Is Your AV Receiver Really Underpowered? 5 Things to Check First

[gene]

Think your AV receiver is underpowered? Before buying a bigger amp, make sure your own settings and system setup aren't robbing you of power, headroom, and dynamics.

Here are 5 things to check:

• ECO Mode — can limit available amplifier power
• Dynamic Range Compression — reduces dynamic impact
• Impedance Setting — lower settings can restrict AVR output
• Poor Bass Management — wastes amplifier headroom trying to reproduce deep bass
• Insufficient AC Power — a heavily shared circuit can become a bottleneck

Some of these fixes cost absolutely nothing and could help you get more power, headroom, and performance from the AV gear you already own.

Which one do you think is the most overlooked?

Read: 5 Things Robbing your AV Receiver of Power

 

[corey]

Investing in efficient speakers gives your receiver much more headroom.

 

[Eppie]

I do admit to leaving Eco mode on. The X4800H displays estimated power usage when adjusting volume and the bar graph never seems to go up more than half way. I figured that I just wasn't pushing the AVR that hard. Smaller size space and seated 9 feet from the mains so it doesn't take much to get loud. Might be interesting to turn it off and see if the dynamics are affected.

 

[gene]

I do admit to leaving Eco mode on. The X4800H displays estimated power usage when adjusting volume and the bar graph never seems to go up more than half way. I figured that I just wasn't pushing the AVR that hard. Smaller size space and seated 9 feet from the mains so it doesn't take much to get loud. Might be interesting to turn it off and see if the dynamics are affected.

Turn it to Auto and you still get all of the energy efficiency benefits at low listening levels without the dynamic headroom reduction at high output. Eco ON should NEVER be used Unless you're not using any of the internal amplification of the AVR.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Turn it to Auto and you still get all of the energy efficiency benefits at low listening levels without the dynamic headroom reduction at high output. Eco ON should NEVER be used Unless you're not using any of the internal amplification of the AVR.

So setting power mode to auto will keep the AVR in Eco mode unless the AVR actually needs more power?

So it’s basically a “smart” power mode.