[Rick Craig]

Say 100 watts per channel - what would you use?

[coke]

I came across this the other day when looking for a receiver:

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARMM8003B/Marantz/Mm8003-8-Channel-Power-Amplifier/1.html

[srb]

The Marantz would do it with just two chassis.  At ~ $1500 each , you're looking at $3000 or $188/channel.  There aren't a lot of 8-channel amps on the market as the majority are 3, 5 and 7 channels.
 
You could do it with 2 X 7-channel + 1 X 2-channel amps (as well as 2 X 5-channel + 2 X 3-channel amps).  A few more chassis (three or four versus two), but it might let you size the channel's power closer to your requirements.  If two of the channels really needed more guts (lowest woofers), a more powerful stereo amp for them plus 2 X 7-channel amps for the other 14 channels could be ideal.
 
Emotiva comes to mind as a decent middle-of-the-road multi-channel, but they are out of stock on their 5 and 7 channel UPA versions.  The UPA's are their lower power series at 125W @ 8ohm / 185W @ 4ohm.  If the Emotiva UPA-7 comes back in stock, they are usually $700.  Two of those with an XPA-2 at $800 (300W @ 8ohm / 500W @ 4ohm) would be a total of $2200.
 
ATI also comes to mind for multi-channel amplifiers often used with active speakers, but they are more expensive and you wouldn't be able to buy them at < $200/channel.
 
Which then leads me to the Outlaw amplifiers, which I believe are still made for them by ATI.  The Made in USA Model 7125 (125W @ 8ohm / 190W @ 4ohm) is $1000.  They don't make a stereo amp, but do have the 1U Model 2200 monoblocks (200W @ 8ohm / 300W @ 4ohm) for $350.  That would give you your 16 channels (including two higher power channels) for $2700.
 
Steve

[smilach]

Rick, I'm not sure what other criteria you have.  The used market has limitations regarding supply, but the Harman Kardon Citation 5.1 comes to mind.  It offers 100 watts @ 8ohms and 175 @ 4 ohms.  The Bel Canto eVo4 also comes to mind though it is said to sound best when bridged to run in two channel mode.

[Reverb]

If I was looking for 16 channels I would pick up two ADA (Audio Design Associates) PTM-8150 8 Channel amps.

   
    * 150 Watts Per Channel @ 8 Ohms
    * 250 Watts Per Channel @ 4 Ohms
    * 2 Ohm Minimum Safe Impedance
    * 0.01% Total Harmonic Distortion @ 8 Ohms
   

http://www.ada.net/products/ht/ptm_8150.php

[srb]

If I was looking for 16 channels I would pick up two ADA (Audio Design Associates) PTM-8150 8 Channel amps.

Rick hasn't yet mentioned his budget, and although the ADA PTM-8150 looks like a really nice industrial amplifier, with an MSRP of $5000 per amplifier ..... ?

Also what else hasn't been mentioned is the application - does this need to be a repeatable in-stock purchase, i.e. for a customer to purchase for use with an (amazing) active speaker setup?
 
Steve

[Mag]

I would consider the Pioneer SC-09TX 10.1, 13.1 in Surround mode at 140 watts. See if you can make that work.

Link:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/AV-Receivers/Elite+Receivers/SC-09TX

[srb]

I would consider the Pioneer SC-09TX 10.1, 13.1 in Surround mode at 140 watts.

Although the SC-09TX has 12 preamplifier output channels, there are only 10 channels of internal amplification.  2 channels (FL, FR) are rated at 4 ohms minimum and the remaining 8 channels are rated at 6 ohms minimum.  And only 8 of the 10 channels are directly addressable through a corresponding preamplifier input.
 
Steve

[MaxCast]

what about building out 16 channels of those cheep and cheerful class D amps?

[Gomer]

what about building out 16 channels of those cheep and cheerful class D amps?

I was thinking the same thing.

Four of the SDS-1000 kits ($500 each) plus connectors/case= fun times!

[Reverb]

Rick hasn't yet mentioned his budget, and although the ADA PTM-8150 looks like a really nice industrial amplifier, with an MSRP of $5000 per amplifier ..... ?

Also what else hasn't been mentioned is the application - does this need to be a repeatable in-stock purchase, i.e. for a customer to purchase for use with an (amazing) active speaker setup?
 
Steve

He also didn't specify new or used. The question was 16 channels of amplification what would you go with? ADA is my answer.

As far as application I'm pretty sure its for Rick's CBT project.  http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=92134.0

(12) 5" woofers and (48) 3/4" dome tweeters per side. A pair can be driven with 4-16 amplifier channels depending on whether passive shading is used or not. We are using a DEQX but other  DSP crossovers can be used as well.

The ADA amps do pop up often online used. Prices very depending on channels, condition and age, but I do see a lot of ADA amps sell for under a grand. I had the opportunity to purchase the 6 channel amp for $450 but passed. I want to get a new set of speakers before moving away from my B&K amp.

[AvFan]

I think I'd call ATI and see what they could assemble for the project.  They OEM a lot of different amp combinations and they might be able to slip 8 or more 100 to 120 watt channels in one of their cases.  They do a 12 channel distribution amp that might work too.  If they couldn't produce something special a couple of Outlaw/ATI 7125s combined with the ATI-1202 would probably work. 

[DFaulds]

I came across this the other day when looking for a receiver:

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARMM8003B/Marantz/Mm8003-8-Channel-Power-Amplifier/1.html

That looks pretty nice until you check the specs.   Power consumption of 800 watts?!  How do you get 140x8=1,120 watts of output when it only consumes 800 watts?  Could this amp be the answer to the worlds future energy needs?

[jtwrace]

How do you get 140x8=1,120 watts of output when it only consumes 800 watts? 

The same way you get 250 watts output and draw this amount of watts:



Amps:



www.classdaudio.com

[DFaulds]

I guess I'm still missing something here, unless the laws of physics have changed.  Even a class D amp will dissipate a small % of power consumed as heat.  And is the Marantz even a class D amp?

The real answer lies in the details. From a review @ hometheater.com.

"While the two-channel amp’s output doubles into a 4-ohm load from 110 watts to 220 watts per channel, the MM8003’s manual recommends at least 6 ohms. It warns that a lower impedance load might cause overheating that could trip the unit’s protection circuits. In addition, the unit’s 140 watts per channel into 8 ohms is specified for two channels driven, not eight channels driven."

As expected, there are no miracles here, just the typical overstating of performance we see for most A/V products.  If you look at the specs for the Outlaw amps you'll see more of what you would expect for a higher quality multi-channel HT amp.  I'm sure this Marantz is a very nice unit, but it's simply not in the same league as the Emotiva/Outlaw/ATI units.

[Aaron D]

I came across this the other day when looking for a receiver:

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARMM8003B/Marantz/Mm8003-8-Channel-Power-Amplifier/1.html

Down to $1,300 per now...