The perfect Power?

[cownd]

When is enough watts actually enough.

If you have a speaker that is rated 15W minimum to 150W maximum, what is the most power you should be pushing to the speaker? Can you actualy push 200W, or would this immeidately "blow" the speaker at any volume?

 

[TEvo]

Overpowering a speaker is not usually a problem.

Typically, the big problem is clipping due to insufficient power.

Depending on impedance, sensitivity and the rated power handling (among other things) of a particular speaker, it is almost always better to have more power than not enough, within reason.

http://www.audiovideo101.com/dictionary/dictionary.asp?dictionaryid=100

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/4/10514.html
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/5988.html

 

[cownd]

Much appreciated

So in this scenario, a 300W x5 channel power amplifier will power all 5 speakers without hurting them, as long as the volume levels are kept within reason. Assuming all five speakers are rated up to 150-200 watts. The reason I'm asking is I'd like to put in place a power amplifier in my HT to increase power as well as relieve the power burden off my reciever. Then down the road, look into a pre-amp when the time comes.

Again - thanks very much!!

 

[TEvo]

I am not really familiar with receivers and/or multi-channel HT as I am more of the old school 2-channel stereo- only type...

I'd wager that 300 x 5 is total power, not simultaneous power (i.e., into each channel). In this case, you are dealing with 60 watts per channel and are in no danger of overpowering your speakers.

Depending on your speakers, room size and your movie preferences, you may very well want more power.

Cheers!

 

[cownd]

No - each channel for a total of 1500 watts!

 

[TEvo]

Nice! That must be one hulking amp!

And here I am mostly content with a measly 2 x 50 - 80w.

 

[sjdgpt]

No - each channel for a total of 1500 watts!

What brand and model of receiver do you have? I am not aware of any receiver on the market that is rated for 300wpc (watts per channel).

Many receivers on the market are being advertised .... 500 watts x 5... those watts and channels are the total number of watts available, divided into the total number of channels.

There are some receivers that are advertised as 5 channels with 100watts per channel.

The bottom line, regardless of how the manufacturer is advertising the receiver, the wpc is most likely 30 to about 150 wpc, with most mainstream receivers in the 50 to 100 wpc.

 

[cownd]

I currently have a Marantz reciever that is 100w x 6 channels. But I'm looking into purchasing a separate power amp. to power all the speakers. There are some beasts that go up to in fact 300w x 7 channels!! The marantz would then become a pre-amp. I'm planning for a little down the road, that's why I first asked about "perfect power"