High watt power amplifier vs low watt speakers

[mafiaahem]

Hi folks,

[1st Edit: sorry, the title should have been "High watt power amplifier and low watt speakers"]

Here's my question: can I use a 200W power amplifier with simple low watt speakers from a audio system?

I am trying to build a home theater, one piece at a time. I just have invested in a Denon DVD player and a Integra preamp/pro. I am shopping for a power amp now. Do not want to invest in speakers at this time but rather thinking of using the five speakers from my Sony mini-hifi audio system.

Speakers info:
2 Front speakers: 120W @ 8 ohms each (5% THD at 1KHz)
2 Surround speakers: 12.5W @ 16 ohms each (5% THD at 1KHz)
1 Center speaker: 25W @ 8ohms each (5% THD at 1KHz)

Will I be able to use these speakers at all with a power amp until I buy a real speaker system? For a power amp I am considering Emotiva MPS-1.

Thanx!
Mafia...ahem...

 

[Adam]

I think that you will be just fine, as long as you don't crank the volume way up. Most of the time you'll be feeding those speakers less than one Watt RMS. From what I've read, you generally don't need to worry too much about the power ratings of the speakers if you get yourself a good quality amp (the MPS-1 is a good example).

Besides, if you blow the speakers...perfect excuse to get new ones!

 

[mazersteven]

Hi folks,

I am shopping for a power amp now. Do not want to invest in speakers at this time but rather thinking of using the five speakers from my Sony mini-hifi audio system.

Thanx!
Mafia...ahem...

IMO shopping for an amp first before speakers is not the way to go. Your supposed to match your amp to your speakers needs, not speakers for your amps needs.

 

[Adam]

IMO shopping for an amp first before speakers is not the way to go. Your supposed to match your amp to your speakers needs, not speakers for your amps needs.

Mazer makes a good point, but I think that you'll be safe if you get something like the MPS-1. If you're going with a 200W/channel amp that can easily drive 4-Ohm speakers, you should be okay with any speakers that you're likely to get.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have to agree with Steven and Adam on this one. Normally you want to get your speakers first and then you can determine what you need to power them but if you go with the MPS-1; you are pretty much covered in what ever speakers you end up wit.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hi folks,



Here's my question: can I use a 200W power amplifier with simple low watt speakers from a audio system?

I am trying to build a home theater, one piece at a time. I just have invested in a Denon DVD player and a Integra preamp/pro. I am shopping for a power amp now. Do not want to invest in speakers at this time but rather thinking of using the five speakers from my Sony mini-hifi audio system.

Speakers info:
2 Front speakers: 120W @ 8 ohms each (5% THD at 1KHz)
2 Surround speakers: 12.5W @ 16 ohms each (5% THD at 1KHz)
1 Center speaker: 25W @ 8ohms each (5% THD at 1KHz)

Will I be able to use these speakers at all with a power amp until I buy a real speaker system? For a power amp I am considering Emotiva MPS-1.

Thanx!
Mafia...ahem...

I assume the power ratings of those speakers are MAX power ratings. I think you will be okay with the 2 front speakers, but you will probably blow your surround speakers and center speaker like I did once when you watch movies because you will probably crank that volume up for better sound. Those Sony speakers suck anyway So they will probably blow for sure when you use a REAL amplifier. Now if you use a Sony receiver where they lie about the power ratings (100 watts per channel probably means 35 watts per channels with all channels driven), you will be okay. But when you use the Emotiva, 200-watts actually means 200-watts!
But please do us a favor and blow the heck out of those Sony speakers
Then let us have some fun recommending new speakers for you

 

[mazersteven]

But when you use the Emotiva, 200-watts actually means 200-watts!
But please do us a favor and blow the heck out of those Sony speakers
Then let us have some fun recommending new speakers for you

LMAO

 

[mafiaahem]

Sure, I will try to do that for the sake of fun here

Thanx for the very good advice. I think, in that case, I will start with two front speakers at least. I was just trying to not overstretch myself and consequently end up compromising on buying good speakers for the sake of money. So I thought I would just wait for a later time. But your responses and comments do make sense.

Just to let you all know, I have Klipsch RF-63 in mind for my HT.

Thanx again!
Mafia...ahem...

