I have had my amp for two years now and just finished upgrading my speakers with B&W Nautilus series 803 mains HTM1 center (BIG) and 805s for surround. I also added a Cinepro Power Pro 20 line balancer. This amp makes these speakers sound awesome on music,laserdiscs and dvds I play it as loud as I want or even at lower volumes I have no complaints. I also like the option of using the voltage source output for my sub and my current source for my speakers I proably will hang on to this for a while although I would not mind The AMP5 to match my AVP but I can buy a lot a CDS and DVDS for that kind of money.This is nice quiet(Cinepro PP20 HELPS) and cool running amp for hours on end.

I had the Sunfire CG, thought it was absolutely great, but I have since changed my mind. I now have 2 N9000ES to do HT at 200W. Orginally I bought the Sony amp only to drive my 2 passive Snell 12" subwoofers, because I already have the Sunfire Cinema Grand 200Wx5. However, after extensive comparison of the Sony to the Sunfire in my home, I found that the Sony in the 115W x 5 mode is close to the Sunfire. But, in the 200W stereo mode, the Sony just blew the Cinema Grand away! The music is so clear and powerful. I can feel the vibrations of the music, and I feel as if the band or the orchestra (depend on type of music) is playing in the room in front of me! I never felt this with the CG. And the bass from the Sony is louder, tighter, and much quicker than that of the CG. I was so surprised since the CG is rated 200Wx5, and to make sure, I took out the Radio Shack meter and measured the sound level of both amps at the same volume setting. Check this out, the Sony at 200W is putting out almost 10db morethan than the CG! And, at 115Wx5, the Sony's sound level is about the same as that of the CG at 200Wx5! So, I sold the CG and got another N9000ES! And I'm very happy with the decision. If you are considering getting the CG or if you already have one, do the comparison like I did and find out for yourself. You can get 2 N9000ES for around $1800 (look around), much less than the cost of 1 CG, and for twice the REAL power!!!! Well, now for rating the CG, since it is still a very good amp, but for the money and the questionable 200W/channel rated claim as compared to the Sony at 200W, I have down graded it from 5 to 3.

I have had the Sunfire Cinema Grand for about a year, I am currently using in in an audio only system as I am in the process of revamping my home theater system. I am using the amp with a Cal Labs CL-15 player/processer direct connected to the Cinema Grand via Audio Quest Midnight RCA interconnects.
The speaker system is the Tanoy Saturn SC-10's connected to the Cinema Grand with Audio Quest Crystal speaker cable. All of the electronics are plugged into the Cinepro Power Pro 10 line balancer and conditioner.

My overall impression of the Cinema Grand is that it is a great amplifier it has weight and pressence in my system. The soundstage is excellent Bass impact is tight and not woolly. I have used this amp with other electronics and have always enjoyed the presentation of the music through the Cinema Grand.

I have to agree with some of the other reviews when it comes to the slight buzzing that the amp is prone to, It can become very noticible when the amp is idleing. But I was able to eliminate this problem once I purchased the Cinepro Power Pro 10 Line conditioner, this leads me to believe that the Cinema Grand is probably a little more sensitive than some other amplifiers to the power comming from the mains, so the cleaner the voltage the less it is heard in the output stages.

Other than the slight delay in the auto power up mode which I eliminated by leaving the amp in the on position, the Cinema Grand is an awesome piece of electronics 4 stars to Bob Carver.

I have being listening to this for more than a year now. Guess what? This amp really show its power, never fails when music peaks demand for power. It has a good channel separation. But not as detail as compared to Krell amp. In all, I really loves this amp.

My hardware:
CG, of course,
EAD Encore,
Sony XA7ES,
Pioneer DVL-9,
NHT VT-2(front), VS-2(center & rear),
Nordost Moonglo (for digital links),
Nordost blue heaven/super flat (speaker cables),
Audio Quest interconnects for the remaining connections

Sound, size, runs cool

no power switch on front of amp (minor quibble)

When I first installed this piece of equipement in my system this was the most noticable difference of all of my upgrades. My wife also heard the diffence. All sounds were tremendously clearer. The bass was incredibly tight and controlled. My speakers appeared to be a bit sloppy, but once I installed this baby...the bass didn't role anymore. The impact was much deeper and tighter than before. It's also a nice looking piece of machinery. It has an old fashioned 50's look to it. It's smaller compared to most amps because it doesn't have heat sinks. This is in thanks to Bob Carver's patented down-tracking converter. You can fit this thing anywhere because of it's size and it's always cool to the touch. I never turn mine off and it maintains it's temperature. Don't let its size fool you...this thing rocks, and it seems to be of top notch build quality. It also has a current and voltage source to bi-wire right and left speakers. Overall an excellent value. I'm very pleased I picked this amp out of the several choices I had. If I had to quibble I would say it would have been convenient to have the power button on the front of it or a trigger switch...but no big deal. I have had no problems with any humming that some people have mentioned. You can't go wrong with this product.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 3300 receiver

stylish design, XLR inputs, auto-on/off feature, deep base, impeccable clarity, good customer service (replaced unit since early models had problems auto-detecting XLR signals)

Not well know,

This is one awesome amp for home theater! It will shake the house and still be delicate to deliver clear, crisk dialogue. I have the Sunfire Theater Grand paired with this amp and 2 McIntosh LS350 front speakers (my friends say they look like childrens' coffins) 2 Wall-Mounted McIntosh surround speakers and a McIntosh, front channel speaker. My subwoofer an amazing little box that is the Sunfire True Sub. OK, wow! I watch more DVDs than listening to music so I can't comment on some of the finer points in other people's posts but I can say that when it come to delivering the theater in the home, this combo does it incredibly. It's not only the power this thing delivers but the subtlety as well. I watch tons of DVDs and I've come to the conclusion that there is no longer any reason for me to go to the movies. I watched "Saving Private Ryan" last year on the DTS DVD version and I swear, it is the most terrifying film I have ever HEARD. The sound of the shells ejecting from machine guns and the ricochets are enough to make YOU run for cover.

