[HT1278]

 What is the Impedance of the X-On Wall speakers?

Have Marantz NR1403 with pre outs for the front speakers, thinking of using the pre outs for the front speakers (X-LS's).   Connected to a Schiit Audio Vidar at 100 watt per channel at 8 ohm.

Then was going to have center channel X-CS, and rear speakers X-On Wall connected directly to Marantz NR1403 at 50 watts at 8 ohm per channel

Have never used pre outs.  Would it be an issue if the front speakers had an amp providing 100 watts per channel while the other three speakers had 59 watts per channel?

Listen to Vinyl using 2 channel, and movies/tv using all 5 speakers and a sub.

[HT1278]

Main reason is want to have plenty of power for the X-LS speakers. 

Not sure if using the pre outs with a dedicated amp for the 2 front channels would provide an improvement over just using the integrated amp in the Marantz NR1403 AVR. 

[Kaiju2189]

The improvement is all subjective but I could see the avid at being a solid upgrade for the front 2 channels.

I started my 2 channel journey a couple of years ago. I built a couple of class A amps and used the pre out on a  Marantz receiver with the Marantz acting as a pre. The sound was substantial improved, so much so that my wife noticed without me telling her what I did.

Over time I ended up separating my home theater and 2 channel systems but the amps are likely to make a difference…. All subjective of course.

[Hobbsmeerkat]

All of our speaker kits are rated at 8ohms to allow them to be easy to drive with any sort of gear.

[corndog71]

I would hold off getting the Vidar until you get the speakers.  You might be surprised by how well the Marantz drives them.  I have the same receiver in my living room driving a pair of X-Statiks and it sounds better than it has any right to!

[Vince in TX]

I would hold off getting the Vidar until you get the speakers.  You might be surprised by how well the Marantz drives them.  I have the same receiver in my living room driving a pair of X-Statiks and it sounds better than it has any right to!

For stereo, I'm sure the Marantz by itself would be great.   I still use an SR6012 in my game room.   But in my dedicated theater situation, trying to drive 11 speakers (four ceiling, four X-On Wall, two X-Static, one X-Voce) off my SR8015 was a bit too much for it when I cranked it (which I love doing for sci-fi movies).   I had to break out the LCR using pre-amp to a pair of Odyssey Kismet amps to truly get the sound I wanted.   Definitely no regrets doing that.

[corndog71]

The NR1403 is only 5.1.  It’s a budget receiver.  Still, I have previously used it with X-Statiks, X-Voce center channel, and X-Omnis for surrounds along with a single servo sub and I never noticed any strain on the sound.  The only downside is it’s older, doesn’t have all the network stuff nor 4K.  But the amp section is very gutsy and sounded better than a newer Denon receiver I tried out. 

[Tyson]

IMO, with HT receivers and high end audio speakers, it's always better to use a dedicated stereo amp for the front 2 channels.  That gives you better sound directly (by having a better quality amp on the main 2 speakers) as well as indirectly (by giving you more power reserves for all the other speakers). 

[HT1278]

You are right it does not have 4K, so I am connecting all Video sources directly to TV and then sending audio to the Marantz via HDMI eARC.

Would the Marantz SR5015 be a major step up?  I assuming it would sometimes I have debated even if I want to only drive 7 speakers max, it is a small room, maybe I should get the SR6015, or SR7015 since they have a little more wattage etc.

[HT1278]

Thank you for all of the information.

When selecting amps for speakers other than impedance, and wattage what else is important to consider class A/B or D? 

Comparing the Schiit Aegir versus Vidar and the Aegir is $799 instead of $699 for the Vidar.  The Aegir has 20 watts per channel @ 8 ohms, while the Vidar has 100 watts per channel.

The Aegir is a "Continuity" (trademark) Amplifier and it states on the website that it is better than a class A.  When I see it is trademark makes me think it is their own technology so when I read the specs I do not understand how to compare it to anything.   

It is a bit confusing.  Here is a quote from their website on the Aegir.

https://www.schiit.com/guides/choosing-amps-preamps

"using our unique Continuity™ constant-transconductance output stage. Both views are valid.

