comparing a Yamaha RX A6A to an RX-2500

[bimmerdon]

looking to finally upgrade my system...

I saw in the audioholic review of the Aventage RX A6A :

" With 7CH driven, the RX-A6A limits power to 52 watts. This is not surprising as Yamaha has always set their limiters very conservatively. "

My 2500 states 7 channels 130w 20-20k .04% - states nothing about limiting.

Since I frequently listen to music in 7 channel stereo this has me concerned regarding new receivers on the market and potential clipping.

Thank for any input ! Merry Christmas !

 

[everettT]

looking to finally upgrade my system...

I saw in the audioholic review of the Aventage RX A6A :

" With 7CH driven, the RX-A6A limits power to 52 watts. This is not surprising as Yamaha has always set their limiters very conservatively. "

My 2500 states 7 channels 130w 20-20k .04% - states nothing about limiting.

Since I frequently listen to music in 7 channel stereo this has me concerned regarding new receivers on the market and potential clipping.

Thank for any input ! Merry Christmas !

That's two channels your listing for the power, not 7 FWIW. You should expect similar type performance if replacing with the one you linked. It only takes a watt to get loud, but it's still stressful to ask any avr's amplifier channels to play the same content across 7 speakers at very loud SPL.

 

[lovinthehd]

Don't know if you'd seen it, but here's a test here of the 2500....but no all ch driven test. https://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/yamaha-rx-v2500/rx-v2500-benchmark-tests-part-1

With an avr you're just not going to get a lot more powerful amp sections....so make sure you get one with a full set of pre-outs so you can add external amps of higher capability as needed....

 

[bimmerdon]

everettT : "That's two channels your listing for the power, not 7 FWIW"

.... this from the manual :

this does not look like they are admitting to limiting power with all 7 driven - thought ? . unless they were less specific back in 2004 ?

Lovinthehd : yes too bad there is no all channel driven test ...


In the meantime - my son bought me a yamaha TSR-700 which I feel is underpowered. I figured to set this up anyway( ....to appreciate the gift idea) - and if so, thought to find a front speaker power amp to lessen the demand the the 700-

any recommendations for a front main amp in this setup ? - would be powering Martin Logan Motion 35's

Thanks !

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

looking to finally upgrade my system...

I saw in the audioholic review of the Aventage RX A6A :

" With 7CH driven, the RX-A6A limits power to 52 watts. This is not surprising as Yamaha has always set their limiters very conservatively. "

My 2500 states 7 channels 130w 20-20k .04% - states nothing about limiting.

Since I frequently listen to music in 7 channel stereo this has me concerned regarding new receivers on the market and potential clipping.

Thank for any input ! Merry Christmas !

I would not be concerned at all if you listen to SENSIBLE NON-DEAFENING volume.

Yamaha engineers have tested their OWN 9Ch-11Ch AVRs using their OWN 9Ch and 11CH STEREO modes. For most of us, it's not an issue.

Let's put it this way, if the Yamaha 9Ch and 11Ch Stereo modes were an issue with most speakers, Yamaha would have NEVER implemented their 9Ch and 11CH Stereo modes.

 

[everettT]

everettT : "That's two channels your listing for the power, not 7 FWIW"

.... this from the manual :

View attachment 59261

this does not look like they are admitting to limiting power with all 7 driven - thought ? . unless they were less specific back in 2004 ?

Lovinthehd : yes too bad there is no all channel driven test ...


In the meantime - my son bought me a yamaha TSR-700 which I feel is underpowered. I figured to set this up anyway( ....to appreciate the gift idea) - and if so, thought to find a front speaker power amp to lessen the demand the the 700-

any recommendations for a front main amp in this setup ? - would be powering Martin Logan Motion 35's

Thanks !

They are and while every channel has the same amp, there's absolutely no way that the power supply can handle that all at once. The Audioholics review confirmed the two channel output. Most people have zero real world need for 7 channels playing equal content. If it is a concern,. You'll have a add an external amp, however I'm assuming (believe) that it won't be an issue. I owned the 2500 and it was a very fine AV reciever, but with HDMI boards and additional processing, things have changed and so have some goals.

 

[lovinthehd]

everettT : "That's two channels your listing for the power, not 7 FWIW"

.... this from the manual :

View attachment 59261

this does not look like they are admitting to limiting power with all 7 driven - thought ? . unless they were less specific back in 2004 ?

Lovinthehd : yes too bad there is no all channel driven test ...


