BasX A2 + A3 or single A5

[jschuetz]

Hi all!  New to the forum and was just wanting to get some opinions from those with more experience than me.  Here's my dilema...

I've got a pretty decent sized TV room that's 20 x 15, with the 15 ft side being an open concept, so technically, the "room" is much larger.  My old Denon X4000 has a few failed channels, so it's time to replace it.  I had already pulled the trigger on an MC1, and my plan was to grab a BasX A2 and an A3 (when back in stock), using the A2 for the LR and the A3 for the Center and the 2 back surrounds.  I don't have any plans to add heights or anything quite yet (but maybe someday).  The speakers I am driving are some older Fluance XLF7 towers and the matching center channel and bi-pole surrounds.  They claim efficiency ratings of 85db for the center, 88db for the surrounds and 89db for the towers.  I'm starting to wonder if I should just get the A5 and be done with it though.  I have an A2 in a music room that I love, and have used it in place of the Denon for music as a test and it sounds WAY better than the Denon's internal amps to my ears, which is why I was thinking of my original plan.

Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

[Zombie]

Unless you absolutely like multiple amps I think I’d just go with the A5 and be done with it. I think it’ll have plenty of power for your needs. If you’re thinking about adding a couple of surrounds later then maybe the A7. Whether you go with the single A5 or the A2 + A3 I doubt you’d hear much of a difference unless you’re planning on playing at extreme volumes. Besides, the single amp vs. multiple will save you some money. I personally love multiple amp set-ups (that’s what I have) but I think the A5 would have plenty of clean power for your speaker arrangement. Of course this is just my .02.

[ttocs]

I agree with Zombie here. Get the 5 channel amp.

If you don't like it, return it, but at least you'll get to try it out. I think it'll be enough for your needs now, and can help grow the system for later when it can be used for surrounds/heights as your system expands. That's when you could think about upgrading this or that.

[jschuetz]

Thanks Zombie and ttocs - makes sense. Taking a step back and calculating what I really NEED to get to reference levels at my seating distance, 95 watts ACD should be plenty anyway, plus those speakers are closer to 6ohms than 8 anyway. Plus I can spend the extra cash for a sub upgrade or additional sub or something else fun . I think I just fell in love with the sound of the A2 in my music room. That's paired with a Cambridge Audio CXN V2 streamer and the sound is fantastic.

[Zombie]

The BasX series are great amps for the money. I have a couple that I use all the time, A-300 for my backyard set-up and an A-400z for my whole house audio. Whatever you decide to do be sure and report back your findings. Might help someone else in a similar situation.

[leonski]

The arguement FOR the A2 / A3 solution is forward compatibility.

Some more power for the L/R/Center in the future, perhaps. That IS a fairly good sized room and with an 8 foot ceiling over 2400 cubic feet.
CUBIC is what you are really worried about, not square feet. Also? You have yet more room attached. I have no idea how much room we are
really talking about....sound-wise.

While your towers are fairly sensitive at 89db, the center is not.....at 85db.
I think it's good that all your speakers are from one builder. That way they are a good tonal match.

I've always tried to be 'one and done' so while something from the 'A' series would be fine where less power is required, you may be
well served with more juice in the fronts / center....The power rating for the A3 is at 1% distortion / 4 ohms...certainly a practical redline for that amp.

And in your room? I'd personally buy 2 LESSER subs than one mondo. Music only goes so low, anyway, it being movies that put the hurt to
subs with potentially large amounts of LF energy. Just don't overdrive....

[vcautokid]

Simple is grand. The A5 is what most will be fine with. I am voting for the A2, and the A3 if you can. I am thinking of power supplies here, and the 2 here will give more than one A5. I am huge on power supplies. Dynamics and scale start there. Also as stated above the flexibility. You can repurpose these 2 amplifiers to another system easily, either both or singlely if your power needs change in the future. Maybe you get 3 A1 Monoblocks for the front stage later, you still use the A2 for your surrounds. The A3 may play as a Zone 2 amplifier, or mix as appropriate. All manner of possibilities here. Even if you go with an A5, you can scale up as needed later, and employ the A5 in a zone 2, and 3 amplifier as needed as you get other grander amplifiers for your main zone. Don't get hung up too much on impedance swings. The BAS-X will do fine. But if you are going to demand more now, do consider the A2 and A3.