Difference between AVR / AVR plus Power Amplifier

[blued888]

When would an AVR plus power amplifier combo be advantageous over a standalone AVR?

Some scenarios I can think of are the following:

1. Would a Yamaha RX-V663 paired with an Emotiva UPA-7 (125w x 7) be significantly better than that of an Onkyo TX-SR805 or Yamaha RX-V1800 (Both at 130w x 7)?

2. How about a Yamaha RX-V663 (95w x 7) alone, there's 30 watts difference with having the Emotiva UPA-7 (125w x 7)? Would there be any advantage aside from being able to crank the volume higher with the Emotiva?

Would the AVR plus power amplifier combo only be useful if you will drive your speakers at higher than usual volumes (Which also partially means that the setup will be in a large room, say 3,500+ cu ft)?

When using only a 5.1 or 6.1 setup, do 7.1 AVRs re-route amplifier power to only the channels that are in use? I've noticed that for power amplifiers, power ratings increase per channel if all channels are not in use.

What scenarios would require/benefit from the use of power amplifiers? What are the main uses of power amplifiers aside from being able to drive speakers at a higher volume than standalone AVRs?

Just curious about how these things really work. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Midcow2]

AVR with Power Amp

When would an AVR plus power amplifier combo be advantageous over a standalone AVR?

Some scenarios I can think of are the following:

1. Would a Yamaha RX-V663 paired with an Emotiva UPA-7 (125w x 7) be significantly better than that of an Onkyo TX-SR805 or Yamaha RX-V1800 (Both at 130w x 7)?

2. How about a Yamaha RX-V663 (95w x 7) alone, there's 30 watts difference with having the Emotiva UPA-7 (125w x 7)? Would there be any advantage aside from being able to crank the volume higher with the Emotiva?

Would the AVR plus power amplifier combo only be useful if you will drive your speakers at higher than usual volumes (Which also partially means that the setup will be in a large room, say 3,500+ cu ft)?

When using only a 5.1 or 6.1 setup, do 7.1 AVRs re-route amplifier power to only the channels that are in use? I've noticed that for power amplifiers, power ratings increase per channel if all channels are not in use.

What scenarios would require/benefit from the use of power amplifiers? What are the main uses of power amplifiers aside from being able to drive speakers at a higher volume than standalone AVRs?

Just curious about how these things really work. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Assuming you have pre pro outs and you need more power is when you need a separate power amp. That seems obvious lOL, but it is not alwyas so readily apparent.

First remember power is logrithmic so going from 100 watts to 300 watts does not triple the sound output. formula => power difference in dB =10 log( power A/ Power B) So if Power A=300 and Power B= 100 the change in db is only 4.77 dB. each 3 db is a doubling in SPL.

When you need more power comes to the following:

1. Speaker sensitivity ( low=80db, average=90dB, high=100dB, high requires less power)

2. Nominal speaker impedance 2 ohms requires 4 times the power of 8 ohms. Some very very high quality expnsive speakers are 2-3 ohms and require bodacious amounts of power.

3. Room size = bigger room nedds louder sound = more power

4. Your preferred listening level= if you like louder you need more power.

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Most power is needed by the fronts. Ulsee you are one of those rare people that has SC7000s for everything (... dream ... dream ..> back to reality).

Second most power= center.

Reality: surrounds are lower power and sub woofers usually have built-in power.


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Here is a good starting planner. http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

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IMHO most of the higher end AVRs in the range cof 140-150 RMS per channel will drive about anything you can throw at them and if they can't AVRs in that range have pre-outs and you can always add a power amp.