keizer
Seeker Of Truth
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Post by keizer on Sept 28, 2015 9:30:28 GMT -5
I have a very humble set up in my office. It consists of a Marantz PM 8005 integrated amp and a Marantz NA 8005 network player. I have a set of Polk audio speakers in my office utilizing A, and a set of Polks in my bedroom utilizing B on the amp.
The other day I inherited a set of Cerwin Vega VE 15 speakers from a friend who is moving. I want to put these in my shop which is next to my house, and have a nice shop sound system out there. What I was wondering is if there is a way to keep my current speaker config with my Marantz amp, and also use it as a preamp for a seperate power amp to run these Cerwin vegas out in my shop? My Marantz has a pre out, so I was thinking I could buy a Emotiva XPR-2 for this chore. I was originally thinking about going with a more affordable pro power amp, but the more I read about Emotiva gear the more I like it! Plus they just look so sexy! My goal is to be able to listen to my digital music collection, or favorite streaming radio station out in my shop. My shop is pretty big (36'x48') so I want to be able to fill it up with sound.
I know this might be overkill, and maybe not even practical, but my 50th birthday is in a few weeks so I thought I would treat myself. I asked this same question in one of my other audio/video forums that I frequent, but it was catered more around my original idea of using a pro power amp. It was after that that I found you guys!
Thoughts please.
Thanks in advance.
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KeithL
Administrator 
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Post by KeithL on Sept 28, 2015 10:02:46 GMT -5
The short answer is that you probably can do it - but it might not be the best idea. Assuming that you can switch off BOTH sets of local speakers, you should be able to connect the preamp outputs to another power amp with no problem (and you'll just turn the power amp off when you're not using it). However, there are potential problems with putting the preamp a significant distance from the power amp. For one thing, you'll be running very long interconnect cables; the receiver may have trouble driving long cables, and, even if not, you may find that long cables pick up a lot of hum and noise. Another problem is the matter of not having the controls in the same room as the amplifier. (For example, what if you turn the amplifier in the shop on, and it turns out you've left the integrated amp turned all the way up, or all the way down? I think you'll end up doing a lot of running back and forth.) I think I would really want controls out in the shop within reach of the power amp. It seems to me you might be better off to consider getting a separate network streamer for the shop - and getting one with its own volume control to run our power amp. I have a very humble set up in my office. It consists of a Marantz PM 8005 integrated amp and a Marantz NA 8005 network player. I have a set of Polk audio speakers in my office utilizing A, and a set of Polks in my bedroom utilizing B on the amp. The other day I inherited a set of Cerwin Vega VE 15 speakers from a friend who is moving. I want to put these in my shop which is next to my house, and have a nice shop sound system out there. What I was wondering is if there is a way to keep my current speaker config with my Marantz amp, and also use it as a preamp for a seperate power amp to run these Cerwin vegas out in my shop? My Marantz has a pre out, so I was thinking I could buy a Emotiva XPR-2 for this chore. I was originally thinking about going with a more affordable pro power amp, but the more I read about Emotiva gear the more I like it! Plus they just look so sexy! My goal is to be able to listen to my digital music collection, or favorite streaming radio station out in my shop. My shop is pretty big (36'x48') so I want to be able to fill it up with sound. I know this might be overkill, and maybe not even practical, but my 50th birthday is in a few weeks so I thought I would treat myself. I asked this same question in one of my other audio/video forums that I frequent, but it was catered more around my original idea of using a pro power amp. It was after that that I found you guys! Thoughts please. Thanks in advance. |
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keizer
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 5
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Post by keizer on Sept 28, 2015 18:55:58 GMT -5
I was actually going to place the Emotiva power amp right next to the Marantz integrated amp. It's the speaker wires that will be running 30' or so, not the interconnects. I was envisioning just walking in the office, put my MP3's on shuffle and head out to work in the shop. I wouldn't be going out to the shop to specifically listen to music as I would be going out there to work on a project or two. I just think these Cerwin Vegas will make great shop speakers.
And yes, the Marantz integrated amp allows you to be able to shut off both A and B speakers.
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Post by Porscheguy on Sept 28, 2015 19:17:57 GMT -5
I'd go for something with more power..
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keizer
Seeker Of Truth
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Post by keizer on Sept 28, 2015 19:29:15 GMT -5
I'd go for something with more power.. Something with more power? Explain? |
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Post by Porscheguy on Sept 28, 2015 19:40:53 GMT -5
I'd go for something with more power.. Something with more power? Explain? Well those CV speakers are probably really efficient so I was wondering why you would even buy an amp as powerful as the XPR-2?  |
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keizer
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 5
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Post by keizer on Sept 28, 2015 20:13:22 GMT -5
Something with more power? Explain? Well those CV speakers are probably really efficient so I was wondering why you would even buy an amp as powerful as the XPR-2? You see this is the info I was hoping to get. You're saying my idea of buying the XPR2 is overkill for what I want to do? I am totally open for going for something way cheaper and still do the job. Suggestions? This is why the pro amp idea was my original thought. |
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Post by Porscheguy on Sept 28, 2015 20:19:06 GMT -5
Well those CV speakers are probably really efficient so I was wondering why you would even buy an amp as powerful as the XPR-2? You see this is the info I was hoping to get. You're saying my idea of buying the XPR2 is overkill for what I want to do? I am totally open for going for something way cheaper and still do the job. Suggestions? Those Cerwin Vega's have a sensitivity of -95dB which make s them very easy to power with a smaller amp. 70-100 wpc would surely make those speakers sing. Then again there is the wow factor.. XPR's look nice but might be overkill... |
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keizer
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 5
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Post by keizer on Sept 28, 2015 20:21:24 GMT -5
You see this is the info I was hoping to get. You're saying my idea of buying the XPR2 is overkill for what I want to do? I am totally open for going for something way cheaper and still do the job. Suggestions? Those Cerwin Vega's have a sensitivity of -95dB which make s them very easy to power with a smaller amp. 70-100 wpc would surely make those speakers sing. Then again there is the wow factor.. XPR's look nice but might be overkill... Sounds like I should ditch my bedroom speakers on B, and feed the shop cerwin vegas with my Marantz. I don't have a problem with that. Thanks! |
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