Do I need an external amp or more powerful AVR?

[mwstorms21]

Hello,
First post here. I've done my best to read up on the existing forum posts, but appreciate additional advice from members as I want to make sure I'm on the right track.

Given the below information, should I get an external amp to support this setup? I am going to A/B testing some larger speakers than I currently have, so that is why I'm not sure if the external amp is needed or not.

Room information:
*40'L x 20'W x 8' to 15' Cathedral Ceiling (approx 9500 cubic ft)
*14' seating distance
*6 seats across approx 14'W seating area
*GIK Sound Panels along the side walls

Usage:
*Typical Volume for movies = -15 to -10
*Movies/Music Ratio = 80% Movies/20% Music
*Usually utilize SuuroundAI when watching movies.

System info:
*AVR = Yamaha RX-A2080
*Audio setup = 7.2 Surround
*in-wall / in-ceiling Surround L/R/BL/BR = Sonance VP62
*Subwoofers = 2 x SVS SB16 Ultras

A/B testing the following in the next couple weeks.
2x Klipsch RP-8000F
1x Klipsc RP-504C
vs.
2x SVS Prime Pinnacle Towers
1x SVS Ultra Center

Appreciate your advice!

Specs:
Sonance VP62: (in wall surround L&R)

https://www.sonance.com/in-wall-in-ceiling/visual-performance/medium-rectangle

Sonance VP62R (in ceiling suround BL &BR)

https://www.sonance.com/in-wall-in-ceiling/visual-performance/medium-round-square

Yamaha RX-A2080 AVR:

RX-A2080 - Overview - Yamaha USA

Unbridled Performance and Function. This 9.2-channel AV receiver harnesses dual ESS SABRE™ DACs, seven HDMI inputs, three HDMI outputs, Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X™, Multi-Zone functionality, Phono input, Wi-Fi®, YPAO™ with Precision EQ and much more.

usa.yamaha.com

Klipsch RP-8000F:

https://d2um2qdswy1tb0.cloudfront.net/product-specsheets/RP-8000F_Spec-Sheet_v01.pdf?mtime=20180725221914&focal=none

Klipsch RP-504C

https://d2um2qdswy1tb0.cloudfront.net/product-specsheets/RP-504C_Spec-Sheet_v01.pdf?mtime=20180726232920&focal=none

Or

SVS prime pinnacle

Prime Pinnacle | Tower Speaker for Home Theater & HiFi | SVS

Audiophile refinement, breathtaking home theater dynamics. World class audio for everyone.

www.svsound.com

SVS Ultra Center

SVS Ultra Center Speaker | Reference 3-Way Center Channel Speaker

Reference 3-way Ultra Center Speaker anchors immersive surround sound home theater with pitch perfect dialogue/vocals, broad soundstage and utter transparency.

www.svsound.com

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I sit about 18FT away from my speakers both in my HT room (CX-A5000) and living room (RX-A3080).

It just depends on the volume. If you listen you extremely unsafe loud volume, probably no AVR is safe.

If you listen to typical loud volume, the A2080 will do just fine, assuming it has good ventilation.

Yamaha runs cooler than most, but if ventilation isn’t good, it doesn’t hurt to add a fan for the AVR.

 

[lovinthehd]

Also larger speakers tend to be more sensitive/efficient so compare those specs. Maybe use one of these guys to help estimate your needs http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

I'd suggest avr alone at first in any case and if its fine at the levels you like, you're done.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Also larger speakers tend to be more sensitive/efficient so compare those specs. Maybe use one of these guys to help estimate your needs http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

I'd suggest avr alone at first in any case and if its fine at the levels you like, you're done.

I agree. Try the AVR until it starts to complain. Personally I’d trade the sb ultras for PB’s...especially in that big space.

 

[mwstorms21]

I agree. Try the AVR until it starts to complain. Personally I’d trade the sb ultras for PB’s...especially in that big space.

Thanks! They are actually PB's, I just mistyped.

 

[lovinthehd]

I agree. Try the AVR until it starts to complain. Personally I’d trade the sb ultras for PB’s...especially in that big space.

I meant to ask about that! Four SB16s perhaps....

ps Just a bit too quick there it seems

 

[mwstorms21]

Also larger speakers tend to be more sensitive/efficient so compare those specs. Maybe use one of these guys to help estimate your needs http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

I'd suggest avr alone at first in any case and if its fine at the levels you like, you're done.

Thanks! I'll give that calculator a shot!

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks! I'll give that calculator a shot!

A few cautions, sensitivity spec from speaker makers can be let's say generous (particularly Klipsch) or they may play a bit with the impedance (in that typically you want sensitivity spec'd at 2.83 V at 1 m anechoic, but while 2.83 V at exactly 8 ohms is 1 W, at 4 ohms it's 2 watts. Then again speakers vary quite a bit with what impedance they are at what frequency. Just trying to say it's a guideline, not exact. Sometimes with speakers like Klipsch you might want to take 4 or 5 dB off their spec as they typically provide their "in-room" equivalent spec (and this is borne out in speaker measurements). Then again it takes a doubling of power in the amp to gain merely 3dB spl....that's where that calculator is handy, throwing variables at it and see how the numbers play out without doing the math manually . @PENG has a pretty snazzy excel type calculator he drew up with more variables....