Connecting an amp to a center speaker

[Mikek]

I have a luxman amp on my front l/r speaker. I bought a matching amp for the center. I was wondering if I should bridge it or just use 1 channel on it. The amp is under rated at 200w in 8 ohms. It's actually benched at 263w but bridged its 700w so I'd have to bring the gain down if I bridged it. I did not see what's the normal for hookup on it.

 

[lovinthehd]

Would more depend on the center speaker's specs and your spl demands than what you posted. May as well bridge it if the amp and impedance works out, center gets a lot of work Wouldn't likely make much difference if you used just one channel OTOH.

 

[Mikek]

Would more depend on the center speaker's specs and your spl demands than what you posted. May as well bridge it if the amp and impedance works out, center gets a lot of work Wouldn't likely make much difference if you used just one channel OTOH.

My center channel has a 91 dB sensitivity and freq response is 19hz - 30kHz 8 ohm 20-400w handling also has a built in power subwoofer. I've never read anywhere if people find it better to bridge. I know it will be ok as long as I turn down the gain to match the fronts better

 

[PENG]

My center channel has a 91 dB sensitivity and freq response is 19hz - 30kHz 8 ohm 20-400w handling also has a built in power subwoofer. I've never read anywhere if people find it better to bridge. I know it will be ok as long as I turn down the gain to match the fronts better

if it already has a powered subwoofer, I doubt you will gain anything bridging. Does the amp has one transformer for both channel or one for each? If it has just one power transformer then when only one channel is used, it will most likely give you more than the rated 2 channel driven output. Another thing, before bridging, check the impedance characteristics of the speaker first to make sure it does not spend a lot of time much below 8 ohms and close to 4 ohms or less.

 

[Mikek]

if it already has a powered subwoofer, I doubt you will gain anything bridging. Does the amp has one transformer for both channel or one for each? If it has just one power transformer then when only one channel is used, it will most likely give you more than the rated 2 channel driven output. Another thing, before bridging, check the impedance characteristics of the speaker first to make sure it does not spend a lot of time much below 8 ohms and close to 4 ohms or less.

Ok I read that somewhere but it doesn't say that in the owners manual didn't know what the output would be and was wondering does it matter which input right or left since it comes out of the preamp in mono mode or one cable at least. And yes it has only 1 transformer for two channels. I know the most sound comes from the center so just wanted to hook it up the best way

 

[lovinthehd]

What amp is it? What speaker?

 

[Mikek]

What amp is it? What speaker?

Luxman m117 front l/r same for center definitive technology technology 7001sc. C/l/r 3000 center.

 

[lovinthehd]

The little I found on that amp in the way of specs seems to point to handling lower impedance loads in stereo mode, not sure about what it offers in bridged mode; the speaker is rated 8 ohms and has the powered sub built in so likely doesn't require lots of power....I'd just use either the L or R channel of the amp without knowing more.

 

[Mikek]

The little I found on that amp in the way of specs seems to point to handling lower impedance loads in stereo mode, not sure about what it offers in bridged mode; the speaker is rated 8 ohms and has the powered sub built in so likely doesn't require lots of power....I'd just use either the L or R channel of the amp without knowing more.

The bridge mode is 700w in 8 ohms 1000 in 4 and 2000 in 2 ohms.

 

[lovinthehd]

The bridge mode is 700w in 8 ohms 1000 in 4 and 2000 in 2 ohms.

At what spec?

ps Likely not a problem for bridging for your center, altho not likely necessary either.

 

[PENG]

Ok I read that somewhere but it doesn't say that in the owners manual didn't know what the output would be and was wondering does it matter which input right or left since it comes out of the preamp in mono mode or one cable at least. And yes it has only 1 transformer for two channels. I know the most sound comes from the center so just wanted to hook it up the best way

Either channel will be fine. Your center speaker is rated for up to 400W with sensitivity 91 dB so I don't see the need to bridge the M-117 that is a very old amp, a little too old (unless it has not been used much) to push its limit.

 

[Mikek]

Either channel will be fine. Your center speaker is rated for up to 400W with sensitivity 91 dB so I don't see the need to bridge the M-117 that is a very old amp, a little too old (unless it has not been used much) to push its limit.

