Amp recommendation needed for Monitor Audio Silver 300 7G

[srinivas.ganapathi]

My current setup is Monitor Audio Silver 300 7G towers and Silver 250 for center channel, Currently i am driving them using Denon 4700 receiver.

Initially i built the system for movies. I have 5.1.2 setup with Monitor audio in-wall surrounds and revel atmos speakers. My subwoofer is REL 1205.

Past 6 months i have shifted to music and i am into like 80% music and 20% movies only. I tried my best to tune audessey but denon is unable to give that fast attack and transients that the speakers are more than capable of,

Appreciate seniors in forum for recommendations for AMPs to separate out LCR or LR using pre-outs in Denon 4700. Im looking for neutral to warm signatur. Currently i have Seinheiser HD800 headphones which does this job, but want to beat it with my tower speakers.

My budget is 50k-80k, I am ok to look at used options.

 

[Phani24]

My current setup is Monitor Audio Silver 300 7G towers and Silver 250 for center channel, Currently i am driving them using Denon 4700 receiver.

Initially i built the system for movies. I have 5.1.2 setup with Monitor audio in-wall surrounds and revel atmos speakers. My subwoofer is REL 1205.

Past 6 months i have shifted to music and i am into like 80% music and 20% movies only. I tried my best to tune audessey but denon is unable to give that fast attack and transients that the speakers are more than capable of,

Appreciate seniors in forum for recommendations for AMPs to separate out LCR or LR using pre-outs in Denon 4700. Im looking for neutral to warm signatur. Currently i have Seinheiser HD800 headphones which does this job, but want to beat it with my tower speakers.

My budget is 50k-80k, I am ok to look at used options.

For power amp you can consider O&B

 

[DB1989]

My current setup is Monitor Audio Silver 300 7G towers and Silver 250 for center channel, Currently i am driving them using Denon 4700 receiver.

Initially i built the system for movies. I have 5.1.2 setup with Monitor audio in-wall surrounds and revel atmos speakers. My subwoofer is REL 1205.

Past 6 months i have shifted to music and i am into like 80% music and 20% movies only. I tried my best to tune audessey but denon is unable to give that fast attack and transients that the speakers are more than capable of,

Appreciate seniors in forum for recommendations for AMPs to separate out LCR or LR using pre-outs in Denon 4700. Im looking for neutral to warm signatur. Currently i have Seinheiser HD800 headphones which does this job, but want to beat it with my tower speakers.

My budget is 50k-80k, I am ok to look at used options.

Try out the Marantz M1 if you don't want to go above 80k. With most other integrated, you'll also have to get a streamer and more than likely, a DAC also which'll add another 50-60K to the cost at the minimum.

I will advise you to go against a power amp to supplement an AVR acting as the Pre-Amp. Pre makes a huge difference so going with an integrated amp is a better, safer and more economical bet.

 

[reignofchaos]

Get a push pul tube amp unless you want your ears blown. That is a bright speaker.

 

[srinivas.ganapathi]

For power amp you can consider O&B

Thanks for reply. Is there any particular model i should look at from O &B. Surprisingly the current denon doesnt make them feel overly bright, but I tend to like little bright headphones like hd800 and meze 109pros.

 

[srinivas.ganapathi]

Try out the Marantz M1 if you don't want to go above 80k. With most other integrated, you'll also have to get a streamer and more than likely, a DAC also which'll add another 50-60K to the cost at the minimum.

I will advise you to go against a power amp to supplement an AVR acting as the Pre-Amp. Pre makes a huge difference so going with an integrated amp is a better, safer and more economical bet.

Sorry I didnt understand your comment. With denon pre outs we can still integrate a power amplifier and still use denons heos for streaming right. Since denon is already an integrated amp will including the Maranze be helpful in the chain. May be u misread your comment.

 

[DB1989]

Sorry I didnt understand your comment. With denon pre outs we can still integrate a power amplifier and still use denons heos for streaming right.

Yes, u can. But it won't sound good.

Since denon is already an integrated amp will including the Maranze be helpful in the chain. May be u misread your comment.

In a sense, the Denon AVR is an integrated amp since it houses both pre and power sections inside one chassis and includes a volume control.

However, it is not very good at being an integrated amp as your experience suggests.

And adding a power amp is not going to solve it because it is not only the power amp section of your AVR that is not great at stereo but also the preamp section. Ergo, the preamp section of your AVR doesn't cut the mustard.

Therefore, for stereo listening, its better to get a dedicated stereo integrated amp because they come with better preamp and poweramp compared to an AVR. Therefore, they will sound better for stereo listening.

 

[Phani24]

Thanks for reply. Is there any particular model i should look at from O &B. Surprisingly the current denon doesnt make them feel overly bright, but I tend to like little bright headphones like hd800 and meze 109pros.

Hca 300 or 500 is fine. Which will come with in your budget. Check with aniket

 

[RAAGA]

Would suggest this

https://acousticportrait.com/swara/

 

[DB1989]

Thanks for reply. Is there any particular model i should look at from O &B. Surprisingly the current denon doesnt make them feel overly bright, but I tend to like little bright headphones like hd800 and meze 109pros.

if you like bright, that means you like details that pop and good dynamics instead of a mellow sound. This also explains your leaning towards the Monitor Audio Silver 300. Taking that into consideration, i would now strongly recommend the M1 purely because the dynamics on it are very strong (due to being Class D, it'll kick much harder than your Denon - akin to a very good Class AB PowerAmp) while maintaining a very good midrange and sparkling but refined Treble - it'll sound very much like an HD800. Demo it if possible - i daresay you'll like it.

