Help with Amplifier

[Poshag]

Hey guys,

My current setup is as follows,

Yamaha Rx-v557
Klispch RB 35 mains
Klipsch RC 35 center
Klispch Sb2 rears (older ones from like 2000)
With a new SVS PC + sub on the way

So my question is, what should I do to upgrade this setup? I feel like my reciever is pretty subpar right now, but it seems silly to scrap it and just buy a different reciever, so i was thinking instead of investing in a Amplifier. I am still pretty new on the scene, so I don't know that much about amplifiers (i.e. the difference between a power amplifier, integrated amp, ect.). I use this system for movies and music, about 50/50, i like to listen pretty loud and with lots of bass (but the svs does have a built in amp). What amp should I be looking for? My budget isnt that high, probably in the ~$500-700 at this point. What would you guys recommend? is it even worth an amp for this setup?

Thanks in advance

 

[jaxvon]

Seeing how you already have highly efficient speakers, I don't think an amp would be justified. If you were driving Polks, that'd be a different story. But I think you'd need hearing protection to play your system at volumes where a power amp might actually make a difference.

 

[j_garcia]

I'll agree with Jaxvon - I don't think an amp is what you need. The receiver is what I would upgrade. You don't have to scrap it - you can sell it or stick it in another room, or drive some outdoor speakers with it.

An integrated amp integrates a preamp and amp; no processing, and they are typically stereo only. This is not what you need; you would want an external 2, 3 or 5 channel amp.

 

[WmAx]

Hey guys,

My current setup is as follows,

Yamaha Rx-v557
Klispch RB 35 mains
Klipsch RC 35 center
Klispch Sb2 rears (older ones from like 2000)
With a new SVS PC + sub on the way

So my question is, what should I do to upgrade this setup? I feel like my reciever is pretty subpar right now,

What is the problem with the existing reciever? Does it distort? Does it have audible noise/hiss/hum? Does it lack important features/functions that you require? Please be specific.

-Chris

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

There's no pre-outs on that receiver. Adding an extra amp isn't an option.

When you get your SVS, utilize the bass management on the receiver to its maximum, so your receiver only has to handle the bass above 80Hz (or even 100Hz - experiment). That will allow your Yamaha to use all its resources (amp section) to power your speakers above those frequencies.

Your SVS should hit all the frequencies easily below 80Hz if it's set up properly. If you have it tuned too low, you'll miss out on the midbass. Your 8" woofers in your RB 35's should shine with material above 80Hz.

 

[Poshag]

alright, guess an Amp is out of the question, just need to upgrade the receiver sometime in the future. I appreciate the help guys...ill try and figure out that bass management stuff by reading the manual, still not very literate when it comes to this stuff

 

[markw]

Again, what is your goal in upgrading? What do you feel it 's lacking?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Poshag]

well, its not that im disatisfied with the setup. I started with just the receiver and the SB2's and sub, and listened to loud or for two long, blowing the drivers on the SB2s. Im still not sure how it happened, but several people have said it was the receiver's lack of power (doesnt make sense to me), thus my question about adding an amp or upgrading the receiver, I guess its just that I listen to music especially very loud (throw alot of parties).

 

[droeses58]

Wait till you get the sub hooked up and the crossover figured out. I bet It'll sound like a brand new system!

 

[j_garcia]

Im still not sure how it happened, but several people have said it was the receiver's lack of power (doesnt make sense to me), thus my question about adding an amp or upgrading the receiver, I guess its just that I listen to music especially very loud (throw alot of parties).

Too little power is what fries drivers, not too much. It's called clipping, and despite the Klipsch sensitivity, they still need clean power to play correctly.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I started with just the receiver and the SB2's and sub, and listened to loud or for two long, blowing the drivers on the SB2s. Im still not sure how it happened, but several people have said it was the receiver's lack of power (doesnt make sense to me), ).

Well, there is your answer, you blew it because you over driven the speakers, not lack of power.

If you want rock concert levels, you need speakers that will take it. Then, after a while, your hearing is shot, then the game is over

 

[MacManNM]

Well, there is your answer, you blew it because you over driven the speakers, not lack of power.

If you want rock concert levels, you need speakers that will take it. Then, after a while, your hearing is shot, then the game is over

Wrong!

The yammie only puts out 90W RMS, the speakers handle 125 RMS. They blew because he didn't have enough power. The receiver was clipping.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Wrong!

The yammie only puts out 90W RMS, the speakers handle 125 RMS. They blew because he didn't have enough power. The receiver was clipping.

