Post by knucklehead on Dec 20, 2008 17:06:12 GMT -5
For nearly 2 weeks now. Prior to that I've been using an HK AVR520 for quite some time, almost 8 years IFRC.
While the 520 has served me well over that time, I've always known I could use more power. I've owned Infinity IL40s for nearly as long as the 520 so I'm familiar with how they sound. I use IL30s for surrounds. A JBL S Center ll in the middle of it all. My sub is an Infinity PS212 400 watt unit. Works very well and integrates itself very well with music. It rattles the windows playing Lord of The Ring. Very good speakers for what I listen to and the size of my LR, about 14x19 with a very sound friendly acoustic ceiling tiles and heavy carpet & pad. While most of the day I listen to 2 channel, 5.1 is important for when I watch a movie or occasionally, TV. About 90/5/5 music/tv/movies.
Should I have bought the XPA-5 for even better 2 channel?
Maybe.
What the UPA-7 has brought to my 2 channel listening is nothing short of phenomenal. The difference between the 520 power and the UPA-7 is like night and day. Using the old cliche about soundstage etc, yep, its opened up the detail greatly. Where its made the most difference is in the mid low and medium bass where there is so much more punch, especially at lower listening levels. I'm listening to Cream - Disraeli Gears (CD, I don't do vinyl anymore) and its never sounded quite so good.
The 520 has always had good mid and upper highs covered well but never had that punch in that lower mid bass. I sold a set of Infinity IL50s with the 250 watt sub in each tower 2 years ago. Kinda missed those until the other week, but no longer.
I'm using an HK AVR 247 as a pre/pro for now. The setup and ease of use over the 520 is amazing. I haven't a clue as to how the 247 sounds by itself.
Why would I even want to?
I am very satisfied with what I've bought. Listening at moderate levels this amp has all the muscle I need, and I can crank on it knowing it will deliver clean sound well past what I will ever listen at for more than a few minutes at a time.
And why did I buy a 7 channel amp if I'm only using 5 at any one time? Well, I'm not, I'm using 4 channels of it at the moment in 2 channel mode on the AVR. I've split the L and R signals a routed them to the amp and set up 4 JBL E50s temporarily, to see how it would sound. In short, it sounds fantastic. More bass, more mids and great detailed highs. And to think I was going to sell them. I may buy 2 more and use 6 of them in 5.1 surround.
While the 520 has served me well over that time, I've always known I could use more power. I've owned Infinity IL40s for nearly as long as the 520 so I'm familiar with how they sound. I use IL30s for surrounds. A JBL S Center ll in the middle of it all. My sub is an Infinity PS212 400 watt unit. Works very well and integrates itself very well with music. It rattles the windows playing Lord of The Ring. Very good speakers for what I listen to and the size of my LR, about 14x19 with a very sound friendly acoustic ceiling tiles and heavy carpet & pad. While most of the day I listen to 2 channel, 5.1 is important for when I watch a movie or occasionally, TV. About 90/5/5 music/tv/movies.
Should I have bought the XPA-5 for even better 2 channel?
Maybe.
What the UPA-7 has brought to my 2 channel listening is nothing short of phenomenal. The difference between the 520 power and the UPA-7 is like night and day. Using the old cliche about soundstage etc, yep, its opened up the detail greatly. Where its made the most difference is in the mid low and medium bass where there is so much more punch, especially at lower listening levels. I'm listening to Cream - Disraeli Gears (CD, I don't do vinyl anymore) and its never sounded quite so good.
The 520 has always had good mid and upper highs covered well but never had that punch in that lower mid bass. I sold a set of Infinity IL50s with the 250 watt sub in each tower 2 years ago. Kinda missed those until the other week, but no longer.
I'm using an HK AVR 247 as a pre/pro for now. The setup and ease of use over the 520 is amazing. I haven't a clue as to how the 247 sounds by itself.
Why would I even want to?
I am very satisfied with what I've bought. Listening at moderate levels this amp has all the muscle I need, and I can crank on it knowing it will deliver clean sound well past what I will ever listen at for more than a few minutes at a time.
And why did I buy a 7 channel amp if I'm only using 5 at any one time? Well, I'm not, I'm using 4 channels of it at the moment in 2 channel mode on the AVR. I've split the L and R signals a routed them to the amp and set up 4 JBL E50s temporarily, to see how it would sound. In short, it sounds fantastic. More bass, more mids and great detailed highs. And to think I was going to sell them. I may buy 2 more and use 6 of them in 5.1 surround.
