Does My TX-NR708 need a Power Upgrade

[Biggz]

I've been considering a potential power amp upgrade for my AVR. Onkyo claims the NR708 is 110w per channel. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, so only a modest upgrade is truly being considered. The amps in question are the Emotiva UPA2 rated 125 per channel or the Onkyo M282 rated the same. If I buy one of these to power my towers will I really hear a major difference. I would also like to know if I will still be able to use the Audyssey Multi EQ function to equalize all the speakers? Thanks for you help.

Biggz

 

[sholling]

That's a fairly minor upgrade in power that probably won't do much for you with stereo content. What it will do is ease the load on the receiver's power supply when playing 5.0/7.0 content because the receiver won't have to power the mains. Enough to be audible? I'm not sure.

The answer to your question about Audyssey is yes it still works with an external amp.

 

[zumbo]

You will bear 0 difference.

Audyssey will still work.

 

[rnatalli]

I do not think you will hear a difference. The 708 has a pretty robust amp section and it probably has more than enough power unless you have hard speakers to drive.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

What model and make of your towers?

 

[Biggz]

Thanks for the responses. I guess I'll continue saving for a more powerful amp like the Emotiva XPA-3 or something equivalent.

The Onkyo PA-MC5500 and the Integra DTA-70.1 seem to designed for matching preamps not really providing much more power, and the prices are jaw dropping. A member suggested the Crown CTS 600 as an alternative. I checked Crown's site and although it's a little out of my budget, the specs seem quite competitive. What's the consensus on the Crown and are there other amps at least 200w per channel with low distortion under $800? I really don't want to spend that much.

As my mom use to say "I want to go to heaven but I don't want to die".

What model and make of your towers?

My fronts are BIC Venturi DV84's.
Sensitivity: 90 db @ 1 Watt, 1 meter.
Drivers: Two 8" polymer low bass woofers, two 8" passive radiators, & one 3/4" soft dome tweeter.
Recommended Power: 10-250 watts per channel.

Thanks again for your help, recommendations and guidance.
Biggz

 

[zumbo]

You will bear 0 difference.

Audyssey will still work.

Meant to say hear.

Must have been thirsty.

 

[zumbo]

You can add amps all day long.

With the same avr and speakers, it is still going to sound the same as long as you are currently operating within the avr's limit.

Trust me.

I use a separate amp with a receiver in my system. With my current system, I started with a Yamaha 1400. Then I added the external Adcom 7605 amp. Then, I switched to a Yamaha Z7 as my pre-amp. System still sounds the same.

 

[Biggz]

You can add amps all day long.

With the same avr and speakers, it is still going to sound the same as long as you are currently operating within the avr's limit.

Trust me.

I use a separate amp with a receiver in my system. With my current system, I started with a Yamaha 1400. Then I added the external Adcom 7605 amp. Then, I switched to a Yamaha Z7 as my pre-amp. System still sounds the same.

Excuse my short sightedness, but I don't see your point. I'm trying to increase head room with regards to volume. The receiver and speakers sound fine. Would you please elaborate.

 

[PENG]

As others have implied, you probably won't gain enough headroom with that amp to hear a difference. In fact if you were to use the 708 to listen to two channel material, it would have almost as much power as the UPA, if not a little more. Note that the UPA-2 power supply is based on a 300 VA transformer, I am pretty sure the 708 has a larger one. The UPA-2 most likely does have more capacitance though.

The XPA amp would likely get you noticeable improvements, depending on how loud you listen and how big your room is.

 

[3db]

What the external amp will buy you is the ability to power difficult to drive speakers which your BICs are NOT. Your BICs have a fairly high sensitivity so its not taxing your Onkyo that much that you would hear a difference when powered by a seperate amp. Headroom is only needed if you are pushing your reciever close to its clipping point. I don't think you are even coming close to pushing your Onkyo even close to its limits.

 

[zumbo]

Excuse my short sightedness, but I don't see your point. I'm trying to increase head room with regards to volume. The receiver and speakers sound fine. Would you please elaborate.

You asked this question.

If I buy one of these to power my towers will I really hear a major difference.

I replied informing you the system would sound the same.

You will not "hear a major difference", if any.

