[Mark Hunter]

I am looking at amplifiers.


Is there a rule about wattage and room size? I have a 23' x 17' x 8' room that will be 5.1.


How many watts should I put to each channel? I have been told that "60 watts per channel is enough power for most rooms" to "you will want at least 200 wPC for headroom in your HT."


Of course, the price difference between 60 wPC and 200 (or more) wPC is considerable.


What is the rule regarding room size, volume and wattage? Is it just personal preference?


Thanks!




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Mark Hunter

 

[Mark Hunter]

Thanks, Chrispy!

 

[aerialman]

Yes- I found out the hard way that amplifiers and speakers are interactive. This makes sense and actually, everything you hook up in a system is somewhat interactive. Speakers with lower sensitivity numbers will need more power to play as loud as speakers with higher sensitivity. I say find the speakers you want first and then find the right amp for them. Use your budget to guide you with respect to the speakers and amp combo. If youre gonna use a powered sub, this can help reduce the load on the speakers and you can perhaps use a slightly less powerful amp. Its kind of like a car and engine power. telling you I have a car with a 500bhp engine in it is worthless in determining its performance, because while thats a ton of horsepower if the car weighs 10,000 pounds its performance isnt gonna be nearly as good as a car weighing 2800 pounds with a 250bhp engine.


- Jerry

 

[Mark Hunter]

Jerry,


Once again, you come through with great advice and are helping me through this process. I really appreciate ALL of your help and feedback and look forward to hearing from you again as I upgrade my ENTIRE home theater.


...starting with the speakers and the amps.




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Mark Hunter

 

[ClaudeD]

Mark,


(# watts * speaker sensitivity) / (CUBIC feet * # angels dancing on head of pin) = 42.


HiFi 101. http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/wink.gif


Get as much power as you can afford, as long as the amp hasn't sacrificed smoothness and musicality for the power. Most amps today have at least 100 wpc; there are many 250+ wpc amps at "reasonable" prices.


Having said that, it's been my observation that most rooms are too "live" to handle the volumes that people try to listen to in them. Perhaps it's just a testosterone surge when someone is showing off their system, but my ears usually retreat from the onslaught. Spend as much (or nearly as much) on your room treatments as your amp, and you'll be happiest in the long run.


Best regards,

Claude


[This message has been edited by ClaudeD (edited February 28, 2000).]

 

[Mark Hunter]

Thanks, everybody!


In a nutshell, I am pretty much back where I was before...no idea what wattage to look at http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif


I am still hearing "60 Watts is plenty" and (from a private email), "bridge each pair of channels in a 150 Watt ATI 1506 amp. so you get 450 Watts per channel, and use that to drive 4 ohm speakers so each speaker receives 900 watts of pure, clean power."


900 watts per speaker?!? I don't think my room is *that* big.


Anyway, at least I've narrowed it down...somewhere between 60 and 900 watts should do it. http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/biggrin.gif


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Mark Hunter

 

[John Tuohy]

900 might not be enough !


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John Tuohy

 

[migliore]

ive been very happy with 60W/ch, 14A peak to peak current, w/ 2db of headroom. room is 12Wx15Lx8H, speakers are 90-91db/8 ohm.


will you be using using full range speakers? bass soaks up lots of power. what are the efficiencies? i'd look to get 100w/ch, but wouldnt say 200 is necessary (only 3db more). technically there is 25db of dynamics in dd soundtracks.


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Migliore Theater

 

[aerialman]

Mark,

youre totally welcome http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif Once upon a time I made a very costly mistake - I purchased a very nice 5 channel amp and then 2 months later upgraded my speakers. The new speakers are wonderful but the 5 channel amp wasnt powerful enough for the new speakers- so you guessed it- I purchased a different more powerful amp for the new speakers. Had I stopped to think about future purchases that might include new speakers I might not have had this "dilemma".


- Jerry

 

[Mark Hunter]

The upgrade trail continues...


The G11 came last week (and looks great!) and the new HTPC came as well to feed it.


I am now again looking at the audio...


My local A/V sales guy is pushing me hard on the new Yahama RX-V1...110 wpc, great dsp, etc.


I was previously looking at the lower end of separates (<$5K total for proc. and amp.)


Would the integrated Yamaha give me years of pleasure ;-)


Mark


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Mark Hunter

 

[John H]

Quote:

I was previously looking at the lower end of separates (<$5K total for proc. and amp.

I use a Parasound AVC-2500/HCA-2205A combination in my bedroom based system.


I have been very pleased with the performance of this setup. It can be had for around $5K.



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My Home Theater

 

[avdoc]

Mark,


You won't be happy with a receiver. Go separates. However I must warn you that separates are like Magnepans, once you try them you can never go back!