Harman Kardon Pre-Outs

[BJG718]

I was wondering if it would be possible to hookup an external amplifier to an HK AVR 525 receiver in order to get a bit more power. If so, what amplifier or preamplifier would be recommended to do so? Lastly, what type of power increase / sound performance should I be expecting?

[cbennet]

Yes you can. I have a HK5800 and a PA 2000 amp I'm using with the HK525. Significant improvement in sound quality. Your mileage will depend a lot on what speakers you are using.

I was wondering if it would be possible to hookup an external amplifier to an HK AVR 525 receiver in order to get a bit more power. If so, what amplifier or preamplifier would be recommended to do so? Lastly, what type of power increase / sound performance should I be expecting?

[BJG718]

Yes you can. I have a HK5800 and a PA 2000 amp I'm using with the HK525. Significant improvement in sound quality. Your mileage will depend a lot on what speakers you are using.

So am I looking just for a preamp then? Or am I looking for a power amp? I never quite understand what the purpose was of each of them besides providing power... Thanks for all input!

[BJG718]

Oh, also...the wattage ratings for whatever I need...do I add the wattage to whatever my 525 puts out? Or do I only get power from the preamp or amplifier or whatever I need?

[E-Stat]

So am I looking just for a preamp then? Or am I looking for a power amp? I never quite understand what the purpose was of each of them besides providing power... Thanks for all input!

Perhaps I can help. Preamps, as the name suggests, are the first amplification stage in the pipeline. Traditionally, they have consisted of a phono stage and a line stage. The phono stage not only increased the signal level, but also provided the inverse RIAA equalization curve. On a power ratio basis, phono stages do the most work and offer up to 60 db of gain. My phono stage has 46 db of gain which relates to a factor of approximately 46,000. This is necessary due to the extremely low output of cartridges..

Most consumer receivers today only have the line stage part since turntables are becoming more rare. It takes what is typically a half volt signal and increases it to roughly two volts to drive the power amplifier. Line stages have anywhere from 10 db to 20 db of gain. That is a factor of only 10 to 100. Line stages are still low voltage devices and cannot drive speakers.

The "heavy lifter" is the power amp. It is what produces the current sufficient to drive a speaker. Consequently, power amps are usually the largest and heaviest components and employ large heat sinks (although there are newer so called switching or digital amps that are more efficient, but not yet world class sounding). While the voltage gain is not much greater than the line stage (somewhere around 26db - or a factor of 400), the level of current is much higher.

The answer to your first question then is to acquire an external power amp. When you connect an external amp via the pre-out/main-in jacks, it replaces the internal one so the power is not additive. Unless of course you use it separately to drive another pair of speakers. Hope that helps!

rw

[BJG718]

Okay, so power amp it is. I was thinking that I would pick-up a 150wpc / 2 channel power amp to drive the front speakers. I would let the receiver take care of the surrounds and sub. My final question is: If I were to get Klipsch F-3s, which are rated at 150 maximum continuous watts / 600 peak watts, would a 150 wpc 2 channel power amp be what I want? Or could/should I be looking for more wpc? Thanks for all input again!

[clwarner]

A quality amp on the Used market is the NAD C270 or C272. You can find them on ebay or audiogon for roughly $300+. I currently own four of these units. I used them with my HK AVR 525 as the preamp, before I purchased the B&K 50 preamp. The HK did a great job, while I saved for the B&K. You will notice an improvement in your sound stage with running a quality external amp. It is money well spent In my book.

C.

[markw]

Lastly, what type of power increase / sound performance should I be expecting?

...and this obviously would depend on the power amp you chose. The better and mthe more powerful, the better the sound may be.

Of course, as the previous poster stated, a lot depends on your speakers, too. You can't polish a turd.

[nightflier]

You can't polish a turd.

Well you can, but it wouldn't compare to fine silver... But who said the speakers are crap? Even if he has cheapo Athena bookselves from BB, or Infinity Primus from CC, they will sound quite a bit better with a good external amp. So no, they won't shine the same way, but you can polish them...

[bjornb17]

Well you can, but it wouldn't compare to fine silver...

brilliant!