What kind of powered sub are you using? If you really want to "hear" a difference, replacing the sub will make more of a difference with existing equipment than anything. (bang for the buck)

 

[Biggz]

Thanks again for the responses. You guys have convinced me that this upgrade to my setup will be an apparent waste of money. Unfortunately I’ve allowed myself to buy into the obvious hyperbolic advertising of the Audio industry. I have seen many threads, reviews and ads suggesting many AVR manufacturers tend to over rate their products resulting in many questions regarding the true power per channel that a receiver will produce without distortion. As a result, I found myself skeptical in believing the 110 wpc that Onkyo claimed in there material. I’ll be the first to admit that the NR708 is a little beast performing flawlessly. Despite this, my lack of expertise won out.

I understand that manufactures want to sell their products, but if these so called upgrades will not make much of a difference in terms of loudness (particularly if an AVR for example has 110 wpc) why buy them?

You will not "hear a major difference", if any.

What kind of powered sub are you using? If you really want to "hear" a difference, replacing the sub will make more of a difference with existing equipment than anything. (bang for the buck)

Zumbo, thanks for insistence that the setup will not sound any different. Peng and 3db also made it clear that this upgrade is probably unnecessary.

In fact if you were to use the 708 to listen to two channel material, it would have almost as much power as the UPA, if not a little more. Note that the UPA-2 power supply is based on a 300 VA transformer, I am pretty sure the 708 has a larger one. The UPA-2 most likely does have more capacitance though.

The XPA amp would likely get you noticeable improvements, depending on how loud you listen and how big your room is.

What the external amp will buy you is the ability to power difficult to drive speakers which your BICs are NOT. Your BICs have a fairly high sensitivity so its not taxing your Onkyo that much that you would hear a difference when powered by a seperate amp. Headroom is only needed if you are pushing your reciever close to its clipping point. I don't think you are even coming close to pushing your Onkyo even close to its limits.

I certainly don’t play my music or movies at any great levels. In fact I only recently turned it up loud enough for the THX reference indicator to display on the TV monitor. I did phrase my initial question poorly. I should have asked more about the load on the receiver. I have 2 BIC V1220 sub woofers.

You guys saved me a time and money. Thank you

 

[zumbo]

I understand that manufactures want to sell their products, but if these so called upgrades will not make much of a difference in terms of loudness (particularly if an AVR for example has 110 wpc) why buy them?

1) My speakers are very hard on an amp. All five are 4ohm 86dB.

2) I have a very large room with exposed beam ceiling.

3) My intention was to add the amp to my existing 1400, and then move on to a pre-pro. When the time came for a pre-pro, I decided to go with a Z7 instead.

4) It's fun.

I certainly don’t play my music or movies at any great levels. In fact I only recently turned it up loud enough for the THX reference indicator to display on the TV monitor. I did phrase my initial question poorly. I should have asked more about the load on the receiver. I have 2 BIC V1220 sub woofers.

It will remove the load from your receiver, but I feel the receiver is not even breaking a sweat.

Although I have never heard a BIC V1220, pretty sure two of them are getting the job done.

If your intention is like mine was, to constantly evolve your ht, then buying an amp is just part of the fun. I may upgrade my sub, but for the most part my ht is done. Of coarse, the tv will be upgraded from time-to-time.

Keeping with my hobby, I will be spending my time fooling with a 2.1 rig.

 

[PENG]

I understand that manufactures want to sell their products, but if these so called upgrades will not make much of a difference in terms of loudness (particularly if an AVR for example has 110 wpc) why buy them?

Don't be confused, as zumbo and 3 db said, the amp would take some load off the 708. That means the 708 would then have more juice for the other speakers but that is about it. If you were to upgrade to something with at least 200WPC then you may gain enough headroom for you to hear a difference.

 

[3db]

Don't be confused, as zumbo and 3 db said, the amp would take some load off the 708. That means the 708 would then have more juice for the other speakers but that is about it. If you were to upgrade to something with at least 200WPC then you may gain enough headroom for you to hear a difference.

Only if the Onkyo is being pushed near clipping. During nominal listening levels, I don't think a difference would be heard. I just want to be careful and clarify this.

 

[zumbo]

Only if the Onkyo is being pushed near clipping. During nominal listening levels, I don't think a difference would be heard. I just want to be careful and clarify this.

I agree.