Oh, really? Your speculation only. How about the tweeter or mids? Will they handle all that power??? You are WRONG...

 

[Brian JB]

Yo Ya Hole

Speakers are first, electronics second. Switching gears, my wife makes a lot of dresses look good. Likewise, the S8s will make many amps sound good.

Pick an amp, SSP... not a receiver for the
Good luck!

 

[mulester7]

.....distortion, is what kills speaker elements, ALL speaker elements, including the crossover....my last pair of homemades, had an 8 ohm three-way crossover rated at 100 watts, and I pushed the speakers with the McIntosh MC 2200, and had the red clipping light on the amp flickering often.....the light signified full current flow had been reached, and a feature of the amp automatically kept it from clipping, and Mac amps are underrated....I was probably hitting peaks of at least 240 watts....but the signal was clean, and the amp didn't allow clipping and subsequent distortion, to arrive at the speaker elements or the crossover.....my point is, probably 240 watts were hitting the crossover and speaker elements....

 

[jaxvon]

Oh, really? Your speculation only. How about the tweeter or mids? Will they handle all that power??? You are WRONG...

You have obviously not seen his own experimental data where a cheap tweeter handled over 1kW. An 8" eminence mid was even more. And thus, you are WRONG. This was not speculation, but rather fact.

 

[MacManNM]

Oh, really? Your speculation only. How about the tweeter or mids? Will they handle all that power??? You are WRONG...

Dont think so. When a speaker is rated at 125W/RMS 500w/peak that means it will handle 125 W of music content.
He blew the speakers because he clipped the amp, period end of story.

 

[MacManNM]

You have obviously not seen his own experimental data where a cheap tweeter handled over 1kW. An 8" eminence mid was even more. And thus, you are WRONG. This was not speculation, but rather fact.

That is correct Jax. The data is in a different thread.

 

[WmAx]

Dont think so. When a speaker is rated at 125W/RMS 500w/peak that means it will handle 125 W of music content.
He blew the speakers because he clipped the amp, period end of story.

As your previous data[from another thread] demonstrated ,it would require massive transient peaks[which the magnitudes required are not possible with a 90 watt amplifier] to produce enough energy to thermally destroy a properly crossed over tweeter without noticing obvious distortions[that should clue in someone to turn down the volume] before failure occured. Was the user purposely using the speaker at volume levels where constant/obvious distortion was occuring during use?

I'll propose some ideas that I think are the most probable cause of failure in this case:

(1) SB2 is defective/flawed design that is subject to sudden damage at even low power levels.

(2) SB2 has significantly varied specifications as compared to what the manufacturer claims, in which case number (3) would still apply.

(3) User was abusing the speakers on purpose by using at excess SPL levels for the speaker in question, in which case before failure, the speaker would have been exihbiting clearly audible distortions[bottoming out on LF, highly audible phase modulation distortion in the midrange, etc., audible non-linear distortions due to operating the driver motors outside of their linear ranges] due to mechanical limitations of the speaker.

(4) Accidental damage outside the control of the user.

(5) Any combination of the above.

-Chris

 

[MacManNM]

As your previous data[from another thread] demonstrated ,it would require massive transient peaks[which the magnitudes required are not possible with a 90 watt amplifier] to produce enough energy to thermally destroy a properly crossed over tweeter without noticing obvious distortions[that should clue in someone to turn down the volume] before failure occured. Was the user purposely using the speaker at volume levels where constant/obvious distortion was occuring during use?

I'll propose some ideas that I think are the most probable cause of failure in this case:

(1) SB2 is defective/flawed design that is subject to sudden damage at even low power levels.

(2) SB2 has significantly varied specifications as compared to what the manufacturer claims, in which case number (3) would still apply.

(3) User was abusing the speakers on purpose by using at excess SPL levels for the speaker in question, in which case before failure, the speaker would have been exihbiting clearly audible distortions[bottoming out on LF, highly audible phase modulation distortion in the midrange, etc., audible non-linear distortions due to operating the driver motors outside of their linear ranges] due to mechanical limitations of the speaker.

(4) Accidental damage outside the control of the user.

(5) Any combination of the above.

-Chris

I think it's obvious that abuse is the real culprit here. Those are actually some pretty well designed units. The drivers in those speakers are very robust. I doubt it is a design flaw in the units. Klipsch has always been known as a great speaker when it comes to abuse. I'm sure there was tons of distortion, but the distortion was from the amp.