amp wattage balance

[mike c]

IF for example your Front Left and Front Right speakers are amped with 200w each ... (RB 1080)

how many watts for the center channel?
120w? (RMB 1075)
or
360w? (bridged mode RB1070)

 

[Snarl]

What kind of Speaker ?

I'm thinking 200 Watts also.

 

[mike c]

8 ohms 91db sensitivity Infinity BETA 50 fronts and C360 center

unfortunately, there is no mono 200w rotel amp

 

[gcmarshall]

audiosource makes the amp one/a which, in bridged/mono mode, claims to put out 200 wpc into 8 ohms. cost is less the $200.

i am in a similar situation. just bought a 225 watt (8 ohms) 2 ch amp for ym front left/rights. i will be using the aforementioned audiosources amp one/a in bridged mode for the center and 2 others for the surrounds. not concerned about the surrounds, but i will be interested to see if there is any audible inconsistencies across the front three speakers when watching movies. i doubt it will be a problem for me.

 

[talannar]

I'd go with the 1075 if those are your only two choices.

If you have the money you could always get a 1095 @ 200x5. Then you wouldn't have the wattage disparity. Check out Audiogon and you can usually find one for about 30% off retail.

Or, if you branch away from Rotel, you could go with an Outlaw 2200 monoblock which pumps 200w. They have a 30 day money back guarantee, so you could always try it out and see if you think it matches well with your center channel and send it back if it doesn't.

 

[Reorx]

I would choose the larger one. RB1070.
My reasoning is because:
1. With movies, most of your voices come from the center channel. So the center is louder then your other speakers.
2. With 2 channel audio, your center channel isnt being used.
3. You can adjust the volume of your center channel on your receiver (in setup), as well as on your amp to your desired level to match your other speakers.
4. It's better to have to excess power, then not enough.

On my system, my center channel / Amps are EXTREMELY out of wack with the rest of my speakers, so I had to use a $10 L-Pad to Adjust the center channel volume. Just to give you a idea of what extremely means. I have 6 identical speakers that are 100watt RMS@8ohms, which the receiver drives, and my center is ~1600watt RMS@4ohms being driven by 2 amps.

I have all the speakers blending nicely, and it sounds great.

Good luck.

Reorx