Powered Definitive Speakers

[Mitch]

I have a few questions concerning both electrical power requirements and
interconnects. I realize this message should be split over several areas but I guess it applies to the speaker forum the most in my opinion.

1. I plan to upgrade my Home Theater system and am somewhat concerned
about having enough power to run everything without tripping a breaker.
Currently everything is plugged into one receptacle. I have little
choice other then to install another breaker so my new system will
suffer from the same fate. My house is relatively new (built in late
1996) and I am guessing that I have a 20 amp breaker on the outlet in
question. I could be wrong and it may be a 15 amp breaker but since I
don't know the code regulations here in Washington State I'm not sure.
My current system works fine using the one circuit. This is what's
connected currently.

Sony 36" Wega analog TV
Dish receiver
VCR
Cassette tape deck
DVD changer
600 Watt Onkyo Receiver
150 Watt Sub

The items I will be replacing are the receiver and all the speakers.
Here's the catch. I plan to purchase Definitive Technology BP 7002s for
the fronts and the CLR 2500 for the center. The BP 70002s have a built
in SUB with a 300 Watt digital amplifier and the CLR 2500 has a built in
Sub with a 150 watt digital amplifier. So... that's two additional
power outlet requirements all on one circuit/outlet. Actually three,
but I'm not going to be using my current sub (for obvious reasons). I
am purchasing the Denon AVR 3805 receiver to replace my old one.

That brings up two more questions.

2. Will a good power center such as the Monster Cable HTS2600 work to
help stabilize the power and protect the equipment? Are there
better/less expensive alternatives? I know it won't actually provide
more power but I'm not sure if I need more power or not. I really can't
afford to spend another $1500.00 just on power. Do you have any other
suggestions I should consider?

3. Because I will basically have 3 subs instead of one, how do I route
the LFE channel to all three? Do I buy a 3-way splitter to connect the
LFE output on the AVR 3805 and then route each split to each of the 3
speakers?

Thanks in advance for all your help and any suggestions you might have.

 

[Audio1]

Mitch,

In my system I have a dedicated 20 amp circuit for my home theater set-up. I have an Anthem 5 channel amplifier, dedicated subwoofer and 3 powered Definitive Technology speakers. This along with all the other electronics including a pre-amp, plasma tv, vcr, dvd player, cd player, cable box, a second multi channel amp for zone 2 cause no problems at all.

I believe that I am using the Monster HTS-2600 and everything plugs in to this piece. I am not at home right now, and I may be wrong about the model number, but it was about $500.00. For the item's power cords that would not reach I purchased a very nice 4-outlet high quality extension from Signal Cable. Very nice, but not too over the top price wise. They also make awesome but very affordable signal and speaker cables.

I do not think that you should experience any problems. Some of it may depend, if you do not have a dedicated circuit, on what else that circuit breaker is powering. But I doubt that unless it has much current draw that it will present a problem.

I would not send the LFE info to the CLR-2500 center. Just configure it as large and send the LFE to the two main speakers which will require one split which is very easy to do. I am using a separate subwoofer so I just have all of mine configured as large and it works VERY well. I have the same center and love it.

Please let me know if I can provide any more information.

Buddy

 

[Mudcat]

Power Consumption.

Go to Member Systems, and look for my post "My What A Nice Rack", I have all of this into one outlet on a 15 amp breaker. When everything is powered up, and at idle, it is consuming about 3 amps. When watching a movie (the TV is connected to the same outlet) like LOTR ROK or the Two Towers, at high volume (-20db), it may have hit 5 amps once in a while.

So I do not think you will have a problem.

 

[Mitch]

Thanks

Hey guys! Thanks for all the information.