mulester this is for you

[Buckeyefan 1]

maybe he has something better. he was suggesting that unit for those with limited budgets.

I've got an entire basement full of gear. I'm about ready to run an old tube amp off the Denon. I'll let you know how it fairs with the Pioneer direct drive turn table. I love vintage gear.

 

[mike c]

PENG: HK3480 internal amp vs. HK3480 paired with bridged Rotel RMB1066

I put in some tracks from this b&w CD ... honestly, most anything decent can run those tracks. so I quickly switched to another CD. "SO SO DEF: BASS ALL STARS II or III" (I don't remember, the one with the song "love you down" by INOJ)

I used an SPL meter to match the rhythmic bass in one particular song ...
the HK was at -24db volume level = 92-95db on the SPL meter
with the Rotel amp, the HK had to go down to -34db volume to match the SPL.

I wasn't paying attention to the mids and highs, because honestly, I can't really remember what I hear ... but I can only remember what I feel (call it an internal SPL meter)

so, with the same SPL level, the setup with the Rotel simply has more chest thump, the bass doesn't go thud thud thud, but goes like bud bud bud.

I tried increasing the volume of the HK to check to see if it can do the same but the mids and highs started to become terrible sounding (not clipping) ... it was getting thinner and thinner. now, with the rotel strapped on, I went to -24db again and the reference rhythmic bass now goes to 102db, it could still go higher, but I couldn't. the Rotel has "clipping" indicators on its front panel so I was confident to push up the volume until I couldn't stand the volume anymore.

there! conclusion, at the same SPL volume, an external amp somehow gives more chest thump.

 

[PENG]

Mike, thank you for the feed back. You really pushed them to the limit. 92 to 95 dB is very loud unless your room is big. I looked up the spec of the HK3480 and I am confused by it's power specifications. I found an apparent contradiction, on page 18 it says:

Continuous average power (FTC) 120 WPC 20 to 20,000 Hz @ < 0.07% THD, both channels driven into 8 ohms, and 150 WPC 20 to 20,000 Hz @ < 0.2% THD, both channels driven into 4 ohms.

Yet near the end of the page, it says

Power consumption 280W maximum (both channels driven)

If it's maximum power consumption is 280W, how can it output 150WX2=300W. Based on it's maximum power input, it can probably put out around 75WX2, and that would explain why it couldn't touch your Rotel in the bass department, especially when you pushed it to SPL in excess of 90 dB, assuming you measured the SPL from more than 10 ft.

 

[mike c]

it was more like 6.5 feet (equidistant triangle) IIRC

that sucks on the HK part ... I had the impression HK doesn't BS on wattage ratings. I was gonna use something like this for my 2.0 setup

 

[PENG]

that sucks on the HK part ... I had the impression HK doesn't BS on wattage ratings. I was gonna use something like this for my 2.0 setup

I thought so too, especially when it claims +-45A high instantaneous current capability. That's why I was betting it would be comparable with the Rotel.

 

[mike c]

yeah, I listened to the HK AVR7300 playing Kung Fu Hustle ...
there was a scene where the gang boss was gonna torch a mother and child, he threw the lighter at the doused people and some guy caught the lighter.

now, over there, it sounded like the zippo was really in front of me. I tried the same scene at home but didn't get that effect, maybe I'll try again with this amp.

I have finally strapped the amp to the LCR ... the zippo effect still wasn't there, it falls either on the JBL performance series speaker or the treated room I was in.

I must say the SPL level in terms of watching movies have never been higher. it could just be my impression that the loudness now is "clearer" than when I was using the internal amp.

what's important is that I think so ... and that's still enough reason for me to buy external amps. I actually called my dealer early today to order the RMB1077 but it was swiped up by another customer. (the box was opened because the dealers listened to it ... but it was the only one in the country)

there must be a reason I missed that chance, either: 1) I was given a chance to buy a new one - arriving in 1 month 2) I did not need something that expensive - am considering the Anthem MCA 30 now.

also for the audioholics members info: after watching the movie kung fu hustle again, I noticed that only the heatsinks of the left and right amps were warm, the heatsink of the amp running the center was still very cool. conclusion: the center really doesn't need that much power.