Amplifier Upgrade for N800's

[gostan]

I am sure you have seen my recent posts about upgrading my Rotel 1075 amplification source which is insufficient to run my HTM1 center and my 805 rear surrounds. An Aragon 8008 (200 x2) runs the 803's. My dealer loaned me a Goldmund Job 200 monoblock (200w x 1) to demo running the center channel. The Job 200 is very small and light but super fast with a slew rate of 240V/usesecond and at first listen is an upgrade over the 1075. However, if I keep this Goldmund amp, I know that I now notice that the 1075 does not really make my rears sing. So, my question is as to the value of certain amplifier upgrades for B&W speakers. I do have a variety of choices:

1. Wait until I have more $.
2. Keep the Goldmund to run the HTM1 for $900.00.
3. Purchase a good used 5 channel amplifier (I have opportunity to purchase a Parasound Halo A51 (250 x 5) for $2500 and sell my Rotel 1075 for like $750, for a cash outlay of $1750. Keep the Aragon for second zone or future 7.1 upgrade.
4. Do all of number 3, except also sell the Aragon for $800-$1000 (it is about 6 months old) and utilize Halo for all 5 channels, with a total cash outlay of about $750-$1000 for upgrade. Then I would have unification of one amplifier source across all 5 channels. But, I am not sure whether the Halo A51 is an upgrade over the Aragon for the fronts and I am a bypass music listener 60% of my listening time. Do I give anything up for music listening by giving up a 2 channel amp for a 5 channel amp (2 channel Aragon for 5 channel Halo A51).
5. Figure out how to explain another new piece of audio equipment to wife. Well, with this upgrade I am finished with all upgrades (except for some interconnects) for at least two years.

If I want to jump for the Halo, I probably have to do so today, or it may be long gone.

What to do??

[luszer]

Gostan

I recently purchased an Aragon 3005 from AudioAdvisor as a CES demo, the unit is awesome (5x300w). They also have specials on the 2005, 5x200w.

If you sell the 1075 as suggested the 2005 or 3005 could be within reach.

I am using the 3005 to power Sig 805s, also awaiting the new HTM4.

Just a thought, letting you know what deals are out there.

Regards, Ron

[sikoniko]

what happened to the cinnenova grande 5? I've never heard the halo or the aragon, but both those are viable options. I would think one would want one companies amplification to power all channels. That way they would sound similar.

[gostan]

what happened to the cinnenova grande 5? I've never heard the halo or the aragon, but both those are viable options. I would think one would want one companies amplification to power all channels. That way they would sound similar.

Time conflicts never allowed me the time to pull the plug on the Cinnenova. With no real gun to my head (and wanting to minimize $$ on this upgrade) and with my wife not really wanting me to spend any more $$ on audio equipment for a while, I have been attempting to get a great deal on Audigon for a used 3 or 5 channel amp. And when my dealer offered me a loaner on the Goldmund, I could not resist. It certainly does sound better, but I will have to listen more to the entire front end over the weekend. For $900.00, it simply seems to me that although the HTM1 center does sound much better now, that it is an immediate temporary fix and that I might be better to wait until I hae the necessary funds to swap out the Rotel 1075 for a better 5 channel amp.

I just realized that I do have two other temporary options: (i) I could disconnect my second zone on the 1075 that I neve use and bi-amp the center and return the Goldmund loaner to my dealer, or I could keep the Goldmund for the center and bi-amp the rear 805's. So many options, so little $$ left for upgrades.

[caleb]

Enough power?

Gostan, are you really serious that 200 watts is enough for your 800's???

Caleb

[gostan]

Gostan, are you really serious that 200 watts is enough for your 800's???

Caleb

Caleb:

I have blown my budget (for now) with my N800 speaker upgrades and I am faced with living with my amplification issues or applying a band-aid until I am able to undertake a complete and expensive amplification upgrade. And, certainly the 200W x 2 from the Aragon 8008 is sufficient for now. The 1075 is the real flaw in the ointment.

Stan

[DanR]

caleb,
I believe he has the N803 for his front channels, not the N800's.

[gostan]

caleb,
I believe he has the N803 for his front channels, not the N800's.

DanR
You are correct. I have the 803's. Caleb, sorry if my general reference to the entire Nautilus 800 series was confusing.
Stan

[Jason R]

i am having exactly the same problem you are but with the 700 series and am applying a band aid so to speak, the problem is without the same amp powering the front thre the centre is always going to be either better or worse, balance for home theatre is important, but fro great 2 channel you can try to get it as close as possible and have the best 2 channel music you can, and i am sure with some level adjustment you can get it close, but the 1075 is never going do the htm1 justice however balancing with levels on the mains it should get pretty close until you can find something to replace it.

Nice to know i am not the only one having the exact same problem

[gostan]

Well, I returned the Goldmund Job 200 monoblock loaner to my dealer. It certainly made the HTM1 sing, but it also accentuated the 1075 power deficiencies of my rear 805's and my judgment is to think about it. I m tired of putting band aids on the amplification end of my system My dealer still says that I am turning down an amazing little amp which is beyond compare and that then my front would be set and I could simply pick up another 2 channel amp along the way some day. I need to explore this particular amp and wait and consider it or a major amplification upgrade when my post-holiday wallet is a little thicker.

Meanwhile, I did disconnect my hardly used second zone from the 1075 and bi-amped my center HTM1 with 2 amplifiers from the 1075.