[techlvr33]

I have a 100 watt per ch rec and am looking for more power for my speakers, is 130 watts per ch a big diff at all or do I need to go higher to get a noticeable diff. Rec is Denon 888.

 

[absurd_username]



Quote:
Originally Posted by techlvr33 /forum/post/15396632


I have a 100 watt rec and am looking for more power for my speakers, is 130 watts per ch a big diff at all or do I need to go higher to get a noticeable diff.

It all depends upon how those 'watts' were measured. It's very easy to fudge the power ratings of a piece of audio equipment to better market it.


Basically you have to consider at what conditions, frequencies, impedances and with how much distortion those watts were generated at. Is the power rating per channel one channel at a time or when all 5/7 channels are being driven? Is the rating at a specific single frequency or across a frequency range? Is the rating into 8ohms, 6ohms or 4ohms? How much distortion is there? There are probably even more considerations like how loud you usually listen to your system at and how the room responds to your speakers etc. Do you listen mostly to music or movies?


What is your current receiver? We need to know from where we are starting. We should also know what your speakers are and how they are rated.

 

[MichaelJHuman]

First thing to know is that receiver power ratings are unreliable. Read the stickied AVR FAQ from some reasons why this is so.


If you could trust the power ratings, you would likely want a doubling of power before you heard a substantial increase in SPL before distortion.


Because ratings are not reliable, a 130 watt receiver may be better than a 100 watt receiver in some cases. If a 100x7 watt receiver can only put out 20 watts / channel with all channels driven, and the 130x7 watt receiver can put out 40 watts / channel, all channels driven, maybe the 130 is a bit louder.


What is compelling you to look for more power?

 

[techlvr33]



Quote:
Originally Posted by absurd_username /forum/post/15396737


It all depends upon how those 'watts' were measured. It's very easy to fudge the power ratings of a piece of audio equipment to better market it.


Basically have to consider at what conditions, frequencies, impedances and with how much distortion those watts were generated at. Is the power rating per channel one channel at a time or when all 5/7 channels are being driven? Is the rating at a specific single frequency or across a frequency range? Is the rating into 8ohms, 6ohms or 4ohms? How much distortion is there?


What is your receiver? We need to know from where we are starting. We should also know what your speakers are? How sensitive are they?

Rec is Denon 888, speakers are Polk Audio RTi10's 50-300 watts.

 

[welwynnick]



Quote:
Originally Posted by techlvr33 /forum/post/15396632


I have a 100 watt rec and am looking for more power for my speakers, is 130 watts per ch a big diff at all or do I need to go higher to get a noticeable diff.

The difference between 100 and 130W is 10*log10(130/100) or 1.1 dB. That sort of difference is audible, but barely. Not the sort of thing that should affect a buying decision, though the manufacturers seem to think otherwise.


How the watts are measured is probably more important than that. Some receivers that claim 7x130W actually struggle to manage 130W from two channel at high distortion levels, and collapse to 40-50W with all channels driven. And worse with difficult, low impedance, speaker loads.


A better relative indication is the max power consumption, or even the overall weight of the unit.


Nick

 

[absurd_username]



Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelJHuman /forum/post/15396756


What is compelling you to look for more power?

The age old desire for a bigger stick?

 

[MichaelJHuman]

If your receiver has pre outs, buy an Emotiva XPA-3. I don't personally own one, but that's what I would do if I wanted more power for movies.


If I wanted more power for 2-channel music, I would buy a pro amp. In fact I did. It's 200x2 watts, and set me back $250. It does seem to be able to play louder than my receiver. Not that I need it... (and it's not hooked up at the moment.)