WPC question ...

[DECIBEL_KING]

Hi,

I have a Yamaha 1500 which is I think 120 WPC.
Is this the same as an amp that is rated 120 WPC?

 

[gregz]

Hmmmm, I'm not sure exactly what you're asking.

Each channel of the Yamaha RX-V1500 amplifier section is rated at 120W continuous at low distortion, with even more power in reserve. However, the output power is considerably less when all chanels are driven simultaneously.

Those numbers are quite impressive, and at least as good if not better than many 5 channel dedicated amplifiers on the market. However, the more expensive amplifiers are able to drive all channels at maximum power simultaneously, the benefits of which are a topic of debate.

Did I answer your question, or miss the mark?

 

[DECIBEL_KING]

Thanks

Acutally you probably saved me alot of money. I have an Axiom speaker system. The M80ti speakers need a suggested 4ohms and can handle up to 400W. The rest of the speakers were 6ohms with 400W max. I was thinking that I should sell the yamaha and get a preamp/amp combo that would cost about $5,000. The amp would produce 120WPC as well but for $5,000.00 I thought it would maybe be a different type of WPC. I think I will keep my current setup.

 

[gregz]

While there's only one meaning for WPC, different companies take different measurement standards to come up with their values. The Yamaha has a 500W power supply, so there's no way it can put out 120W x 7 at once (that adds up to 840W, which is 340W more than the power supply can even take in!). A $3,000 home theater amp will probably have a massive power supply that can handle all that simultaneous current. But do you really need that?

The big question is how it sounds. If your Yamaha doesn't seem to have enough power, the cheapest solution would be to buy a 2 channel amp for the M80ti speakers. The amp would run off the pre-amp outputs of your Yamaha, and by taking the burden of the main speakers off the receiver, you'll have more power supply current available to drive the surround speakers.

But if you have enough power, then leave well enough alone.

 

[Leprkon]

If your Yamaha doesn't seem to have enough power, the cheapest solution would be to buy a 2 channel amp for the M80ti speakers. The amp would run off the pre-amp outputs of your Yamaha, and by taking the burden of the main speakers off the receiver, you'll have more power supply current available to drive the surround speakers.

I did exactly what GregZ described for my RX-V2500. OneCall has the ATI AT1502 2 channel amp (150 wpc) that will easily drive 4 ohm speakers for less than $ 400. It weighs a ton, but is sounds great.

 

[mtrycrafts]

The amp would produce 120WPC as well but for $5,000.00 I thought it would maybe be a different type of WPC. I think I will keep my current setup.

Yes, it will be a different WPC,a $5000 WPC
I think you are very astute to keep what you have

 

[20to20K]

Another ATI 1502 buyer...

I did exactly what GregZ described for my RX-V2500. OneCall has the ATI AT1502 2 channel amp (150 wpc) that will easily drive 4 ohm speakers for less than $ 400. It weighs a ton, but is sounds great.

I also got on that ATI bandwagon to augment my Denon 3805. I've got 4 ohm
Polk LSi15's that like lots of current. That ATI does sound sweet and it's a steal at $399! One Call shipped it in two days as well. They also have the 5 channel monster (AT2505?) on clearance as well...I think it's $1400. The 1502 gives you 150x2 WPC = 300 WPC RMS and the 2505 gives you 250x5 WPC = 1250 WPC RMS into 8 ohms. Those numbers increase by 50% into 4 ohms so either of those are relatively inexpesive options to your $5000 solution depending how much more power you need (assuming you need any at all).