5 channel amp

Big B

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Jun 19, 2013
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Ontario Canada
I'm looking for recommendations for 5 channel amp. I was just about to pull the trigger on a pair of Bryston 9Bs. This Amp is now discontinued. I currently have a pair of parasound A52+. I'm driving 10 Chanels of surrounds and in ceiling speakers. Looking for an amp that is faster and more neutral.
I have not come around to the idea of class D
 
I've been away and only just saw this, so perhaps you've already gone with the Brystons (not a terrible choice!)...

For surrounds, the truth is they're underutilized compared to mains, so while a perfect match to the front soundstage is ideal, it's also not something I've ever felt beholden to. In my own setup I went Class D, largely because the surrounds are spending so much time idling or at very low power that efficiency felt like a good trade. If you don't want to do that, no worries - Class AB obviously still gets a long way down that road. I would suggest looking at ATI amps. They have both Class D and Class AB models with beefy toroidal power supplies and plenty of capacitance. They aren't too well known on their own, but do lots of OEM work for other brands on the AV side of the industry. In the Class AB realm, the 4000 series has plenty of power for surrounds and checks enough audiophile boxes that I considered them for front channels once upon a time. The 3000 series has even more grunt (probably overkill) at a slightly lower price point. And the 1820 series is a more cost effective route but, in my opinion, still plenty for a surround or distribution amp.

I've found that matching the voltage gain is particularly important for surrounds, frequently even more so than raw power. I actually custom-specified the gain for my theater's surround amps to ensure a consistent volume ramp with the mains. In your case, if using the Boulder for fronts, I'd be tempted with an ATI 4005 - it checks a lot of the boxes I'd personally be considering if I were sticking to Class AB for a multichannel amp.

Full disclosure: my theater amplification is from Apollon, using a mix of Class D NCore NC2000 (front) and Icepower 1200AS2 (surround) modules. I use ATI in my 2-channel setup, and have never felt myself needing more, despite the relatively modest price of admission.
 
ATI is a very good recommendation, I've heard them and they are definitely worth looking into.

I would also suggest a Legacy Audio i.V5, 5ch amp...I had an i.V4 ULTRA in my 2ch setup and it had beautiful mids, highs, pits of hell, ultrafast bass and seemingly unlimited power.

Legacy uses ICEdge 1200AS2 boards, beefed up to their specs with beefier power supplies, enhanced ground plane and other features.

 
ATI and Emotiva are two separate companies, not related.
ATI make good amps and builds private label versions for Mark Levinson, Lexicon, B&K, and others.
Quantity gives them a slight cost advantage.
I would also look at McIntosh MC 205/207 - on the used market they are a safe bet as they are appreciating over time. I traded my ATI in on a McIntosh MC 205 and found the McOntosh to be a better sounding amplifier. It’s been awhile since I had a 5.1 system so ATI may have improved over time.

For my current 9.4.6 system I went class D for my 12 channels of surround/Atmos with Purifi Eigentakt Gen II modules. Class AB would have been a challenge form a cost, heat, and size standpoint, notwithstanding any audible improvements that choice my have brought. The system sounds bitchin’, better than anything I’ve done before. L,C,R amplifier duties are still with McIntosh MC 2301’s. Not sure if ever replace them.
 
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