Brian Treinen
Stunt Coordinator
- Joined
- Aug 10, 1999
- Messages
- 135
Well, I went out and bought something else I didn't know I needed based on reading this forum. My wife is gonna kill me... I picked up a Newcastle AM-9080 after the many threads about adding an amp &/or separates on here over the last month. I was finally able to Wire everything last night and play around a little bit. The results - in a word - WOW! Thanks for the reccomendation - this is a huge improvement.
I upgraded to a Denon 3802 in January. Very happy with the results - really a great receiver. I "thought" everything sounded great - until I start reading all the posts about adding an amp or separates. Years ago I stared out with separates for stereo - B&K ST202 and a sweet Superphon preamp. Enjoyed the sound. Now, though for 5.1 & 7.1 I figured a receiver was plenty. Ohhhhhh, was I wrong. I started snooping audiogon and ebay for amps and quickly decided I wanted to go multichannel - I was still skeptical though and didn't want to spend a ton. I narrowed it to the AM-9080 and a Rotel RB-985. Ended up finding a great deal on the 9080 ($440 shipped essentially new in box). What a beast! I also picked up 2 pair of DH Labs SilverSonic BL-1 Series II cables to run from CD to 3802 and from 3802 to amp for the mains. I used the Newcastle cables for the other connections. Prior to it's arrival I spent a lot of time listening to different music to get really familiar with the Denon's sound, and I really did like the way it sounds.
Now, however, after adding the amp - it's as though before I was listening in black and white and now I'm listening in color. The realism and depth of the sound is just fantastic. It also seems like the bass and midrange have just bloomed - and the highs aren't as bright. I listened to Dave Matthews last night with my jaw just agape....I've heard people say before that they "heard things they never heard before" and thought it was a bunch of crap. Well, I REALLY did hear stuff I never heard before. The bass line was awesome, you could hear details like fingers on strings that I had never heard before and the flute, violin and cymbals - oh my!!... very real. Made me do this ---->
So, I just wanted to thank the forum for lightening my wallet and convincing me to add the amp - I don't regret it even remotely - EVERYTHING sounds better, even TV now. WOW. By the way, I've got three channels of the amp doing the mains and center, the other two are for the multi-room outputs to the patio, the 3802 still powers the side and rear surrounds. Did I mention this thing sounds great?!!
I upgraded to a Denon 3802 in January. Very happy with the results - really a great receiver. I "thought" everything sounded great - until I start reading all the posts about adding an amp or separates. Years ago I stared out with separates for stereo - B&K ST202 and a sweet Superphon preamp. Enjoyed the sound. Now, though for 5.1 & 7.1 I figured a receiver was plenty. Ohhhhhh, was I wrong. I started snooping audiogon and ebay for amps and quickly decided I wanted to go multichannel - I was still skeptical though and didn't want to spend a ton. I narrowed it to the AM-9080 and a Rotel RB-985. Ended up finding a great deal on the 9080 ($440 shipped essentially new in box). What a beast! I also picked up 2 pair of DH Labs SilverSonic BL-1 Series II cables to run from CD to 3802 and from 3802 to amp for the mains. I used the Newcastle cables for the other connections. Prior to it's arrival I spent a lot of time listening to different music to get really familiar with the Denon's sound, and I really did like the way it sounds.
Now, however, after adding the amp - it's as though before I was listening in black and white and now I'm listening in color. The realism and depth of the sound is just fantastic. It also seems like the bass and midrange have just bloomed - and the highs aren't as bright. I listened to Dave Matthews last night with my jaw just agape....I've heard people say before that they "heard things they never heard before" and thought it was a bunch of crap. Well, I REALLY did hear stuff I never heard before. The bass line was awesome, you could hear details like fingers on strings that I had never heard before and the flute, violin and cymbals - oh my!!... very real. Made me do this ---->
So, I just wanted to thank the forum for lightening my wallet and convincing me to add the amp - I don't regret it even remotely - EVERYTHING sounds better, even TV now. WOW. By the way, I've got three channels of the amp doing the mains and center, the other two are for the multi-room outputs to the patio, the 3802 still powers the side and rear surrounds. Did I mention this thing sounds great?!!
