Amplifier Power Rating

[Tankman]

This is the only forum of any type that I belong to and I need to say that I am absolutely blown away by the responses and the amount of knowledge that is out there. Thanks to you all for making this such an awesome experience!

There are many other forums out there, but with that said some not all are gear bias and some don't take to kindly if certain manufacturers are mentioned or if one may say anything negative about gear or specific gear I should say. But your right I haven't been a member long either but have looked around on here for many years. Pretty biased bunch of guys when it comes to recommending gear. Most in here won't say you need this amp because it's the best in the world. Most probably from what I have found they will tell you to say pat with what you have and just make a small upgrade to get more enjoyment out of what you already have and if it's a snake oil thing they won't hesitate to tell you so especially, Audioholics staff members they don't take kindly about snake oil salesman and will call one out in a heart beat.Now that doesn't account for disagreements or difference of opinions lots of that in here but what would be the fun if we agreed all the time about other gear or specs.

Mike

 

[Tankman]

Actually, most speakers only a need a few watts to produce a lot of sound. If the speaker produces 85db at 1w into 8 ohms at 1 meter (typical for surround speakers), and sound level falls off at about 6db for every doubling of distance, at four meters (~13 feet, two doubles) you'd still get 85db from the speaker with ~16w, which is quite loud for a surround or elevation speaker. And more likely you're listening at a lower level and the speakers are closer. (Assuming 97db is required at 1 meter to get 85db at four meters. Amplifier power must double for each 3db increment in loudness, so 97db-85db = 12db, 12db/3db = 4, so four doubles in power = 2,4,8...16 watts.) And the real requirement is probably bursty and lower in power, and probably occurs on only a subset of the channels.

Personally, I think these seven channel super-amps are overkill, but that's just me.

1+^
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1+,) Pretty damn accurate post, close enough for me in my book.

Mike

 

[Robert Inocencio]

I remember reading in the audio magazines of years gone by that more amp power would result in cleaner and more accurate sound when played at lower levels. After reading these posts, I'm not sure if that's true anymore. Was it ever true?

 

[Irvrobinson]

I remember reading in the audio magazines of years gone by that more amp power would result in cleaner and more accurate sound when played at lower levels. After reading these posts, I'm not sure if that's true anymore. Was it ever true?

Never true.

 

[lovinthehd]

I remember reading in the audio magazines of years gone by that more amp power would result in cleaner and more accurate sound when played at lower levels. After reading these posts, I'm not sure if that's true anymore. Was it ever true?

Yeah, the reviewers in the audio mags often push audiophool cables, too...soon as I see some mention of some idiotic cable brand like Audioquest or MIT or Kimber Kable etc as supposedly an important part of the test rig I throw up in my mouth a little and stop reading.

 

[Tankman]

I remember reading in the audio magazines of years gone by that more amp power would result in cleaner and more accurate sound when played at lower levels. After reading these posts, I'm not sure if that's true anymore. Was it ever true?

It is not true, I have heard Tube amps mix with SS pre amps with 25 watts output amp that is would make you cry..so smooth sounding loud it isn't always the best I always say..umm... correction class A..amps are the exception...the first 25 or so watts will make you cry too..lolo..

 

[mtrycrafts]

My family room is 25' by 20', but there are large openings into the dining and kitchen areas. ...

With those openings I would be much more concerned in getting capable subs to give you the oomph we want. The others will serve you just fine with that receiver or something similar capability.

 

[-Jim-]

The SVS Prime Satellite speakers are 85db at 1w into 8 ohms at 1 meter so the data above is relevant here. Good job.

Robert's Marantz could easily be all he requires. I suggest he run his system using multiple sources and see if he's satisfied, before putting out considerable cash on another amp that he may not hear anything different => except the moths buzzing around his now empty wallet. He should save his $$ for another Sub as mtrycrafts said.

 

[PENG]

Just out of curiosity, why is this important? The surround channels seldom require much power.

I hear you, but I hope TLSGuy don't..

 

[PENG]

I was checking into the Marantz 8077 7-channel amplifier on their web site. The power rating is 150w into 8 ohms -- 2 channels driven. OK, so what is the power rating with all channels driven? I could not find it anywhere and so I downloaded the user manual, thinking that it certainly must be there. Nope... nowhere to be found. At least not on the specs page. Is there a formula for figuring this out?

You can rely on certain lab measurements. Here's one:

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 108.9 watts
1% distortion at 116.8 watts
Read more at https://www.soundandvision.com/content/marantz-av8801-surround-processor-amp-mm8077-amplifier-ht-labs-measures#t673i76lfBB6e8aQ.99

I have the older MM8003, that actually turned out better results:

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/marantz-av8003-preampprocessor-and-mm8003-multichannel-power-amplifier-measurements

 

[Robert Inocencio]

Thanks to all for the knowledge being shared here. I am removing a 20 year old Lexicon 312 amplifier (3-channel 120 wpc) that currently drives my center and two side surrounds, and attempting to replace it with a 7-channel amp to drive those same speakers, plus 4 height effect speakers. I am already using 3 amps and don't have room for a fourth. By what I am understanding now, I don't need that much power to drive my surrounds (still wondering about the center though). A big money saver for me would be the Emotiva BASX A-700. Looks like it might do the job, and about $1800 less than the Marantz that I was looking at before. Is anyone using the Emotiva? Any info you can share would be very much appreciated.

 

[PENG]

I remember reading in the audio magazines of years gone by that more amp power would result in cleaner and more accurate sound when played at lower levels. After reading these posts, I'm not sure if that's true anymore. Was it ever true?

That's like saying a 20A circuit in your kitchen will make your clock radio sound better than the 15A circuit in your bed room. I still read a lot of audio magazines, mostly for lab measurements, technical specs and entertainment.

 

[Tankman]

That's like saying a 20A circuit in your kitchen will make your clock radio sound better than the 15A circuit in your bed room. I still read a lot of audio magazines, mostly for lab measurements, technical specs and entertainment.

umm..20A for clock, 15A for clock radio? . was the radio clock set for daylight savings time? If the 20A clock was on the East Coast then bebroom clock should pull less amps.

 

[mtrycrafts]

... If the 20A clock was on the East Coast then bebroom clock should pull less amps.

Should. But does it? We need to measure to be sure. Oh, is that at sunrise or sunset or some other time?

 

[Tankman]

Should. But does it? We need to measure to be sure. Oh, is that at sunrise or sunset or some other time?

Lolo.. Nice to see you like my humor. . Sure looked like one...