This amp/processor combo will be one one of the best buys you can make if you love watching films. I listen to my CDs as well and they sound incredible, try Shawn Colvin - Polaroids and listen to the acoustic guitar pieces.

Flexability For voltage and current source, raw power output at 4 ohms. Sweet sounding high, warm tight lows, balanced inputs

not enough people out there know of this great amp

I work at a high end store selling amps from: Krell, Golden Tube Audio, Sony ES, parasound, Yamaha, Pioneer Elite...The only amp that i say would matc this would me the Golden Tubes for the minimal price they cost. Here is my review.
I have had this amp for more than a year hooked up as follows: Sunfire Theater Grand using balanced interconnects, Pioneer DV09 using MIT $350 digital cable. The amp is hooked to a/d/s/ MV80T's (3-8", 2-1 1/2", 1-1") with 2-pairs MIT Shotgun750 cables ($1250 a pair) running current to the hi's and voltage to the lows. With this system that I have, I have never been happier. Wether I listen to opera, classical or new age (try any "Dead Can Dance" cd) the music seems to emminate from all borders of the room like being given a private concert. The base is tightand hard and reproduced inline with the music. For the price hat this amp cost and the power (a/d/s/ are 4ohms) you cannot compare. The Krell amps did not produce as defined hi's or punch out the lows. The parasound's where again lower on the hi's and very lacking in the lows. And as for the guys that say Sony is better, give me a break, Sony is by far at the bottom end (we do not sell Sony anymore). For you Sony guys, try spending some money on interconnects, buy a preamp that has balanced out or better yet get the Theater Grand, use balanced AND rca interconnects to boost db's. When anyone from our store has listen to my system first thing they check to make sure I am in stereo mode because the room is filled with sound, and then they check to see where my sub is, I have no sub in stereo mode. Now these guys all have systems in the higher end then me and always leave silent. The only sound i liked better than what i have now was a Meridian 50824 hooked up to a Threshold preamp and two SE-40's (Golden Tube) running Thiel CS2.3's (like 2.3's better than 3.6's aswell). As for using th CG in five channel mode again everything is hooked up via balanced and good cables, again a/d/s/ for center with Definitive BPVX's for rear. By the way, I did try a CG Signature but it was way too much for my speakers but it does have better arangment in the rear and better metal terminals (putting them on my CG myself, e-mail me if u want 2 know how) and the sound was definately sweeter, maybe the Sony guys should try that thing at double the power.

Similar Products Used:

Sunfire Theater Grand, had a Cinema Grand Signature, too much for my speakers

Auditioned Bryston, Krell, McCormick, Mark Levingston, Proceed, Aragon, Acurus, B&K, Carver, Marantz, Citation, McIntosh, and a few other amps. I found just about all the above amplifier too bright or lacking a body, warmth, definition, and/or imiging! In comparison to others, the Sunfire does more of the things a modern amp working within the DIGITAL bounds of the today's electronics does, better than all of the above. By wiring to the Voltage vs Current outputs of this amp made audiable difference, using psb stratus gold speakers! For the warranty and the price nothing else could come even close!

Soundstaging, small case, no heat.

Obnoxious hum. Way too bright, distorted high frequencies.

I bought this based on what was said here and elsewhere, and boy was I disappointed. When it was in standby, there was a hum coming from the amp (i.e., from inside the box). When it was on, there was a very obnoxious hum from all five speakers that clearly audible, even over music.

Worse yet, the amp was so bright I couldn't listen to it. Cymbals appeared to be distorting. This was shocking as my system probably could use a little brightness somewhere (Theta Casablanca, Cardas cabling).

I was so bad that I thought mine had to broken. I returned it to my dealer, who let me borrow their demo unit to see. The demo unit was marginally better (hum not has bad, and not as bright), but still unacceptable. Thankfully my dealer allowed me to return it. My dealer plugged mine into their system and told me that it appeared to be fine.

My take on all of this is that the CG is VERY dependent on system matching, even though everything I tried couldn't solve its problems in my system.

On the plus side is that the CG through an amazing soundstage.

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NAD 2700; B&K 7250; Classe CAV-150; Classe CAV-500

Qualidade & Beleza

?????

Comprei o Cinema Grand para substituir 3 powers Adcom, com a intenção de "enxugar" minha pilha de amplificadores.
Minha surpresa foi grande ao comparar o "novo" com os "velhos" pois não esperava encontrar tanta diferença sonica entre aparelhos de mesmo (?) nivel...
O Cinema Grand é muitíssimo superior aos Adcom (GFA-555II, GFA-545II & GFA-535II) em todos os aspectos!
Eu uso as caixas dos canais frontais bi-cabeadas, tirando proveito das saidas de corrente para os médios/agudos & as saidas de voltagem para os graves. Uma pena as outras 3 saidas não permitirem este recurso...
Comparando com meu Nakamichi PA-7AII (de 14 anos!), o Sunfire apresenta um pouco menos qualidade no geral, mas as propostas são diferentes, certo? Ele não faz feio de forma alguma. Sua relação custo/beneficio é imbatível!

Similar Products Used:

Nakamichi PA-7AII