do i need an amp?ohm help please

[Hyfi]

with the adcom, do you have to switch it back to 4 ohms or is it set up for it?

It will handle down to 2ohm with no user interaction

[rightaway]

what is the difference between an amp and a pre amp?

[blackraven]

what is the difference between an amp and a pre amp?

A preamp takes the signal from a CD player, Phono, tuner or other external source and processes the signal and sends it to the amplifier to be amplified and sent to the speakers. The preamp has the volume control and source selector switches to switch between signal sources like CD players, Tuners and Phono's. So if you buy a separate power amp (other than an integrated amp which as I said before is a preamp and amp all n one box without a tuner) you will need a preamp to go along with the amp. Preamps do not hook directly up to speakers.

A receiver is a preamp, amp and tuner all in one. A home theater recevier or AVR is a preamp, multichannel processor and amp all in one.

There are preamps that do multichannel processing as well.

There are amplifiers that have 1 ch called mono blocks and you need 2 of them for 2ch music, there are 2ch, 3ch, 5ch and 7ch amplifiers. To use all channels in a multichannel amp you need a multichannel preamp-processor. The multichannel preamp-processor has multiple preamp outs to hook up to a multichannel amp or several amps. If you have a multichannel pre-processor you can also hook up multiple amplifiers to different channles instead of a multichannel amp!

If you are still confused then I suggest you stop by your local HiFi store and talk to a salesmen. Do not go to Best Buy for this as most of the salesmen are not very knowlegeable and may confuse you more.

[blackraven]

A separate preamp and amp is going to cost more than a receiver. But the improvement in sound, power and versatilty of separates is worth the cost if you can afford it. Going the used route is a good option or go the emotiva route for good budget equipment. You could even get that Denon 3808ci and use it as a preamp and connect it to a separate amp or multichannel amp. If you do this you could get a 2ch amp to drive the Dynaudio's and then use the Denon's on board amps to drive the center, rear and sub channels. The volume control on the denon will control both the amp and onboard amp.

[rightaway]

is the lower number ohms mean more power needed, sort of like speaker wire, smaller number thicker the wire.

[harley .guy07]

I own the exact speakers that you have and believe me you do not want to run them with a receiver. I am running mine with an Adcom 545 series 2 that I have had for around 17 years and it runs them great. I do plan on changing amps in the future just to take the load off of the Adcom since it is getting older and I think the Dynaudio's might be better with 300 to 500 watts instead of the 150 they are getting now. Its not that the Adcom can't power them and the Adcom never clips out even when driven loud but I think the low end would come out more with a little more power but the 545 series 2 is one of the best sounding amplifiers that Adcom ever built in my opinion and I used to sell them. But with some of the newer amps out there at great prices like the Class D audio among others or possibly a nuforce ref 9 v2.But that is my upgrade back to your subject. Any Adcom above the 545 series 2 or 5500 or 5800 will drive them well.

[rightaway]

so i guess that the 'Adcom Amp 5006 would not be enough power to power the speakers? they are rated for 175 watts. i thought it would be enough. im just going to power my tower speakers and use the denon to power the other speakers.

[Hyfi]

so i guess that the 'Adcom Amp 5006 would not be enough power to power the speakers? they are rated for 175 watts. i thought it would be enough. im just going to power my tower speakers and use the denon to power the other speakers.

It will power them somewhat reasonably but if you can get something just a bit beefier you would be happier with the performance.

[Jack in Wilmington]

so i guess that the 'Adcom Amp 5006 would not be enough power to power the speakers? they are rated for 175 watts. i thought it would be enough. im just going to power my tower speakers and use the denon to power the other speakers.

Read Harley's first two sentences. That should answer your question. I think that you are over thinking the whole thing. I'm guilty of that myself.

[harley .guy07]

Believe me you have made an excellent choice in speakers in my opinion you just need to get something that is going to take advantage of the speakers abilities. I would stick with an amp over the 200 watt mark and there are several options out there that that won't break the bank and it is fine to use the Denon to power your other speakers as long as their power needs aren't like the Audience 60's. Believe me if you seen the 6.5 " woofer on the Audience 60's outside of its cabinet you would know why you need a good amount of power to get the most out of them because they are power handlers by every respect for the words and if you feed them they will give you what you want.

[rightaway]

most of the amps people shown me here are 150-175 per side not over 200. i'm still looking. i would like to buy something asap that is 200 or more per side

[blackraven]

most of the amps people shown me here are 150-175 per side not over 200. i'm still looking. i would like to buy something asap that is 200 or more per side

You have to look at the 4ohm power rating not the 8 ohm. That Parasound and Adcom 555 should power those speakers with out any problem. The Parasound HCA 1200 that you mentioned in another post is 300wpc at 4ohms! It would easily drive those speakers. 60,000ufd and 57 peak amps!

http://www.parasound.com/pdfs/vintage/hca1200om.pdf

[harley .guy07]

I would give a look at the Adcom 5500, It is I believe 350 per channel at 4 ohms which is what your Dynaudio's are. I know that it is a good amp for them for the money because I had a friend who ran a pair of Audience 60's with one and he said it ran them great.

[rightaway]

with high powered amps like that, what gauge wire should you run?

[blackraven]

10 to 12 wire. Check out this web site for cables and wires- Blue Jeans Cable -- Quality Cables at Reasonable Prices

Speaker Cable at Blue Jeans Cable

Buy their unterminated 12g wire and terminate them your self with BJC's banana plugs that they sell for $3.50 Its easy to do and saves you a ton of money. Or just run them bare wire connceted to the amp and speakers as many do.