Actual POWER DD/DTS

[crashguy]

I watched a DVD the other day, and routed the pre-amp out jacks to an external power amp with output meters calibrated in watts. I usually watch DVDS with the volume level at about -10dB (on my previous DENON 3802, and my current Yamaha RX-V2500). I paid particular attention to the amount of power actually being put out to the L+R front channels throughout the movie (according to the meters anyway).

I want to emphasize, this is about as loud as I can stand to watch a DVD comfortably, and I like it loud.

The amp (for L+R front) rarely pushed out much more than 1 watt, and when it did, it was 50 or so watts, for very brief transients. I was quite surprised. This also confirms what we have all been reading on the forum. I am going to do the same experiment with the center channel next, and I will report my admittedly "unscientific" findings then. I suspect it will use a bit more power, as I know it to be more active. I read somewhere that 60-75% of what you hear when watching your average DVD movie comes out of your center channel speaker. Makes you want to invest in a good one, or make your own like I did.

Ian

 

[mtrycrafts]

I watched a DVD the other day, and routed the pre-amp out jacks to an external power amp with output meters calibrated in watts. I usually watch DVDS with the volume level at about -10dB (on my previous DENON 3802, and my current Yamaha RX-V2500). I paid particular attention to the amount of power actually being put out to the L+R front channels throughout the movie (according to the meters anyway).

I want to emphasize, this is about as loud as I can stand to watch a DVD comfortably, and I like it loud.

The amp (for L+R front) rarely pushed out much more than 1 watt, and when it did, it was 50 or so watts, for very brief transients. I was quite surprised. This also confirms what we have all been reading on the forum. I am going to do the same experiment with the center channel next, and I will report my admittedly "unscientific" findings then. I suspect it will use a bit more power, as I know it to be more active. I read somewhere that 60-75% of what you hear when watching your average DVD movie comes out of your center channel speaker. Makes you want to invest in a good one, or make your own like I did.

Ian

Thanks for the report. You are on the right track. However, being more active doesn't necessarily translate to being louder more often I would be surprised if you get a different reading on the center amp
Now, if you had a passive sub, that would be real interesting. That is where the power is

 

[gene]

read somewhere that 60-75% of what you hear when watching your average DVD movie comes out of your center channel speaker. Makes you want to invest in a good one, or make your own like I did.

Actually 60-75% of dialog comes from the center channel, not all of the movie information.

Its not surprising you are finding average power per channel being only a watt or so. Most of the time your amps will be in idle, consuming very little power, especially given todays highly sensitive speakers all of which are usually crossed over to a dedicated subwoofer. Real power is in the bass which IMO you can never have too much headroom to spare.

 

[crashguy]

Actually, I do have a passive sub. It is an 18" sub ($1000 new) that I bought used. It is in a 13.5 cu. ft. custom made box, with 2 - 4" diameter ports. It is powered by a Carver TFM 45 that I have bridged mono. The sub driver has a nominal impedence of 8 ohms. I also have a monster HTS 3600 that I usually leave on the amperes setting. Some of you may know this setting displays the amount of current passing through it. At idle (DVD on pause) I get 2.5 amps consistently. The highest I have seen is 7.5 amps on one of the scenes of an explosion (torpedo) on the Pearl Harbor DVD. That was pantleg flapping, punch you in the chest bass. YEEEEEHAWWWW!!!

As far as the crossover settings, I have Paradigm 11seMk3 main speakers (2 - 8" woofers, a 6" mid, and a 1" tweeter in each speaker), a custom built center channel speaker (4' wide X 12" high X 12" deep) with Dayton Wright drivers in it, 2 - 8" woofers, 2 - 4" midranges, and 2 - 1.5" tweeters. I set it up with an internal X-over, and it runs 4 ohms nominal. My rear speakers are Bose 301's. I did the auto set up, and the Yamaha set them all as "Large". The sub is set at a 60 Hz or 80 Hz X-over usually.

P.S. The sub (which I call "DOCTOR CRANKENSTEIN") will make standing waves on the water in the toilet bowl on the next floor up in my house. Don't ask me why I check out this kind of stuff. ....yes, I have an addiction.....

I guess I should take a few photos for the other addicts out there who would like to see my money pit.