Will my AV receiver be powerful enough?

[Caleb Hartwig]

hello,
I am new to the audio world and I have done a lot of research on this but I am still confused. I started off buying an all in one home theater system (kind of a mistake). I have the Onkyo HT-R393 AV receiver. This receiver puts out 90 watts, 6 ohm, 2 channel, 20 hz to 20 khz, 0.7% (FTC). I am now adding to this system slowly because it is a little expensive. I bought ELAC B5 (this speaker can handle 30 to 120 wpc, 6 ohm is the normal impedance) and the C5. Will my receiver be able to handle these speakers? I think I am under powering these speakers and not allowing enough headroom for them, but I don’t know. I hope to get the DENON AVR-X3300W, this receivers power output (6 ohm, 1 kHz, 0.7% 2ch Drive) at 135 watts. Will this overpower those speakers?

Thank you for anyone who can answer this for me!

 

[KenM10759]

Welcome Caleb!

The receiver you have will certainly power the Elac speakers just fine as long as you aren't sitting 20 feet away and trying to blast it to first row rock concert levels. Neither of the receivers mentioned actually deliver the watts per channel stated as you add to the total number and you said you have at least 3. Are you using two from the HTIB set for surrounds?

The Denon AVR-X3300W is a very nice, powerful receiver and still in no danger of blowing things up. You probably should invest in a decent subwoofer before you upgrade the receiver though, as long as your current receiver has a typical pre-amp subwoofer output. This is assuming you are using the system for surround sound. A good sub is also nice for music too though.

Good luck!

 

[tyhjaarpa]

Your receiver should be fine if your room isnt huge. Said Denon how ever would be upgrade with room correction and other usefull features. Receiver power rating is maximum it can output and speaker power rating is maximum power it can handle. If your room isnt big and you listen with "normal" levels you are only using few watts. How ever if you need to turn your receiver volume all the way up you might start to have problems. If it starts to sound bad at any point put volume down immediately.

 

[lovinthehd]

Your receiver should be fine if your room isnt huge. Said Denon how ever would be upgrade with room correction and other usefull features. Receiver power rating is maximum it can output and speaker power rating is maximum power it can handle. If your room isnt big and you listen with "normal" levels you are only using few watts. How ever if you need to turn your receiver volume all the way up you might start to have problems. If it starts to sound bad at any point put volume down immediately.

Not really, the power spec is what it is for the frequency range and distortion level, it can still go beyond that with higher distortion or lesser freqency range, i.e. receiver output rating isn't a "maximum" rating.

 

[tyhjaarpa]

Not really, the power spec is what it is for the frequency range and distortion level, it can still go beyond that with higher distortion or lesser freqency range, i.e. receiver output rating isn't a "maximum" rating.

Well yes, but you don't really want to be in that range. So in my eyes it is the maximum output, how ever you are right that it can output more.

 

[lovinthehd]

Well yes, but you don't really want to be in that range. So in my eyes it is the maximum output, how ever you are right that it can output more.

No worries, just pointing out the volume dial can put you outside the spec'd wattage/frequency range/distortion level....

 

[Caleb Hartwig]

Welcome Caleb!

The receiver you have will certainly power the Elac speakers just fine as long as you aren't sitting 20 feet away and trying to blast it to first row rock concert levels. Neither of the receivers mentioned actually deliver the watts per channel stated as you add to the total number and you said you have at least 3. Are you using two from the HTIB set for surrounds?

The Denon AVR-X3300W is a very nice, powerful receiver and still in no danger of blowing things up. You probably should invest in a decent subwoofer before you upgrade the receiver though, as long as your current receiver has a typical pre-amp subwoofer output. This is assuming you are using the system for surround sound. A good sub is also nice for music too though.

Good luck!

I am using the other speakers from the home theater set. In total, I am using 5 speakers and a subwoofer (5.1). I was looking to upgrade my subwoofer, but the Onkyo doesn't have any pre-out's on it, that is why I am looking to get a new receiver first. Thank you for the answers, I do appreciate it.

 

[KenM10759]

That system uses a passive (non-powered) subwoofer and the receiver feeds it amplified signal.

I'd still upgrade the sub first because when you DO get a new receiver it's not going to have a speaker level output for THAT subwoofer. Just be sure whatever active sub you buy isn't the cheapest and does have speaker level inputs so you can use your current receiver until you've saved up enough again to get a better receiver.

 

[Caleb Hartwig]

That system uses a passive (non-powered) subwoofer and the receiver feeds it amplified signal.

I'd still upgrade the sub first because when you DO get a new receiver it's not going to have a speaker level output for THAT subwoofer. Just be sure whatever active sub you buy isn't the cheapest and does have speaker level inputs so you can use your current receiver until you've saved up enough again to get a better receiver.

What is cheap to you is probably a lot different lol. What are your thoughts on something like the Polk Audio DSW PRO 440wi? Some of the specs are (180-watt RMS, frequency response 30-125 Hz (-3dB), continuously variable 60-160 Hz crossover) Sorry to be such a pain.

