power amps

[wildchild22]

Is it okay to mix different power amps for a 7.1 system? Does it matter if they are all the same wattage?

Is it possible to adjust them with the avr trims or if being different output power would mean this is not possible?

 

[croseiv]

Is it okay to mix different power amps for a 7.1 system? Does it matter if they are all the same wattage?

Is it possible to adjust them with the avr trims or if being different output power would mean this is not possible?

Yeah, I'd think you'd be just fine as long as there aren't any huge input sensitivty differences (too large to be over come by the AVR trims). It should work.

 

[j_garcia]

As long as they power the speakers they are driving properly, it won't affect anything. You calibrate the system to get them all to the same level.

 

[tcarcio]

I run my 7.2 system useing pro amps and I have 3 different amps running them with no problem at all.

 

[TLS Guy]

One word of caution. Some amps have the output in phase with the input, many amps have the output out of phase with the input. Seldom is the question of phase inversion addressed in the specs. So if you mix non and inverting amps, you can get an inadvertent out of phase condition. The remedy is to reverse the speaker polarities to any phase inverting amps.

 

[Lordoftherings]

One word of caution. Some amps have the output in phase with the input, many amps have the output out of phase with the input. Seldom is the question of phase inversion addressed in the specs. So if you mix non and inverting amps, you can get an inadvertent out of phase condition. The remedy is to reverse the speaker polarities to any phase inverting amps.

Very good point. And if I may add, the gain sensitivity between some amps can also become a certain conflict with some speakers.

 

[tcarcio]

One word of caution. Some amps have the output in phase with the input, many amps have the output out of phase with the input. Seldom is the question of phase inversion addressed in the specs. So if you mix non and inverting amps, you can get an inadvertent out of phase condition. The remedy is to reverse the speaker polarities to any phase inverting amps.

I didn't know that... Great info...

 

[Lordoftherings]

TLS Guy is thee man.

 

[JerryLove]

I would at least try to match them in pairs (front, side, back) and if at all possible center-to-fronts.

 

[Lordoftherings]

It is a general good practice to match the amps, same as the speakers.

 

[TLS Guy]

It is a general good practice to match the amps, same as the speakers.

I disagree with you on that. As long as the amps are good ones, and you pay attention to phase, and have a means of compensating for different input sensitivities, there should be no problem. Like all technical tasks you have to know what you are doing.

 

[Lordoftherings]

I disagree with you on that. As long as the amps are good ones, and you pay attention to phase, and have a means of compensating for different input sensitivities, there should be no problem. Like all technical tasks you have to know what you are doing.

No sweat Mark, you are absolutely in your right to disagree with me.

But if you noticed, I did phrased my post by saying "general good practice", which is quite hard to disagree with.
It just makes life easier by simplifying the required adjustment setups.

That's what I mainly meant by "general".