amplifier regrets?

[typehxr1]

I am going back and forth between getting a 124-140wpc Rotel or Parasound vs. a 200-220wpc of the same brand (will be used). It would be powering a 3.1 of Energy C3 bookshelves and a matching center. I know the smaller amp will be plenty, but I will be getting towers in a year or so (I want them now) and don't want to "lack juice" down the road and have to upgrade. The amp will be connected via pre-outs on a Pioneer receiver.

The question......how many of you had floorstanders in the past and felt they were underpowered and upgraded to a 200 +wpc amp? I'll probably end up getting 200wpc so I don't lose money trying to sell something that is underpowered, but the bargain hunter in me is wondering if I'll be ok w/less power. And no, I don't know what kind of towers I'll be getting down the road

 

[Haoleb]

You shouldnt have any feelings of lacking power with 120+ wpc with the vast majority of speakers on the market. Of course, you cant go wrong with more power but the difference between 140wpc and 200 is surprisingly small.

 

[3db]

Unless the Energy towers are low impedance (lower than 6 ohms nominal) and inefficient (less than 89db) and or the room is concet hall size, 120 watts per channel will be able to drive the towers to insanely loud levels. Like Haoleb siad, theres, not much difference betwen 140 watts and a 220 watts.

 

[Davemcc]

I had some power envy issues when I first got my Rotel 1075 but it hasn't shown any sign of struggle with playing as loud as I could ever want. My speakers are 4 Ohm and not very sensitive but my room is small. I'm sure it would serve most purposes just fine. If you think you need more or just plain want the extra power, go for the big amp but it's not strictly necessary.

 

[typehxr1]

thanks for the replies. my choices for the smaller wattage would be the rotel 1075 or parasound 1205. bigger choices would be rotel 1095 or parasound 2205. i've heard nothing bad about either, so it'll probably boil down to the deal i can get and which one aesthetically blends in with my other components. having said that, i think i answered my question.....it would have to be the rotel.

on a side note.....while looking at the emotiva amps, i noticed how they quote their power specs to be a little more informative. for example, the 200 x 5 amp they have....all channels driven = 200 wpc. in my case, 3 channels driven might amount to 235wpc (just as an example).

.....do other amps redistribute power to the channels being used (in my case 2 won't be in a 5 channel amp) to the other 3 to give more juice to the channels being used?

 

[cfrizz]

Get the either the Rotel 1095 or the Parasound 2205. Your current speakers will benefit, your future speakers will benefit, & you won't have to look back and say I should have...

You will KNOW that your speakers have all the power they need now & in the future. Do it once & do it right. Even if it cost more up front, you won't have to buy another higher powered amp down the line.

"I'll probably end up getting 200wpc so I don't lose money trying to sell something that is underpowered,"

This is a true statement, you would lose money that could have gone to the right amp the first time round. Why spend money twice?

 

[WmAx]

Well, a year ago I was only using about 420 watts per stereo channel. Now I use 950 watts per stereo channel and I feel better about it. By next year, it will be 3150 watts per channel w/3 dedicated 20A breakers. Those AXIS 15s need some juice.....

-Chris

 

[typehxr1]

on a side note.....while looking at the emotiva amps, i noticed how they quote their power specs to be a little more informative. for example, the 200 x 5 amp they have....all channels driven = 200 wpc. in my case, 3 channels driven might amount to 235wpc (just as an example).

.....do other amps redistribute power to the channels being used (in my case 2 won't be in a 5 channel amp) to the other 3 to give more juice to the channels being used?

Anyone have any info on this?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I would have to classify that as girly power......

Well, a year ago I was only using about 420 watts per stereo channel. Now I use 950 watts per stereo channel and I feel better about it. By next year, it will be 3150 watts per channel w/3 dedicated 20A breakers. Those AXIS 15s need some juice.....

-Chris

 

[WmAx]

I would have to classify that as girly power......

