Aragon stage one or Denon 4802 (1 Viewer)

[Darrel McBane]

I've owned the Stage One for over a year now. Besides being a beautiful piece of equipment. It has runs flawlessly. That means a lot in the HT world.

I also run Klipsch speakers in my HT area. And use a Rotel 1095 amp (200wpcX5@8ohm) for front, center and rear speakers. Along with a Carver Cube amp (200wpcX2@8ohm)for the rear center speakers. Certainly more power than I really need. Maybe more power than is required. But, I get every bit of sound out of my system that can be got.

I admit that I'm a power hound. But, I've alway felt that people under power their systems. More than over power their systems. But, to each their own I guess.

Best of luck.

 

[nikhil m]

well if i get teh aragon sound stage alone for now do you think i could use my current 3802 as an amp? and have the aragon stage one as a processor the stage one price alone is 2500

 

[Ricky T]

nikhil,

I would get the Stage One for 2500, and spend 500 on a used 5 channel amp that gets 100-140 wpc. Used amps are the best value in audio. There are several models in the 400-600 range: parasound 885/1205, acurus 125x5, harman kardon signature 2.1, rotel 985, etc. Then, down the road, if you move to 7.1, you can add a 2 channel amp to drive your mains.

I also know someone who might be selling his Acurus 200x5

 

[Ryan Tsang]

only if your 3802 has preamp-in for 6 ch. I think some label it "power-in". Not likely. Most AVRs have 6ch pre-outs.

Aragons (and their late brother Acurus) are know for their minimalist/short signal path/neutrality approach. This month's SGHT review on the Stage One + 3005 combo supports that.

 

[nikhil m]

so teh aragon for 2500 with a chepaer amp is a good bet right/?

 

[Charles Gurganus]

Yes, that would be the way to go. There are 3 or 4 good amps on this first page of audiogon multi channel amps....

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/fsb.pl?ampsmult&1&ctg&st1

The B&K AV-5125 5 channel for $699 jumps out. If you keep checking you can probably get a B&K AV-5000 (older version of AV-5125) for a few hundred less.

 

[DaveLenhert]

nikhil-

I'm probably a little late in this discussion, but I'll put my 2 cents in anyways.... Ricky_T does have a point that Klipsch speakers don't NEED much power. However, that isn't the only part to the equation!!!! First and foremost, you need a QUIET amp (and preamp, and source), otherwise, due to the high efficiency you will hear a considerable amount of hiss from the horns. You should definitely be able to hear a considerable amount with the Denon 3802, and this was one of the MAJOR points that was driving me insane with my Klipsch RF3s & Denon 3801. The HIGH power amps tend to be much noisier unless you pay lots of $$$ for them, something in the 80 - 125 watt/channel range will do fine. I run a Parasound HCA-1205A (125 watts per channel) and it works fine power wise, but could be a tad quieter for hiss levels, but it isn't bad and a considerable step up from the Denon 3801.

As for the preamp...get the Stage One! NO question! Ted Pugh had the same experience that I had when I upgraded my Denon 3801 to an Acurus ACT-3 (with upgraded DSP, ie same DSPs as the Stage One) with a Parasound HCA-1205A. There is simply no comparison between the two, the ACT-3 was crisp, clear, and very musical. I was never happy with the music (Classical) with the denon, it was dull and lifeless, but the first time I installed the ACT-3, the hair on my arms stood up, everything that I had complained about the sound was gone...very detailed and clean, it finally let the music shine! Plus the DSPs on the ACT-3 are very quiet, which cut down on the annoying hiss from the Klipsch horns!

Hope this helps....
-Dave

 

[Ricky T]

David,

Some say the most important aspect of an amp (or receiver's amp) is how the 1st watt sounds! And for Klipsch owners with 97+ db sensitivity speakers who rarely use more than the 1st watt, that would certainly apply more than ever.

Nikhil,

Used 6 channel amps might be useful as the extra channel will enable you to add a rear center later; or just have more headroom with the other 5 channels with one channel open. The Parasound 806 80x6 goes for 450-500 used (retail 1200, 50 hefty lbs). The bigger 1206 135x6 goes for 650-750 used. Rotel's 976 is 60x6. I think B&K makes a small 6 channel amp too.

 

[nikhil m]

Thanks for all the advice guys i do have a rear channel currently im using two jbl's but i think if i get all this high end equip im going to get rid of those speakers they were cheap speakers with an old old system

As far as teh hiss goes i dont hear much hiss at all on my 3802 dunno why but i dont.

 

[Ryan Tsang]

Dave:


I assume your ACT-3 is upgraded to 7.1 and not just the 5.1 + Advance Bass Mgmt? If so, how does it compare? I know I can't upgrade anymore.

 

[DaveLenhert]

Ryan-

Yeah, it was upgraded to the 7.1 DSPs, ala Stage One DSPs. I'm afraid that I can't really compare between the "old" ACT-3 and the "new" ACT-3. The reason is that I purchased it new on closeout from Mondial Designs, but the DSP board died almost instantly on install. So it was sent to Mondial for repair, and I ended up having it upgraded at the same time. So, I'm afraid I couldn't compare. A few of the other owners that upgraded noted that the DSPs were quieter then the origional ones, but other then that I don't remember their comments.

-Dave