7.2 Home Theater Receiver with 100 W/channel (all driven!)

[Alfer]

I have Martin Logan EM ESLs (Front L/R) driven by a Hegel H-360. So I need a front pre-out on the receiver. I’m driving a Martin Logan Cinema Hybrid ESL Center Speaker, IW-6 1/2” rears and 4i surrounds (5.1) All Martin Logan smokes are rated at 4 ohms (even their non ES models.) Since I can’t find “All channels driven specs on hardly any receivers and because the old THC “doubling certification @ 4 ohms has gone the way of the Dodo bird,) I need help finding a quality 5.2 or 7.2 Receiver that won’t embarrass my Hegel Front end.

 

[Pogre]

I like the Denon AVR X3*** series or Marantz's SR series (6*** and up). I'm not aware of any receivers right now that will give you an honest 100 wpc, acd. Pretty tall order. What's nice about the models I suggested is that they do have a full set of preouts for adding amplification if you think you need it.

Most offer 2 Ch driven numbers because that's where the bulk of your power is being used for music, tho I think 3 channels driven would be a better standard for 5.1 (or 7.1) material, but generally speaking those 2 channel numbers are sufficient enough. Aside from the front 3, the rest aren't really demanding that much power as they're effect speakers and don't receive as much information as the main 3.

I like to link folks to this spl calculator as it can give you at least a ballpark idea of the relation between power and volume. Your speakers are rated for 4 ohms, so it's not necessarily going to be accurate for your speakers, but playing around with the power number shows you how much more of it affects your spl. You have to double it just for a 3 dB gain.

Peak SPL Calculator

 

[Alfer]

I like the Denon AVR X3*** series or Marantz's SR series (6*** and up). I'm not aware of any receivers right now that will give you an honest 100 wpc, acd. Pretty tall order. What's nice about the models I suggested is that they do have a full set of preouts for adding amplification if you think you need it.

Most offer 2 Ch driven numbers because that's where the bulk of your power is being used for music, tho I think 3 channels driven would be a better standard for 5.1 (or 7.1) material, but generally speaking those 2 channel numbers are sufficient enough. Aside from the front 3, the rest aren't really demanding that much power as they're effect speakers and don't receive as much information as the main 3.

I like to link folks to this spl calculator as it can give you at least a ballpark idea of the relation between power and volume. Your speakers are rated for 4 ohms, so it's not necessarily going to be accurate for your speakers, but playing around with the power number shows you how much more of it affects your spl. You have to double it just for a 3 dB gain.

Peak SPL Calculator

 

[Alfer]

Thank you Pogre. I guess I listed “100 W; all channels driven” because I thought it was easier to shop for a Receiver with that criteria than try to find specs that depict an adequately beefy Power Supply with respectable headroom. Wading thru pages of “Specs” usually doesn’t result in power supply details. Granted, if I’m taking the Front R/L load off the Amp section by using the Hegel for them, I’m ASSUMING the power supply would have more headroom for surround transients. I bought and immediately returned a Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A1080 7.2-Channel AV Receiver; RXA1080BL when I realized it was underpowered

 

[Pogre]

Thank you Pogre. I guess I listed “100 W; all channels driven” because I thought it was easier to shop for a Receiver with that criteria than try to find specs that depict an adequately beefy Power Supply with respectable headroom. Wading thru pages of “Specs” usually doesn’t result in power supply details. Granted, if I’m taking the Front R/L load off the Amp section by using the Hegel for them, I’m ASSUMING the power supply would have more headroom for surround transients. I bought and immediately returned a Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A1080 7.2-Channel AV Receiver; RXA1080BL when I realized it was underpowered

I think if you're offloading the front 2 channels that does take a lot of heat off your receiver. If you can find one, those Denon or Marantz models should be plenty for effect speakers. The AVR X3700 and SR6015 are the newest models. The 3600 and SR6013-6014 are also current enough for most usage still. Just lacking in the latest 8k updates, really.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think before you go any further, read the Audioholics article on All Channels Driven (ACD).

