FAQ: Does My AV Receiver Have Enough Power for Speakers?

[gene]

This week's FAQ question deals with AV receiver power and if it's sufficient to drive a full home theater speaker system. We suggest taking our power rating quiz as a starting point and to consider purchasing an AV receiver with built in multi-channel preamp outputs in case you want to add external amplification down the road.

Read: FAQ: Does My AV Receiver Have Enough Power for Speakers?

 

[Gys Florian]

Hello Gene,

Wouldn't be better to calculate it?
We know we want to achieve 105dB SPL max for speakers, we know the sensitivity of our speakers, and we know the distance between speakers and listening position.
There are calculators available to calculate amplifier power requirements from those data's.

I would really like to have Audioholics opinion on those calculators, can they help us?

Regards

 

[lovinthehd]

I think the calculators can be good tools but they're not all the same basis; some make more assumptions than others...good to know how the one you're using works or simply do your own math.

 

[M Code]

Open question too many variables...

• What loudspeakers brand/model are used?
• What are the dimensions (HxWxD) of the listening room?
• What type of room furnishings?
• What type of wall board material, alot of glass?
• What is the source material, compressed, uncompressed?
• What is the target SPL average listening level?

If the room is large, multiple channels for Atmos/DTS-X are used, an AVR can run out of gas. Also the specs of the loudspeakers are crucial such as impedance and sensitivity. A logical fallback would be to make sure the target AVR has pre-outs..

Just my $0.02...