Improving Stereo on my AV Setup!

[Matt Horne]

Yep its that question again.. but what I am interested in is which option is better.. heres what I have listed as possible solutions :



1. Buy a stereo amp with a fixed gain/av switch.. so front 2 channels supplied from the av amps pre-outs - cd player through the stereo amp when required!



2. Buy a stereo power amp (like a arcam PXX or something similar) then as above pre-outs to power. Cd Player still using the av amp to route the signal (will this make much difference)



3. This is the off the wall idea.. buy a stereo power and a stereo pre-amp (like a meridian 541 which is quite cheap these days). Use the pre-amp to power for stereo and then route the av pre-outs through the power for movies. This way I do not require a stereo amp with a fixed gain.. but at the mo I have not thought of a good way to hook both the av pre-outs and the pre-outs from the pre-amp to the power at the same time.. as most powers I have seen only have one input!



Thoughts please! Also any thoughts on the Meridian 541 (I realise its a older prologic processor bascially - but I would have thought stereo perfomance would have been a high requirement and it does some video switching as well!)



Thanks



Matt

[mariner]

if you do 2 and use analogue direct or similar on your a/v amp for stereo, it will make a difference.

[ditton]

Not sure how generalisable this is to other stereo amps, but I have the AudioLab 8000S which has a switch that allows me to use it an an integrated from CDplay, and as AVpower from the AVamp pre-outs.



I've seen a few 8000S about s/h, both private and dealers.



hth

[Matt Horne]

Cheers..



any other recommendations for stereo amps or power amps other than audiolab/arcam.



I will be selling a Arcam AVR100 to help fund this possible upgrade (either that or speakers !) and I have no probs buying second hand!



Cheers



Matt

[Matt Horne]

Cheers mate... not got the money yet though...gotta sell the arcam first :)~:-)~:smile:



Ta



Matt

[Bradley Porter]

Hi Matt,



I believe you have the Aracm DV 88? I would recommend that you obtain yourself An Arcam 2 channell P-25 which would just match the sytem a little. I can vouch for the P-25's performance and can run at extremely high levels into 4Ohm loads.



I got round the stereo issue by buying a cyrus AV8 that, if I am being honest, does a slightly better job at stereo reproduction then HT. Dont get me wrong, it very good either way but that mixed with the Arcam gives a very very nice sound for both AV and music.



The only realy problem with my steres reporduction is that my system picks faults with it very easily and if the CD production is a little below par you WILL hear it. This could be to do with the fact that I am only using my Pioneer 737 as the CD player....



Matt - if you are ever in the area then please pop in and have a listen before you buy - more then welocme mate.

[Matt Horne]

Cheers.. will do :D~:-D~:grin:



I'll keep my eyes open on the P25..



Thanks



Matt

[ditton]

see

http://www.adverts.hififorsale.com/latest.asp

for advert for



a) AudioLab 8000S

b) Meridian 200/203 combo



No, there's not mine. If all goes well, however, I expect to be selling my 200/203 combo next month - I was hoping to get more than is asked for there :-(