Adding SLA-470 to home theatre... should I bother?

[lunchmoney]

So I'm thoroughly enjoying my new Yamaha RX-V1900, a 38 lb receiver spec'd at 130x7.

But I've also got a Stellar Labs SLA-470 2-channel amp collecting dust in my much-neglected music listening room... so neglected that I'm tempted to add the amp to my home theatre.

It specs 150 x 2 into 8 ohms, or 470 x 1 into 8 ohms... here's a link to the pdf manual, I don't have any other info on it... look at the "SLA-470" specs:

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/conten...ls/50-4620.pdf

I know all of these numbers might be false, yadda yadda yadda... that's just what it specs. It is quite a heavy chunk of metal, which is a good sign.

So there's two ways I might use it:

150 x 2 into the mains, OR

470 x 1 into the center channel

The mains are SR71's and the center is a Blackbird (my SR71 tweaked to be a center channel), both 8 ohm.

Think I should bother? Which of the two options do you think?

I know the obvious answer is "try it and find out", but it is a pain to install, with the AV cabinet, wires, etc. I just would like some opinions as to whether I should bother. Don't want to go thru the hassle if it's not likely to yield any benefit.

Thanks!

[lunchmoney]

I'm 95% sure that it's exactly the same as an Audio Source AMP310, the only difference being the face plate.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=302-652

[jettore]

Are you running 7 speakers off the Yamaha? If you are and like listening at high volumes then maybe the amp would help. The limiting factor for power through many AVR's is the power supply, so if you are pushing the limits of the power supply then offloading 2 channels to the external amp may help.

The SR71's have an 85db sensitivity so they are power hungry for higher volumes. I think it come down to what you said in the post, try i out and see what sounds best to you.

[lunchmoney]

Are you running 7 speakers off the Yamaha?

No, just 5.1

[lunchmoney]

I'm thinking of trying it bridged mono to the center channel... if there were any difference to be noticed , I think this would be the most obvious. Clearly the center would be getting a LOT more power.

Not so clear that the mains would be getting more power if I hooked it up to the mains (depends on if you believe the specs)... although the receiver wouldn't be working as hard, so maybe it would then have more power to spare for the center and surrounds.

[grumpops]

Personally I would run it off the main preouts. No such thing as too much power (imho). As you stated in 5.1 that would alleviate your internal amp from running so hard. The reason I use power amps (for 2 ch) seems to clean up the signal. Perhaps because of the headroom and damping factor of the amp.
Owning a RX-V1000 I run a Adcom 545 (rated 100w.p.c.) on bypass/tone control mode for music, BIG difference to me. I rarely watch movies and when I do it is NOT at high levels. Music on the other hand........

[mike15]

I had a similar discussion with my local "high end" store about adding an amp for the front two channels.He pulled out a sheet of paper with just about every big name brand on it. this sheet showed actual rms power driven with all channels on at the same time. this was supposidaly done by a third party with no interest of there own involved.It showed that every single ssr from $200 to $5000 lied about there power output.MY (at that time) YAMAHA rxv-2600 rated at 130 watts per channel was actualy in the 40 watt neigborhood.The trick as it was explained to me was that if you took measuernents one channel at a time it would show the rated output for each channel. thats how they can advertise 130x7. there were a few ssr's that measured what they said they were. the two I can remember were MARANTZ and HK both tend to have lower power ratings then the rest.

IMO unless you listen to "all channel stereo" at high levels there wouldn't be much difference.If you use your ssr for stereo you are probly getting the actual rated watts out of the front two channels.when movies are playing 90% of the sound comes from the front 3 channels.Maybe there would be a noticable differance durring loud explosions or any case when all the channels are being feed loud material.For whatever its worth this particular store featured MARANTZ and used this test data to try and sell me a new marantz ssr.

[lunchmoney]

MY (at that time) YAMAHA rxv-2600 rated at 130 watts per channel was actualy in the 40 watt neigborhood.The trick as it was explained to me was that if you took measuernents one channel at a time it would show the rated output for each channel. thats how they can advertise 130x7.

Crikey. That receiver weighs nearly 40 lbs. Makes you wonder what lesser receivers weighing half as much actually deliver.

The good news is that rarely are all 5 speakers blasting.

The weight of Marantz receivers raises an eyebrow. Their 100x7 SR5005 is under 30 lbs.

Not trying to obsess on weight too much, but it's tough to deliver power without it.

[lunchmoney]

I think I'll try it on the mains.

I think the big question is: when big thunderous explosions happen in the mains, while there's also lots of info coming through the center channel, does it all sound cleaner?

Next question: would I ever notice the difference?

I guess what I really wanted to know in this thread is if anyone knew anything about the SLA-470... if it's a garbage amp, who knows maybe I'd be getting LESS power to the mains than if I didn't use it. I've always thought that the amp sounded good in my music-only setup, but I've never compared it to anything else, under even vaguely similar conditions. Does anyone know anything about the amp?

If it is indeed not all that powerful, that's why it might be interesting to bridge it and use it on the center... for sure the center would be getting a lot of power at that point. Could make the center ultra-clean sounding, while leaving more power for the mains from the receiver.

[Theresa]

For maximum performance and value I would buy an Emotiva amp before alternatives as the price and performance (I have three Emo amps and all work spectacularly with no QC problems). AudioSource equipment seems overwhelmingly mid-fi but their amps aren't priced as if they were.

[lunchmoney]

For maximum performance and value I would buy an Emotiva amp before alternatives as the price and performance (I have three Emo amps and all work spectacularly with no QC problems). AudioSource equipment seems overwhelmingly mid-fi but their amps aren't priced as if they were.

Can't afford new amps. Yes, the emotiva 3-channel would be ideal.

I don't know why PE sells the AMP310 for so much ($699). You can find it elsewhere on the web for less than $400.

[mike15]

I would think a seperate amp would or should outperform a ssr.SSR's are designed and built to a certain price. In order to have an all in one solution a lot of compromises have to be made.Amps are also built to a certain price point but with less compromises?????

I think its worth all the trouble to try both ways and see what happens.I'm pretty interested myself. let us know what you think.

[blue934]

Crikey. That receiver weighs nearly 40 lbs. Makes you wonder what lesser receivers weighing half as much actually deliver.

The good news is that rarely are all 5 speakers blasting.

The weight of Marantz receivers raises an eyebrow. Their 100x7 SR5005 is under 30 lbs.

Not trying to obsess on weight too much, but it's tough to deliver power without it.

my Onkyo 805 is over 60lbs. 140w IIRC