In the meantime - my son bought me a yamaha TSR-700 which I feel is underpowered. I figured to set this up anyway( ....to appreciate the gift idea) - and if so, thought to find a front speaker power amp to lessen the demand the the 700-

any recommendations for a front main amp in this setup ? - would be powering Martin Logan Motion 35's

Thanks !

The way I read the spec in the manual they're just saying 1 ch driven rating is 130 W. Each channel is capable of that at a given time, which is fairly typical of avrs; some give a 2ch driven rating, tho. In surround formats it would be very unusual to need simultaneous full power to all channels.....maybe if you're pushing a multich stereo mode with full range speakers (no sub) then that could be a bit too much for it...

Did you read the bench tests done in that Audioholics article? Certainly doesn't look like it's capable of all 7ch driven at 130wpc....

External amps I'd look at Buckeye's Hypex module amps perhaps....maybe the Purifi modules if you want to spend some more....

 

[everettT]

I would not be concerned at all if you listen to SENSIBLE NON-DEAFENING volume.

Yamaha engineers have tested their OWN 9Ch-11Ch AVRs using their OWN 9Ch and 11CH STEREO modes. For most of us, it's not an issue.

Let's put it this way, if the Yamaha 9Ch and 11Ch Stereo modes were an issue with most speakers, Yamaha would have NEVER implemented their 9Ch and 11CH Stereo modes.

I agree with most of that, but there are too many real world speakers that will break an AVR in those modes. Luckily his old AVR had no trouble, so likely that the new one will not either

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I agree with most of that, but there are too many real world speakers that will break an AVR in those modes. Luckily his old AVR had no trouble, so likely that the new one will not either

Those same crazy speakers would likely wreak havoc on almost any AVR without using powerful external amps.

But for MOST affordable consumer speakers at sensible loud volume, it's not an issue.

However, it doesn't hurt to use external amps like most people, even if they don't need the amps.

I've said this before - I have a friend who got the KEF R11 towers + Yamaha RX-A4A over a year ago. Basically everyone on the forum told him he needed to get an external amp. I told him he probably doesn't need an amp. He's been using just the RX-A4A without any amps. So clearly he does NOT need an external amp. But he tells me he still plans on getting the ATI Amp.

 

[everettT]

Those same crazy speakers would likely wreak havoc on almost any AVR without using powerful external amps.

But for MOST affordable consumer speakers at sensible loud volume, it's not an issue.

However, it doesn't hurt to use external amps like most people, even if they don't need the amps.

I've said this before - I have a friend who got the KEF R11 towers + Yamaha RX-A4A over a year ago. Basically everyone on the forum told him he needed to get an external amp. I told him he probably doesn't need an amp. He's been using just the RX-A4A without any amps. So clearly he does NOT need an external amp. But he tells me he still plans on getting the ATI Amp.

I agree on the whole, but there are speakers that "are affordable" that gave amps fits with regular material, the Polk LSI series busted many an amp. With frequency plots, impedence and phase graphs becoming more available, hopefully people do a little homework.

I've always been in the you don't need that much power camp since owing my first Mac amp and watching those meters rarely make it past 10w (normal 1 or 2) except on the most demanding classical music.

I guess one of us should ask what speakers he has?

 

[bimmerdon]

Ty all for the quality input

I forgot to mention I do have all speakers running in small mode - have a paradigm sub and a smallish room at 12x20 ... sounds good with the rxv2500.

90% of the time I run in 7 ch stereo for music.

I really like the 2500 and for 19 yrs old still gets me compliments.....but just like getting rid of a good classic car - I have to upgrade to take advantage of new tech and wifi etc.

I have martin logan - 35xt, motion center and motion IW rears.

Went thru some clipping and blown tweeters as youngster many years back before I bought a used Mac ( 6200??) with that clipping protection circuit - learned about better amps with lots of head room and have not had an issue in 20 yrs since...

Guess I am a little overconcerned that... " they don't make em like they used to" like everything else nowadays... ha ha

 

[3db]

I had a Yamaha RX-V1800 drive a suite of 6 PSB Image speakers, nominal impedance of 6 ohms running full range (no sub) well into the 90+ db range for an hour and the AVR barely warmed up. It was measured at the listener position of a big room. I did that quite often while jogging on the treadmill or until my better half told me to turn it down I have given that AVR to my son-inlaw for his setup as I bought an RX-A3060 to replace it. I also have an RX-V1500, now boxed but still working, it being replaced by an RX-V1075. My last upgrade (hopefully) will be that of an RX-V1900 used in my main floor setup.

Since you are offloading the bass, the AVR doesn't need to work as hard.