Amp Questoin.

[MDS]

If you like all channel stereo then use it - period. The concerns about 'needing' an external amp for that mode comes mostly from the idea that all channel stereo == all channels driven which receivers don't do well, but that is not the case.

All channel stereo means you have 2 channels duplicated. For 5.1, it means the fronts play the stereo sound, the surrounds get a duplicate of the front stereo channels, and the center gets the sum of the left+right channels. So you basically have 2.5 channels driven at the same time but when one channel of the stereo signal peaks, it will be reproduced by three speakers and be driven by 3 different channels. It's hardly a stretch for most receivers to handle 3 channels driven at the same instant in time.

 

[Gov]

If you like all channel stereo then use it - period. The concerns about 'needing' an external amp for that mode comes mostly from the idea that all channel stereo == all channels driven which receivers don't do well, but that is not the case.

All channel stereo means you have 2 channels duplicated. For 5.1, it means the fronts play the stereo sound, the surrounds get a duplicate of the front stereo channels, and the center gets the sum of the left+right channels. So you basically have 2.5 channels driven at the same time but when one channel of the stereo signal peaks, it will be reproduced by three speakers and be driven by 3 different channels. It's hardly a stretch for most receivers to handle 3 channels driven at the same instant in time.

Now that makes sense!!! Well put!

 

[mike c]

i listen to 5.1 stereo when going to sleep ... but it's at a very low level and I have two PC fans running on my receiver.

 

[PENG]

If you like all channel stereo then use it - period. The concerns about 'needing' an external amp for that mode comes mostly from the idea that all channel stereo == all channels driven which receivers don't do well, but that is not the case.

All channel stereo means you have 2 channels duplicated. For 5.1, it means the fronts play the stereo sound, the surrounds get a duplicate of the front stereo channels, and the center gets the sum of the left+right channels. So you basically have 2.5 channels driven at the same time but when one channel of the stereo signal peaks, it will be reproduced by three speakers and be driven by 3 different channels. It's hardly a stretch for most receivers to handle 3 channels driven at the same instant in time.

You are right, but in 5.1 stereo, the surround channels have to work as hard as the front channels. It will put more load on the power supply, and you now have each of the 5 amps producing close to equal amount of heat. The receiver will therefore run much warmer. As I said before, if he listens at <75 dB most of the time in a not too large room, the 1014 should do fine.

 

[Gov]

What if I use say DPL 2 music, that would be better on the receivers amp?

 

[cfrizz]

I have always listened to the radio & sometimes cd's in 5.1 stereo, with & without amplification. It sounded good without the separate amp without any problems arising & sounds great with the separate amp.

Most frown on 5.1 stereo more for snobbery sake then anything else. If you like it, go for it & ignore all the naysayers!

 

[highfihoney]

Audiogon just isn't as advanced as Ebay.

Im glad audiogon still uses the system they do for buyers & sellers,the system they have set up forces buyers & sellers to communicate with each other on a personal level with most serious sale offers ending up in at least one phone conversation.

Audiogon's system may seem outdated to some new buyers but it allows the staff & members to police the site much more effective over the ebay system.

 

[Tyreman]

I would say in regards to amp power that yes generally amongst the quality name brands larger is cleaner is better but its hard to achieve in reality with all in ones and even separates with the number of channels in use today.Then theres/can be the electrical powering of them issues...the home theatre receivers
(Years ago I utilized a carver m400t bridged mono for each stereo channel connected B&W DM3000's but ...sigh)
Get a good clean unit at normal listening levels and quality speakers this to me is paramount.....the speakers.
for the most part quality speakers with very low distortion will do more for you than an amp at just under .9% thd or whether the amp is .006%thd.
We had the panasonic low cost home theatre receiver here a year and half ago or so.
This unit had thd approaching close to 1%thd at its rated power at so many hertz to kilohertz you all know the drill.
It was amazing the number of people who commented how clean the sound was for such a low priced unit but a few of us were pretty sure it was the quality low distortion speakers connected to it that pulled it off.