Really? Mr. One Axis man with his gimp Servo sub slowing down the real deal.... ... you're one to talk...

I will start out right, with 2 AXIS subs. In addition, my room is under 2000 cubic feet. So I think I'll be alright...

-Chris

 

[ParadigmDawg]

The Dawg has another AXIS and EP2500 on the way

Really? Mr. One Axis man with his gimp Servo sub slowing down the real deal.... ... you're one to talk...

I will start out right, with 2 AXIS subs. In addition, my room is under 2000 cubic feet. So I think I'll be alright...

-Chris

 

[Nomo]

The Dawg has another AXIS and EP2500 on the way

Does the wife know about this?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

What do you think?

I am just talking crap. January is the month that I pay off all my debt from the year before so I can't buy crap right now. I dang near had to eat a grilled cheese sandwhich yesterday. Not to mention that I haven't even got my new quotas for the year. I have no idea what my income will be in 09!

Does the wife know about this?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Anyone have any info on this?

Maybe you can get a spec for that Emotiva in 2 ch rating. It should be much more than the 5 ch rating. In a 3 ch mode, you will not be driving all 3 speakers to full power at the same instant, so, that 2ch rating should be the real deal.

 

[Missionman]

oh yeah i have regrets. i regret buying every piece of my system.
Pioneer main amp
Pioneer pre amp
Pioneer sound image equalizer
eltax tallstand speakers
Mission M30i bookshelf speakers
(crappy alba dvd player to play cd's haha)

regret it all, costs too bloody much haha. i even payed out £100 per 2 meter cable, just to power one speaker, so it totalled £200. just for some top quality speaker cable.
BUT WHAT CAN I SAY, ITS AN ADDICTION, LOVE IT

 

[WmAx]

What do you think?

I am just talking crap. January is the month that I pay off all my debt from the year before so I can't buy crap right now. I dang near had to eat a grilled cheese sandwhich yesterday. Not to mention that I haven't even got my new quotas for the year. I have no idea what my income will be in 09!

Huh? So did you order the 2nd Axis and EP2500 or not?

I need to get two more Ep2500 amplifiers and of course build my new main speakers, which are 4 ways, using an AXIS 15" in each for the woofer. Unfortunately, I am finishing up Matt's speakers, then I have a much more complex speaker pair to build for someone after his are done .... so man... it will be mid 2009 at the soonest before I can start on my own new speakers....

-Chris

 

[T2T]

[shameless plug]

In a few weeks, I'll have my Parasound HCA-2003 available for sale. 3 channels/200 watts per channel @ 8 Ohms.

54 Lbs. of hernia causing power.


[/shameless plug]

 

[darien87]

I would say buy the bigger amp. I went from a 200 watt per channel amp, to a 125 watt per channel amp and felt that I was missing something. It might just have been psychological, but it just seemed that something was lacking. I am now back to a 200 watt per channel amp.

I would also steer you towards Emotiva amps. More bang for your buck than Parasound.

 

[audion3wb]

I had a similar dilemma when i was getting ready to buy my amp. I was teetering between the Emotiva UPA-7 or the XPA-5. As you can see I got the UPA-7. My resoning at the time was because my surrounds are rated to 120watts I figured the 200wpc of the XPA-5 would be overkill. Looking back at it I sometimes wish I went with the bigger amp, on the other hand my listening room is very large (over 4000cu ft) and I have all the power I need.

Since I am using the UPA-7 in 5 channels I am getting 140wpc so it would only be a 60 watt difference for me, but like I said in the back of my mind I wonder if I should have gotten the bigger amp.

Hindsight being 20/20 I would go with the 200wpc. If you are about to get towers for the front you might as well get more power. I also put in a second vote for getting an Emotiva amp. Grab an XPA-5 and make me jealous

 

[cfrizz]

There is NO such thing as overkill when it comes to power. Everyone says it like it's a bad thing.