Choose Aegir for:

Excellent sonics with efficient speakers
Complete safety with intelligent protection
Ability to run in mono at 80W into 8 ohms"

The Vidar at 8 ohms is 400 watts.

So now I understand why people say watts is not everything; do not quite understand though.   

Not sure what their definition of an efficient speaker is, would it 87, 91 or? 

[corndog71]

If it’s a small room 50 watts per channel should be all the power you need.  But small is a relative term.
What dimensions are we talking about?

Personally I find mixing home theater with fancy 2-ch to be a bigger pain than it’s worth.  But that’s me. 

A Marantz SR5015 is a good option because there’s more power, it’s 4K compatible, and it has preamp outputs so if the amplifier section still doesn’t cut it you can get a separate multichannel amp like from Outlaw that will definitely bring the muscle.

[Tyson]

I'd go with the Vidar.  The extra power will give you extra headroom during the big dynamic peaks that occur in HT.  Aegir is too under-powered for HT.  The Aegir might be OK for 2 channel music but not for HT.

If you want something that's a step up over the Vidar and is still less than $1k but has tons of dynamics and control check out the Odyssey Khartago, one of the great bargains in hifi, IMO:

https://odysseyaudio.com/khartago-stereo-amplifier/

[ctviggen]

I'd go with the Vidar.  The extra power will give you extra headroom during the big dynamic peaks that occur in HT.  Aegir is too under-powered for HT.  The Aegir might be OK for 2 channel music but not for HT.

If you want something that's a step up over the Vidar and is still less than $1k but has tons of dynamics and control check out the Odyssey Khartago, one of the great bargains in hifi, IMO:

https://odysseyaudio.com/khartago-stereo-amplifier/

It's too bad that does not automatically turn on.  For me, that's a deal breaker. 

[EdwardT]

I have the Vidar driving our X-SLS and it’s really nice. So nice I bought a 2nd Vidar in order to run them as monoblocks, that extra bit of output really drives the LS components to a wonderfully immersive experience. The lack of an input volume control might make balancing the Vidar with the Marantz a little tricky but you could always insert a Schiit Sys to adjust the Vidar; I use one to control our subs and it’s very convenient.

[HT1278]

Would something like the Odyssey Khartago automatically turn on?

Even though eARC can be frustrating my favorite part is when eARC does turn on and off other components correctly. 

If I had enough of the right gear that had electronic triggers like some Rotel and other have that would be great too.

For example I have a setup with a Television, Apple TV 4K, and an Emotiva TA1 Integrated amplifier connected optical to the TV.  The Emotiva has to be turned on and off separately.

One potential solution I found is a Bits Limited LCG-3MVR, with auto switching technology.  Basically there are some outlets on it that when those outlets devices turn off it turns off other associated outlets.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00412ZQP2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_ZS8JVW44MNNERPD9TKPD

[HT1278]

Good to know on the Vidars, that  Schiit says would be good for volume control.  Did not realize the importance of that but it makes perfect sense.  I would imagine the volume control would be primarily set once and then going forward just control the volume on my Marantz.

[Tyson]

If your want switched convenience, I'd get a power strip with a remote control like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-8-Outlet-Conserve-Protector
 
It's got some plugs 'always on', and other plugs 'switchable'.  Plug the HT stuff (including the big amps) into the switchable section and you're all set, everything turns on or off at the touch of a button on your remote control.

[HT1278]

That Belkin power strip looks great. 

Do the vast majority of amps not have volume controls, helpful when blending amps of different power I would assume. 

[NoahH]

That Belkin power strip looks great. 

Do the vast majority of amps not have volume controls, helpful when blending amps of different power I would assume.

Amps by definition don't have volume control. Only 'integrated anps' that have a built in preamp have volume control.

Blending amps is not really a thing. The only time is is done is bi-ampong and tri-amping, and that is usually done with an active crossover which does the attenuation for each amp. And that is *very advanced* configuration that folks likely should not tackle until they are 20 years in the hobby.