Would suggest this

https://acousticportrait.com/swara/

For power amp you can consider O&B

Why?

 

[srinivas.ganapathi]

Yes, u can. But it won't sound good.

In a sense, the Denon AVR is an integrated amp since it houses both pre and power sections inside one chassis and includes a volume control.

However, it is not very good at being an integrated amp as your experience suggests.

And adding a power amp is not going to solve it because it is not only the power amp section of your AVR that is not great at stereo but also the preamp section. Ergo, the preamp section of your AVR doesn't cut the mustard.

Therefore, for stereo listening, its better to get a dedicated stereo integrated amp because they come with better preamp and poweramp compared to an AVR. Therefore, they will sound better for stereo listening.

Why?

Can you check if this setup works, i have seen multiple forum posts where they are using independent dac and power amp setup.

Any streamer (ibasso dx260 DAP , already own) --> SMSL RAW MDA1 dac+preamp (Already own) --> Power Amp
If this setup works, i only need to invest on the Power Amp.

 

[mshifi]

Thanks for reply. Is there any particular model i should look at from O &B. Surprisingly the current denon doesnt make them feel overly bright, but I tend to like little bright headphones like hd800 and meze 109pros.

There is a.n OB amp for sale from hyd. You may wish to checkout the classified section

 

[RAAGA]

if you like bright, that means you like details that pop and good dynamics instead of a mellow sound. This also explains your leaning towards the Monitor Audio Silver 300. Taking that into consideration, i would now strongly recommend the M1 purely because the dynamics on it are very strong (due to being Class D, it'll kick much harder than your Denon - akin to a very good Class AB PowerAmp) while maintaining a very good midrange and sparkling but refined Treble - it'll sound very much like an HD800. Demo it if possible - i daresay you'll like it.



Why?

if you like bright, that means you like details that pop and good dynamics instead of a mellow sound. This also explains your leaning towards the Monitor Audio Silver 300. Taking that into consideration, i would now strongly recommend the M1 purely because the dynamics on it are very strong (due to being Class D, it'll kick much harder than your Denon - akin to a very good Class AB PowerAmp) while maintaining a very good midrange and sparkling but refined Treble - it'll sound very much like an HD800. Demo it if possible - i daresay you'll like it.



Why?

Why not ?

 

[RAAGA]

 

[Aniket N R]

I would suggest to stage your upgrade(also my updated path ). Good starting point will be to add an External amp. I am using O&B HCA500 with Marantz Cinema 60 (Elac Debute F5 first version) and I have stopped here as it sounds just perfect to my ears. I was happy with movies but for music something felt missing and O&B filled the gap.

Stage two would be to add a streamer /DAC/ prepro. This is tricky, you will need a device which will give a proper crossover for your sub. Since you are used to a sub for movies and music using avr without it wil feel like something is missing. I have heard Bluesound and it is superb. It supports DIRAC for room calibration. And then later on add a prepro if needed.

 

[reignofchaos]

if you like bright, that means you like details that pop and good dynamics instead of a mellow sound. This also explains your leaning towards the Monitor Audio Silver 300. Taking that into consideration, i would now strongly recommend the M1 purely because the dynamics on it are very strong (due to being Class D, it'll kick much harder than your Denon - akin to a very good Class AB PowerAmp) while maintaining a very good midrange and sparkling but refined Treble - it'll sound very much like an HD800. Demo it if possible - i daresay you'll like it.



Why?

Why buy class D to emulate class AB when you can buy a real high current class AB like O&B for the same money?

 

[DB1989]

Why buy class D to emulate class AB when you can buy a real high current class AB like O&B for the same money?

For the OPs use case scenario and budget, the entire budget will be spent on the O&B amp without anything left over for the streamer and DAC. M1 has all 3 (streamer+dac+amp) while emulating a high current class ab amp and having the terrific bass response and control of a class D.

 

[reignofchaos]

For the OPs use case scenario and budget, the entire budget will be spent on the O&B amp without anything left over for the streamer and DAC. M1 has all 3 (streamer+dac+amp) while emulating a high current class ab amp and having the terrific bass response and control of a class D.

He is better off getting a power amp now and connect it to his denon and then get a streamer dac preamp later once he has more funds. M1 is a dead end and he will want to upgrade again soon.

 

[DB1989]

He is better off getting a power amp now and connect it to his denon and then get a streamer dac preamp later once he has more funds. M1 is a dead end and he will want to upgrade again soon.

What may be a dead end to one maybe end game for another. Tried higher current poweramps with AVR preouts and going down that path is never ending. Choose your poison accordingly.

 

[Aniket N R]

For the OPs use case scenario and budget, the entire budget will be spent on the O&B amp without anything left over for the streamer and DAC. M1 has all 3 (streamer+dac+amp) while emulating a high current class ab amp and having the terrific bass response and control of a class D.

Yes but upgrades are best felt when done in staged manner, you get time to adjust and calibrate to the new sound and then add what is missing. I agree on M1 its a solid pirce of art but a dedicated amp & Streamer are in a different league of its own.