The amp measures very good at a place I had it benched tested. They said it's very impressive especially for 29 years old. But I found out it is rated 300 watts in 1 channel driven. I see that is probably the better way then just using one channel not bridging. But is it advisable to switch channels periodically so I don't dry up the other channels capacitors

 

[PENG]

The amp measures very good at a place I had it benched tested. They said it's very impressive especially for 29 years old. But I found out it is rated 300 watts in 1 channel driven. I see that is probably the better way then just using one channel not bridging. But is it advisable to switch channels periodically so I don't dry up the other channels capacitors

I would say that's a good idea. By the way, it may be rated 300W with one channel driven, but given that the transformer will be feeding just one amp, it will most certainly put out a lot more "dynamic" power than 300W.

 

[Mikek]

I would say that's a good idea. By the way, it may be rated 300W with one channel driven, but given that the transformer will be feeding just one amp, it will most certainly put out a lot more "dynamic" power than 300W.

I agree. Thanks. I never seen how people hooked up the center channel out of a 2 channel amp. So I was curious if bridged was the way but that would over power the left and right I was afraid. Great advise on using just one channel. Thanks

 

[PENG]

I agree. Thanks. I never seen how people hooked up the center channel out of a 2 channel amp. So I was curious if bridged was the way but that would over power the left and right I was afraid. Great advise on using just one channel. Thanks

I have used one channel of my Adcom GFA555 for several years. I only got rid of it recently to gain some real estate. It is better to use one amp than to just let it sit

 

[lovinthehd]

I agree. Thanks. I never seen how people hooked up the center channel out of a 2 channel amp. So I was curious if bridged was the way but that would over power the left and right I was afraid. Great advise on using just one channel. Thanks

If set up correctly running one channel on a higher wattage amp wouldn't overpower the other channels....they would be balanced for level. Speakers only use the power needed to meet your use of the master volume control...unused power is unused power.

 

[Mikek]

I have used one channel of my Adcom GFA555 for several years. I only got rid of it recently to gain some real estate. It is better to use one amp than to just let it sit

So did you rotate the channels so the caps didn't dry up. Or as long as there power on them it's ok?

 

[PENG]

So did you rotate the channels so the caps didn't dry up. Or as long as there power on them it's ok?

Nope, it used to power the left/right, then the power transistors blew on one channel, so I demoted it to the center. I have an 8 channel Marantz to power the surrounds that could do the job too but the Adcom was much more powerful, perfect for the center, and a good match for the replacement amp. Again, rotating the channels is an excellent idea and it only takes a few seconds to do.

 

[Mikek]

If set up correctly running one channel on a higher wattage amp wouldn't overpower the other channels....they would be balanced for level. Speakers only use the power needed to meet your use of the master volume control...unused power is unused power.

I feel your not reading the original post. I was wondering if bridge or use one channel of a 2 channel amp for center speaker. Both amps are same wattage same model. But if one is bridged it would be a greater power at whatever volume your level is at. Grant it won't be at full power but still it will be much louder to a point of overpowering the left and right. As others has said to just use 1 channel will be still more power but not not too much. Never seen any post on the subject. W/o the amp the l/r is louder than the center which is fed off of a multichannel a/v receiver. I'll have 3 amps hooked up to the pre outs

 

[lovinthehd]

I feel your not reading the original post. I was wondering if bridge or use one channel of a 2 channel amp for center speaker. Both amps are same wattage same model. But if one is bridged it would be a greater power at whatever volume your level is at. Grant it won't be at full power but still it will be much louder to a point of overpowering the left and right. As others has said to just use 1 channel will be still more power but not not too much. Never seen any post on the subject. W/o the amp the l/r is louder than the center which is fed off of a multichannel a/v receiver. I'll have 3 amps hooked up to the pre outs

I don't think you understand how your speakers work as far as power goes. With similar speakers as you have across the front, no, the additional headroom in the bridged amp is likely meaningless as you aren't likely to push it loud enough for any additional power beyond what you have on the L/R to matter.

If you have a multichannel avr that has some automated calibration/room correction eq system (Audyssey, ARC, YPAO, Dirac, Trinnov, etc), run it and it will balance out the level/delay factors for you, or are you doing this setup of level/delay manually?