Help me with the amps/avrs/pre/pro for the Anthony Gallo speakers

[pguy]

Looking to buy the Anthony Gallo Reference 3.5 speakers. My goals are to build a 5.1 setup over a period of time. Music > Movies 70/30. Over a period of time I intend to get some gallo stradas for the rears and a reference av for the center and a tr3 for the subs.

However, most of the people don't feel the need for a TR3 sub since the reference 3.5s do a phenomenal job of it. Same is the lack of need for the center channel speakers - in which case I might just limit the setup to the two reference 3.5s and the two rear stradas.

The biggest confusion I've facing is when it comes to amps/avrs/pre/pros.

What I've generally read is that the speakers need really good external amps, so I am looking at an AVR with pre outs so that the front speakers can be powered by say an emotiva or a pair of em.

The rears in this case can then be powered by the AVR itself.

But with such an expensive speaker set, I would like to wring the best performance when it comes to music. So am not sure if an AVR fits best or separate entities.

Can't build a separate HT system, so this will need to work as both the primary HT and primary music system.

Help me think through this guys

 

[afj]

for speakers in that range you should definitely be looking at a really good amp. am not sure what your budget it but im guessing the price for an amp to match those speakers will be close to the price you paid for them. you should be looking at a range above that of the likes of nad / cambridge. a step above would be arcam. a further step above would be the likes of classe / bryston etc. you need to audition. mumbai does have a few stores that do higher end products. one thing i dont think you will need to worry about is the sq on music out of a surround sound amp in that range. they're all very well geared up for music and hardly any diff between their stereo set ups to their avrs, starting from nad / cambridge

 

[pguy]

afj, I am looking at emotiva mono blocks for the L/R and would possibly let the AVR handle the rears. But some folks have recommended a pre/pro with a HT Bypass. So I am generally a bit confused on how the setup should finally look like. Since these babies are so expensive, I don't want to be saddled with an equipment that just misses the one set of connectors that break the deal

 

[afj]

i think the best thing to do is audition them. theoretically there are advantages for a pre power combo, stereo vs avr, but ultimately its more about matching the different elements in the system to suit what you like. im not going to make it out like i've got a lot of experience in listening to setups that have 5 amps and 3 pre amps etc etc, but stick to the basics of what your ears like and you'll be fine. dont worry whether its tubes or ss, pre power or integrated, stereo or avr - go for the mix that suits what you like to listen coming out of the speakers