Sherbourn 8100 vs. UPA-200 to drive B&W 804Ds

[ampnoob]

I have a specific question regarding the Sherbourn SR8100 and hopefully someone else out there has the unit and knows the answer.

I currently have the Sherbourn SR8100 receiver (think UMC-200 + UPA 700), a stereo amp the Emotiva UPA-200, and some new to me B&W 804D's with HTM4-D center that I got a good deal on. I have no money left to buy a new amp and I also still live in an apartment so a powerful amp would be overkill at this point in time. The SR8100 is 80wpc and is capable of bi-amping. The UPA-200 is 125wpc. The SR8100 doesn't have pre-outs which is a huge pain, but it does have the ability to run multiple zones and I think I can use the Zone 2 pre-outs as inputs for the UPA-200. Should I bi-amp my towers with the weaker SR8100 or try to use the 8100 as a pre-amp and attempt to use the UPA-200? It'd be much easier to bi-amp, and using the 8100 as a preamp might be difficult for movies, but if using the UPA-200 over the SR8100 is worthwhile I'd be willing to try.

I have two concerns with using the 8100 as a pre-amp. First, it's not clear to me what the output into Zone 2 actually is. I don't want to run Zone 2 to my mains if it's a stereo mix down of a 5.1 signal for movies. Second, I'm not sure that I can control the volume of zone 2 and zone 1 simultaneously. If I want to change the volume I might have to do it in two zones which would be super frustrating.

This is what I found in the manual regarding the Zone 2 outputs:

-Mix Output: Provides a stereo unbalanced analog output that is the stereo mixdown of the surround sound source currently playing in the main zone. The Mix Output is variable, and is controlled by the Main Zone Volume setting.

-Zone 2 and Zone 3 Outputs: Provide stereo unbalanced line level analog audio outputs for Zone 2 and Zone 3.


I'm also curious about how much am I missing out on using the 8100 or UPA200 vs. something like an XPA-3 for these 804s? Getting the XPA-3 would be a lot more palatable if I didn't have to buy a pre-amp as well...


Thanks!

[creimes]

If you are living in an apartment and cannot turn up the volume then don't sweat it and just use the 8100 to power the 804D's, you won't use even the max output of the 8100 amp, the 8100 is rated for real power unlike most or all receiver's in it's price range, I am a fan of having headroom but if you can't crank it up then I wouldn't over think it.

Chad

[AudioHTIT]

I agree with Chad, I used an SR-8100 to power my B&W 805S and surrounds for a time. While for ideal conditions the B&W's can use more power, for most normal levels (and especially in an apartment), the 8100 does a nice job. I don't know how you'd do anything useful with the UPA-200 except to power Zone 2 speakers; if you tried to bi-amp you'd have to separately adjust the volume for main and Zone 2 - there's no way to make them track together.

[creimes]

You could sell the UPA-200 and put that towards future upgrades when you have the chance or just hold onto it for when you get a pre/pro with pre-outs, honestly you wouldn't gain much db going from the 8100 to the UPA-200 anyways, I say bi-amp the speakers for now with the 8100 assuming it can bi-amp using the internal amps, srry I don't know much about the 8100 receiver.

Chad

[ampnoob]

Thanks for the responses guys. What do you guys think would be appropriate for an endgame setup later on down the road? Would an XPR5 be fine for a 5.1 system or should I try to get monoblocks (XPA1, 100, or 1L) or possibly even the XPA3 and paring that with my UPA200 which I'm sure is fine for surrounds.

[AudioHTIT]

The XPR-5 would be a great amp, they are going away so you'll probably be looking used In the not too distant future. The XPA-5 would also be very good, as would the XPA-7 I'm using now, lots of 2C power. Both of these are much less expensive and a nice match for the XMC-1, the current processor of choice. Nothing wrong with mono blocks if you really value 2C performance and you have the budget. I think it's too early to say what the R series will be like 'down the road'.

[ampnoob]

I was totally thinking XPA, but wrote XPR...maybe my subconscious knows best. But yes, I feel like the XPA series either 5, 3, or monos would be my current plan for endgame. With my Diamonds I feel like that setup should last a long, long time, right? I'm also curious what makes the XMC-1 so much more expensive than something like the UMC-200? 

[leonski]

I'd try for a BETTER amp for the 804 diamond speakers no matter WHAT.

From the Sterophile test of Measured Data; minimum value of 3 ohms at 108Hz, there is a combination of 4.5 ohms and a 53° capacitive phase angle at 72Hz,

What this means to you the consumer is that you need an amp with fairly robust build. At 53 degrees over 1/2 the power simply goes away. And 3ohms? At a place with fairly high power demands.

Many B&W speakers have similar issues with high phase angle and low impedance minima. I would recommend if not MORE power, than the most capable amp you can afford at ANY power.