 

[Haoleb]

I have to admit this is the first time I have seen someone get their electronics before speakers, Especially when we're talking pretty good electronics. It will be a shame to have to endure a little mini system setup until you can save for a real set

 

[Adam]

I have to admit this is the first time I have seen someone get their electronics before speakers, Especially when we're talking pretty good electronics. It will be a shame to have to endure a little mini system setup until you can save for a real set

I did the same thing about ten years ago. I got my Yamaha receiver (one of the first available with Dolby Digital), then I got my DVD player, and it took a few months to get the speakers. I gotta say, though, I REALLY enjoyed those new speakers when I got them!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Just to let you all know, I have Klipsch RF-63 in mind for my HT.

Thanx again!
Mafia...ahem...

The speaker specs you wrote, are they for the Klipsch? The THD is very high and the power capability of 25 watts and 12.5 watts are

You should really get speakers selected first as they are what you will be listening to, not the amps. Maybe a receiver will serve all your needs more than enough. Especially since money is a big consideration from what I gather.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I did the same thing about ten years ago. I got my Yamaha receiver (one of the first available with Dolby Digital), then I got my DVD player, and it took a few months to get the speakers. I gotta say, though, I REALLY enjoyed those new speakers when I got them!

What did you listen to without speakers? Or you had some really old speakers floating around.

 

[Adam]

What did you listen to without speakers?

Headphones. My real name is Patrick. I like to tweak.

Nah, I had some Radio Shack speakers that I had been using with my old system, and I kept using them until I got my NHTs. I thought that they were fine until a friend came over to check out my system and said, "I'm not impressed." It got me motivated to go get some new speakers, that's for sure.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Headphones. My real name is Patrick. I like to tweak.

Nah, I had some Radio Shack speakers that I had been using with my old system, and I kept using them until I got my NHTs. I thought that they were fine until a friend came over to check out my system and said, "I'm not impressed." It got me motivated to go get some new speakers, that's for sure.

I like NHT too. My first system was the NHT SuperZeros/SW2P. They are at my brother's house right now. I kind of miss those speakers sometimes.

 

[dorokusai]

I decided long ago to have enough power that it doesn't matter what speakers come through the door. It's always better to have too much than not enough.

Mark
Polk Audio CS

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I decided long ago to have enough power that it doesn't matter what speakers come through the door. It's always better to have too much than not enough.

Mark
Polk Audio CS

I heard that there's no such thing as TOO MUCH POWER.

How do they measure the actual power output of an amplifier anyway?

 

[mafiaahem]

The speaker specs you wrote, are they for the Klipsch? The THD is very high and the power capability of 25 watts and 12.5 watts are

You should really get speakers selected first as they are what you will be listening to, not the amps. Maybe a receiver will serve all your needs more than enough. Especially since money is a big consideration from what I gather.

No, the speakers specs I wrote are for a Sony audio system I have.

That is what everybody here have suggested - but I thought I could use these speakers little realizing that they would be too weak a match for a HT power amp.

 

[manofsteel2397]

I assume the power ratings of those speakers are MAX power ratings. I think you will be okay with the 2 front speakers, but you will probably blow your surround speakers and center speaker like I did once when you watch movies because you will probably crank that volume up for better sound. Those Sony speakers suck anyway So they will probably blow for sure when you use a REAL amplifier. Now if you use a Sony receiver where they lie about the power ratings (100 watts per channel probably means 35 watts per channels with all channels driven), you will be okay. But when you use the Emotiva, 200-watts actually means 200-watts!
But please do us a favor and blow the heck out of those Sony speakers
Then let us have some fun recommending new speakers for you

does sony lie about their watt ratings on all models because i have an es model and would be madd if this was true.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

does sony lie about their watt ratings on all models because i have an es model and would be madd if this was true.

Unless they say, "100-watts RMS Continuous With All Channels Driven from 20 Hz - 20 kHz", they are holding out on some information. If they just say, "100 watts per channel x 7 channels", it probably means 100 watts per channel with ONE CHANNEL DRIVEN. But I've read somewhere that when all SEVEN channels are DRIVEN from 20 Hz - 20 kHz, that 100-watts goes down to about 35-watts. Look at the specifications for the Harman Kardon receivers for what the real specs should look like.
Most of the time, all these companies give you specs (including Watts & THD%) with only ONE channel driven and only at 1 kHz, not the full 20 Hz - 20 kHz. For all we know, if rated at full spectrum, the THD might be 10%.

 

[mr-ben]

I seem to differ in my opinion from most of the other posters. I personally think you're better off getting the power amplifier before the speakers. This is partly because you already have the preamp, but more importantly, you may damage the new speakers if you try to power them with a severely under-rated amplifier. I assume that if you get new speakers you'll be driving them with something rated for your current speakers, and when you turn up the volume you'll likely be clipping it.

Better to accidentally blow the current speakers than the new ones.