Looking for a 2.1 amp for my bookshelf speakers, ideally with a HPF built in that won't ruin the sound quality. Prefer one that is closer to clinical and accurate rather than warm, with minimal coloration. I'm looking for something to buy 2nd hand ideally - so anything that has been around for a few years and was somewhat common would be desirable, since it'll be more likely to pop up for sale.
I'm very new to all this, so I would like to know if having filtration before the mains is likely to cause quality reductions and if I should avoid it.
I was considering keeping an eye out for the Yamaha A-S500 however apparently it sends full range to the mains, and I don't think that's what I want - but feel free to convince me otherwise. I don't understand what the benefit of the LPF'd sub-out is if there is no matching HPF for mains.
My speakers are B&W 685-S2 and subwoofer is a Yamaha YST-215 active downfirer. I know the sub is a cheap/small one and that may be upgraded someday.
The reason I'd like the mains high-passed is because I'm restricted to the whole lot being positioned in the corner of my small living room (with the speakers being on small 160mm stands, height-limited by TV location), without much distance from walls. The end result of this is the bass can get a bit boomy (even with the sub off), and I'd like the speakers to be free to do their thing without being forced into adding the boominess of the lower frequencies.
Of course, if the general concensus is that speakers should get full range, then I don't see why I can't run any old 2.0 stereo amp instead of a 2.1 with sub out - by y-splitting at line level (one going to the sub with its own LPF). Again though I'm very new to this - so perhaps there's a disadvantage to this method?
Greatly appreciate any commentary and clarification.
Pic of my tiny arrangement below if useful:
I can probably lift the TV up and lift the speakers by the same amount, I'm curious if increasing distance from the floor is more useful for imaging / reducing bass boom (since I can change that, with difficulty) than distance from walls (which I can't change).