 

[lovinthehd]

There are better subs out there; what appeals to you about this small sub....is something this small necessary? I don't even see specs on the Polk website, not even in the manual for the sub, where did you get those (frequency response particularly)? The wattage is meaningless without more information; the frequency response without corresponding spl and distortion information is somewhat meaningless as well; the variable low pass filter (it isn't a crossover) doesn't mean much at all as that's a fairly common feature. It does have some other features that are interesting but Polk isn't even on my sub radar. For a little bit more money you can do much better...try the RSL Speedwoofer 10S

 

[Caleb Hartwig]

There are better subs out there; what appeals to you about this small sub....is something this small necessary? I don't even see specs on the Polk website, not even in the manual for the sub, where did you get those (frequency response particularly)? The wattage is meaningless without more information; the frequency response without corresponding spl and distortion information is somewhat meaningless as well; the variable low pass filter (it isn't a crossover) doesn't mean much at all as that's a fairly common feature. It does have some other features that are interesting but Polk isn't even on my sub radar. For a little bit more money you can do much better...try the RSL Speedwoofer 10S

Nothing really, I just was looking at some top selling subwoofers and that popped up. I also don't have a huge room so I didn't think I would need a subwoofer that was massive. I got the specks off http://www.crutchfield.com/S-2nXjHEtuc3U/p_107DSWP440/Polk-Audio-DSW-PRO-440wi.html?XVINQ=DST&XVVER=Z04&awcp=1t1&awcr=164113834777&awdv=c&awkw=_cat:home speakers&awmt=b&awnw=g . Is that RSL Speedwoofer 10S good for smaller rooms or does it matter?

 

[KenM10759]

What is cheap to you is probably a lot different lol. What are your thoughts on something like the Polk Audio DSW PRO 440wi? Some of the specs are (180-watt RMS, frequency response 30-125 Hz (-3dB), continuously variable 60-160 Hz crossover) Sorry to be such a pain.

I know cheap. Cheap and I have been good friends in the past, and we maintain a working relationship even though I've started associating with Up-level. I recently went back to cheap and snagged a BIC F-12 sub off Craigslist for $120 (in mint condition) and still have it.

You just set a budget and folks here will help. I know of that BIC, though there's Dayton and a few others that will far outperform that Polk for the same money. And that Speedwoofer would be GREAT.

 

[lovinthehd]

Nothing really, I just was looking at some top selling subwoofers and that popped up. I also don't have a huge room so I didn't think I would need a subwoofer that was massive. I got the specks off http://www.crutchfield.com/S-2nXjHEtuc3U/p_107DSWP440/Polk-Audio-DSW-PRO-440wi.html?XVINQ=DST&XVVER=Z04&awcp=1t1&awcr=164113834777&awdv=c&awkw=_cat:home speakers&awmt=b&awnw=g . Is that RSL Speedwoofer 10S good for smaller rooms or does it matter?

Top selling doesn't strike me as a good way to shop for a sub (or a lot of other av stuff ). A larger sub driver and cabinet are good things, but depends on what your goals are for extension (how low it can go) and at what spl (sound pressure level). Hoffman's iron law applies. In a small sealed room a small sub can be okay. The 10S review indicates a rating for a medium room

 

[Caleb Hartwig]

Top selling doesn't strike me as a good way to shop for a sub (or a lot of other av stuff ). A larger sub driver and cabinet are good things, but depends on what your goals are for extension (how low it can go) and at what spl (sound pressure level). Hoffman's iron law applies. In a small sealed room a small sub can be okay. The 10S review indicates a rating for a medium room

Thank you for the feedback and from now on I will not shop like that! Why are you dismissive of polk subs? Do you feel the same why about the speakers too?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thank you for the feedback and from now on I will not shop like that! Why are you dismissive of polk subs? Do you feel the same why about the speakers too?

Polk subs are adjectively underperforming and subjectively overpriced - even if you think you're getting a "good deal" - beware - most like you could end buying junk, just your first htib.

As for Polk speakers - only LSi (or LS/IM) are decent speakers, but they are very overpriced. You could do much better than that, EVEN with 50% off polk retail cost.

We can't (or shouldn't) really recommend a specific room volume you have and your budget.
Room volume should be in cubic feet and including total of ALL open space. Subs don't know if 12x12 square space at end of long room is where bass "should be felt".

I agree , good sub should be vast improvement. X3300W is typically around $800, this money you could get really nice sub like https://www.svsound.com/collections/outlet-specials/products/pc-2000-black-ash-vinyl-outlet-1006
or for a bit more: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk5HP.html
first sub will do great in medium size room and good in large, but later will be great in large and good in huge.
Keep in mind - no such thing as too much sub

 

[KenM10759]

At one time a large percentage of Polk speakers were really pretty good. They seem to have cut costs in building them now and only their most expensive ones (LSi and RTi series) seem to garner much respect. They hadn't come out with anything new in a long time until the new "Signature Series" which they also seem to label as American HI-Fi Home Theater Studio Series" recently announced and just starting to become available. My son own the Monitor series for a short time, I helped him sell of the plastic encrusted plastic boxes recently. Their low end T series isn't very good IMO.

The story has been a little different with their subwoofers. Their small ones aren't very good and never have been. Their larger ones like the PSW125 and PSW110 aren't too bad, and fit well between the cheapest 12" and the "starter" stuff from the likes of Hsu, Rythmik and SVS.

 

[lovinthehd]

Thank you for the feedback and from now on I will not shop like that! Why are you dismissive of polk subs? Do you feel the same why about the speakers too?

Just consider that Bose would be a top selling audio brand yet their consumer audio offerings are relatively poor performers as well as overpriced.

Polk just isn't a subwoofer specialist, I'd look at the subwoofer specialists (Hsu, SVS, Power Sound Audio, Rythmik, Seaton, JTR); these days I simply build my own subs. Been several years since I've even heard a Polk, and the last time I did they did not impress at all, so little experience there but the sentiments expressed by bsa and ken above sound about right based on what I've read hanging around various audio forums (and the Polk forums btw are considered a poor source of information for many things audio). Deeply discounted maybe I'd consider Polk but generally I'd look elsewhere for speakers as well as subs.

 

[Caleb Hartwig]

Thank you for all the information. Very insightful! I appreciate everyone helping me out and giving me good feedback and things to watch out for.