Amplifier for Pioneer HPM-150's and HPM-100's

[Hybr1dthry44]

Hi All,

I'm in the process of looking for some newer amps to bring my connectivity into modern times. I've done some research but am having trouble finding some modern amplifiers that have the power ratings to run these Pioneers... I took in a pair of the 100's to my local audio dealer and their $14,000 McIntosh PreAmp/PowerAmp setup didn't power them nearly as well as my SX-1250 and it definitely wasn't producing the same sort of bass. I'm currently running the following systems:

Office: Pioneer SX-1250 and 4 Pioneer HPM-100's. I'm fine with the current setup, but would like to find a way to get a better audio source than a phono plug from my iPad into the AUX port. If that's not possible with the SX-1250, then I would be interested in something newer.

Living Room: Normally I run a Pioneer SX-1980 and 6 Pioneer HPM-150's and the audio source was a phono cable from the back of the tv. However, the SX1980 took a dump so I'm now using a Marantz PM8005 and only 2 of the HPM-150's (and it can barely power those). I'd like to have something that has better connectivity with the television and another audio source such as a Sonos and that has a remote for adjusting volume across the room. Is there anything out there that can handle this sort of power requirements that has tone control like the SX's and isnt going to cost me my firstborn??

Thank you in advance for your responses, they're much appreciated!!

 

[jeffpaletz]

HPM 100s don't need a lot of power for them to play loud with great bass and clean highs. They are very efficient which means they get nice and loud with a minimal amount of power. The difference in sound you are hearing is not due to power but due to equalization and the amount of low bass that modern receivers put out. I connected a Pioneer SX-1050 and my modern Yamaha RX-Z7 receiver to a speaker switch that is break before make so I could instantly switch between both receivers. The output of the switch was connected to the JBL L300 speakers in my family room. They are large speakers like the HPM150s and like the Pioneers, are very efficient. The JBL L300s are 3 way speakers with 15" woofers. I connected a CD player to both receivers using a splitter so the same signal was going into both receivers. Using the menu system I accessed the equalizer on the Yamaha I was able to come very close to matching the sound of the SX-1050 on the Yamaha receiver. I also wanted a modern receiver that would do surround sound and have HDMI switching in my family room. I'm very happy with the result.

See what you can do with your receiver to increase the low bass and match the sound of the Pioneer that you love.

 

[Gibsonian]

For the office you're looking for a digital source then? What's the budget?

For the living room sounds like a big iron amp and an a/v preamp. How much dough for this?

Running 6 HPM 150's off your 1980 is what likely caused it to dump. I'd fix the 1980 and sell it to finance your projects.

 

[SaturationPt]

For the office you're looking for a digital source then? What's the budget?

For the living room sounds like a big iron amp and an a/v preamp. How much dough for this?

Running 6 HPM 150's off your 1980 is what likely caused it to dump. I'd fix the 1980 and sell it to finance your projects.

This is true, I don't believe that the 1980 is rated to run 3 pairs at the same time and will not play if A, B, and C are depressed at the same time, you ran an external speaker switch or doubled-up on one of the outputs? Unless you ran an external switch with a protection resistor you were running less than 4ohms nominal.

 

[savatage1973]

For a lot less money than the Mc gear, check out some of the largest new Yammie integrateds. They will offer all of the connectivity you will need, and should provide more than adequate power for a single pair of HPM 100s. I don't think it was a matter of the Mc gear not being capable, but more of you just not liking the "Mc sound". Regardless of what many would like to tell you, every manufacturer has a "sonic signature" (or perhaps lack thereof).

 

[SaturationPt]

Hard to tell with one post about having two highly-regarded vintage pieces and not liking a third very highly regarded brand as a first post, ... then not replying in over two days, but it looks like a troll at this point.

Maybe I'm wrong, after all I am married!

I guess we could soon see an entertaining second post?

 

[rwartner]

I just got a new TV. The old one was tube and weighed about 200 lbs. I was thinking about going to Walmart and getting a soundbar like most folks, but now I am convinced I need 6 150s.