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What is a home theater?

What home theater power amplifier would you recommend for this speaker set?

  • So here is my set of speakers: 2 cerwin vega cls-15 http://www.cerwinvega.com/home-audio/floorstanding-speakers/cls-15.html 2 cerwin vega cls-215 http://www.cerwinvega.com/home-audio/floorstanding-speakers/cls-215.html 2 cerwin vega cmx-212 http://www.cerwinvega.com/home-audio/floorstanding-speakers/cmx-212.html and if possible 1 cerwin vega cls-15s http://www.cerwinvega.com/home-audio/subwoofers/cls-15s.html So what do you think? I have this setup for my home theater room ;) Just wondering what kind of power amplifier, equalizer, receiver and if I am missing something out mention it too. I need help what to power my whole home theater set so please be kind.

  • Answer:

    I'm not sure I understand, you have listed what appears to be three different sets of main speakers and one subwoofer. Are you planning to use some of these as surrounds or is that you are planning to choose one of the set of three you listed? Also, what about a center speaker? I've never been a big fan of Cerwin Vega but I admit I probably have not heard a set in nearly 30 years. The speakers in the links you provided look pretty nice so I definitely need to get out and audition some of these. These are highly efficient speakers which means you can power them with just about anything. Pioneer has been getting good reviews recently with their receivers as has Onkyo. Personally I have always been a Denon fan for receivers. I don't use one myself because I use Anthem separates but I have a lot of friends with Denon. Even though with your speakers you don't need the higher power I would stay with the 3311 or higher just because Denon's build quality seems to be considerably better in their higher lines. http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/5340.asp Especially if you opt for the cls-215, you don't need the power but if you were to combine an external amplifier like the Emotiva XPA-3 http://www.emotiva.com/xpa3.shtm with the Denon receiver you could have one serious system. Those speakers have a 97 dB efficiency rating so at 200 watts you're looking at 120 dB 200w/1meter. The receiver's built in power is in theory just a few dB less but receivers typically don't have an adequate power supply to really provide their rated power all channels driven like the Emotiva does. Just looking over the Cerwin Vega web site it doesn't look like they have any adequate center speakers to keep up with their mains. You may have to look into something else for the center. Of course for all practical purposes you should do ok with one of their centers but for really cranking it the center just wouldn't keep up.

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I have not listened to Cerwin Vega in years, so my reference is dated. The stats and pictures appears they are building some really impressive gear. I like the cabinet and speaker design of the Cerwin Vega cmx 212. If it can perform half as well as it claims you have a winner. Even if the 212s are not your choice, based on the dynamic range of all of the speakers listed, I don't think you would miss much if you did not get a center channel speaker. I agree with the previous response, stay in the Denon line, same receiver series previously suggested. I would add a tube powered idecco pre amp with ipod dock, then stand back. You would need nothing more. Best.

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If you are looking for just a power amplifier to power any of the speakers you mentioned, you are going to be spending slot more money. Beside that you are also going to need a pre amplifier to decode the Dolby Digital or the DTS signal. Power amplifier for home theater are now very rare except for the high end market. You are better off buying a 7.1 or a 5.1 receiver from Pioneer or Onkyo, which can handle the speakers you have selected. As for the speakers you have selected, the are not a quality (clear sounding speaker), they look nice to individual who have no experience. They are large with big speaker for the low end, but on a home theater the low end is handled by the subwoofer. There are plenty of speakers in the market that are much better than the Cerwin Vega, like JBL, Infinity, Definitive Technology, Energy, Mirage and Polk just to mention a few. Demo other speakers at your local retail store with your ears and not your eyes. Hope this will help you out.

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