The All Channels Driven (ACD) Amplifier Test

This article explores the All Channels Driven power test popularized by some print magazines and manufacturers. It discusses its relevancy and real world implications.

www.audioholics.com

Key takeaway:

1. ACD doesn’t exists in the real world application. Otherwise, there would probably be MILLIONS of lawsuits on failing AVRs and blown speakers.

2. Manufacturers (like the global giant Yamaha) understand point #1. Thus, they focus on 2CH power output for the main front 2 speakers and PURPOSELY LIMIT power for ACD - probably to reduce HEAT PRODUCTION.

3. If you still desire 100W ACD, you’re gonna have to spend more money to buy external amps. So you could have just kept the RX-A1080 and buy external amps that are 100+ Watts ACD.

 

[Alfer]

Thank you. That was the first thing I read since I’m a newbie. I’m still hoping against hope to find a 5.2 or 7.2 AVR that I can get reasonable performance out of since my Martin Logan’s START at a nominal (redundant, I know) 4 ohms. I SHOULD’VE thought about that before investing in a room full of ‘em! So… short of an Emotiva 5-Channel Amp and a separate processor ($2-3K) any other suggestions? Is the Marantz MR-1711 Slim Line any good?

 

[Pogre]

Thank you. That was the first thing I read since I’m a newbie. I’m still hoping against hope to find a 5.2 or 7.2 AVR that I can get reasonable performance out of since my Martin Logan’s START at a nominal (redundant, I know) 4 ohms. I SHOULD’VE thought about that before investing in a room full of ‘em! So… short of an Emotiva 5-Channel Amp and a separate processor ($2-3K) any other suggestions? Is the Marantz MR-1711 Slim Line any good?

I think most mid to higher tier avrs will be able to handle the 4 ohm loads, tho you are correct to consider that as a lot of entry level models might choke a little bit. The ones I recommended, and why I like avrs in general is having bass management for subs and all the preouts for external amplification should you want it. If you have the budget you could spring for the models above what I suggested. Usually the power supplies are a little more robust in the upper models.

 

[Verdinut]

Thank you. That was the first thing I read since I’m a newbie. I’m still hoping against hope to find a 5.2 or 7.2 AVR that I can get reasonable performance out of since my Martin Logan’s START at a nominal (redundant, I know) 4 ohms. I SHOULD’VE thought about that before investing in a room full of ‘em! So… short of an Emotiva 5-Channel Amp and a separate processor ($2-3K) any other suggestions? Is the Marantz MR-1711 Slim Line any good?

The Marantz NR-1711 doesn't have a very powerful power supply with only a 50 watt output per channel. I know you would use the L & R front pre-outs to drive external amps. However, for practical purposes, the front center channel requires as much amp power if not more than either the front L or R channel.

Ideally, I would suggest a Marantz SR5___ series AVR which is more powerful and would be more at ease to drive 4 ohm speakers. In addition, such receiver has 7 pre-outs so you could also drive the center channel with external amplification. This would give you more power headroom.

 

[Pogre]

The Marantz NR-1711 doesn't have a very powerful power supply with only a 50 watt output per channel. I know you would use the L & R front pre-outs to drive external amps. However, for practical purposes, the front center channel requires as much amp power if not more than either the front L or R channel.

Ideally, I would suggest a Marantz SR5___ series AVR which is more powerful and would be more at ease to drive 4 ohm speakers. In addition, such receiver has 7 pre-outs so you could also drive the center channel with external amplification. This would give you more power headroom.

I keep forgetting the SR5*** series has preouts too, you're right! The 6 series and up have the upgraded version of MultEQ with XT32 (if that matters to op). Maybe a slightly better power supply for the 4 ohm loads too, tho they very likely could be the same with the bigger number put on the more expensive model.