Short and sweet....but important!!

[canuck0016]

Hey guys,

1st time poster, long time reader. Thanks for all the good advice! Here's my question - can a receiver put out more watts than its power consumption states. EX. pioneer vsx-1015tx says (120x7) but power consumption is rated at 480watts? I'm pretty sure this is impossible. Is there any formula to determin the approximate output with 7 channels driven?

 

[jaxvon]

Not without a bench test. However, you really shoulnd't worry about it too much. You'd have to be listening to 7-channel stereo at DEAFENING levels to use that 120w. If you listen at anything around reasonable, you might see 10w continuous with 50w peaks.

 

[Leprkon]

it's not impossible to achieve more watts in a peak mode... all those little capacitors and coils and such can belch out small quantities of additional electrons. over the long run, however, they need to recharge, so you will not see extended periods of additional watts.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hey guys,

1st time poster, long time reader. Thanks for all the good advice! Here's my question - can a receiver put out more watts than its power consumption states. EX. pioneer vsx-1015tx says (120x7) but power consumption is rated at 480watts? I'm pretty sure this is impossible. Is there any formula to determin the approximate output with 7 channels driven?

The power consumption on the back is figured differently with a duty cycle, etc. So, it is not reflective of what it can do. And, as was stated, not to worry about driving all channels to max power at the same instant
Seriously doubt it will happen, unless you are bench testing somehow

 

[j_garcia]

If you listen at anything around reasonable, you might see 10w continuous with 50w peaks.

If you were listening to something that was drawing 10w continuous, your peaks would likely be more like 100W, which is why you generally need a receiver capable of about 100W (estimate, average user, not the crackheads here )

A receiver CAN theoretically put out more wattage than it is rated for by using lower impedance speakers, but that also stresses the amp much more and leaves you with less total headroom available because the amp is still only capable of it's max current output. A lot of power is wasted as heat as a byproduct of amplification, so it is possible for the amount of wattage drawn (480) to be higher than what the amp is actually capable of delivering.

I have to say it; when I tried the 1014, I didn't feel this guy was even capable of 120w (actual rating on the Panasonic manual is 110w).

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver power

Keep in mind that the class AB amplifier in most receivers is about 60-70% efficient. This is why they get hot. (the other 40% of the power). So only 60% of the power coming out of the wall outlet could possibly reach your speakers on a continuous basis. Some digital amplifiers, however, are up in the 90% efficiency range.

 

[canuck0016]

Thanks for the info!! I'll actually only be driving 5 channels at one time anyway. But now at least I have a better understanding of the power consumption specs

 

[zumbo]

480/5=96 peak. I doubt it can do that. As mentioned, a good bit is lost in heat. Not going to argue. You can't get out more than you put in.

 

[chas_w]

It looks like this review of the 1015 measured 5 channels driven at 95W:

http://www.homecinemachoice.com/cgi-bin/displayreview.php?reviewid=6083

 

[PENG]

If you do a search you will find enough posts related to the topic of power consumption. Manufacturers don't always specify their maximum consumption on their rear panel probably because they prefer to find ways to show a lower number in order to make them appear to be energy efficient.

Just because the 1015 does not specify its maximum consumption, you cannot assume the 480W given at the rear panel is the maximum. For a fair comparison, 480W of consumption is higher than that of the HKAVR335 that shows an input of 370W on its rear panel. The 335 is rated for 7X55W = 385W > 370W so it is again, impossible, if you assume the number on the rear panel is for maximum output. The 335 does, however, specify a maximum consumption of 890W in the service manual. It may be possible that the maximum consumption of the 1015 is 900W or higher, but it won't be continuous for sure.

 

[mtrycrafts]

If you listen at anything around reasonable, you might see 10w continuous with 50w peaks.

I really doubt he would see 10Watts continuous. That is 10db above his sensitivity rating, maybe around 100dB spl continuous??? No me.