you need to select the speakers as small and then you will only have the option of LFE and not LFE + Main.

@valentin.dumitrasc

Sugden makes great-sounding amplifiers, no doubt.
But the amp does not have any active crossover, so this means the Monitors will get the full range bass signal, and the Sub 2S will only play in addition to that. You are not routing the bass from the Monitors to the subwoofer.
It is not possible with your amp, as it does not have the option to connect a DSP in between the pre and power amp sections. You would need to buy an additional power amp and use the one you have only as preamp.

 

[Valentin Dumitrasc]

@Lukas.

Indeed, I will have a crossover before the amplifier and Subwoofer from a Bluesound Node. The digital output will go thru a DAC to the amplifier and the Monitors and the sub out to the Sub 2S. I haven’t decided yet if it’s going to be the Node or Node X. My apologies for not explaining this from the start

[George Williams]

Hi Lukas, Onkyo TX-RZ70 and RZ50 are fantastic receivers and sound very original. I have never had one, but many reviewers said The New Sony 7000ES and the Onkyo TX-RZ70 are far better than other competitors in the market.

 

[Lukas]

@valentin.dumitrasc

Are you sure the Bluesound outputs the bass filtered signal through the digital out? Very unusual. Normally it is just pass through without any DSP in between.

 

@George Williams
I have seen the Andrew Robinson reviews and they seem to like them. I am still skeptical, as I had very poor experiences in the past, but maybe Onkyo USA (Pioneer, Klipsch etc.) is onto something. Onkyo Japan filed for bankruptcy.

[Michael]

Only going to use the Marantz Cinema 50 to power everything in the 5.2.4 HT. It’s plenty of power. I feel a lot of the “influencers” on Youtube have a financial interest in making us think an external amp is required. (You do know if you click on the link to a product on youtube they get a commission) I watch a movie the other day loud AF, and there was no distortion, no strain whatsoever on the Marantz. Basically what I’m saying is, do your friggin job Marantz.  I’ve read a few honest reviews about amps, and I’d say 98% of any amps ever purchased didn’t make a difference. But if it made people feel like it did, and you can afford it, then that’s all that really matters. It’s like buying nice rims for a car. More for show. Which I have done, so no judgement