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Post by mbavaro on Apr 17, 2021 7:41:17 GMT -5
Can’t find any information on this but was wondering if anybody knows what the wattage is on the A-500 all channels driven into 4 ohm speakers. I have it hooked up to my T1+ towers,C1+ center B1+ rears but don’t really think I hear a difference compared to my 105w per channel Denon AVR. Would it be beneficial to purchase an additional amplifier? Something like the new A3 for the front stage or the A-300? Don’t know if that would make any improvement in such a small room mostly used for a home theater and some two channel music listening
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Post by jackpine on Apr 17, 2021 16:02:35 GMT -5
The new A5 is 130 watts RMS per channel; 1 kHz; THD < 1%; into 4 Ohms your A-500 will essentially be the same. You could try Using your A-500 for just the front three channels and the Denon on the rears.
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Post by housetech on Apr 17, 2021 16:13:31 GMT -5
My thoughts are: any time you can remove the front stage from the AVR, the better, especially to a high current amp, where most of your video source material is stressing the AVR. Power of an amp is important, not so much for loudness, but instead for dynamics- the ability to reproduce the source signal smoothly and without any distortion, quickly. The BasX A2 got my attention with 165w @ 8 ohms and 250w @ 4 ohm to power the T2+ for a 2ch system
I had a Denon AVR5700 (140w, 2ch driven) and did not notice any difference adding XPA5 in S.Q. for 2 Ch. (AVR5700 was probably one of Denon's top receivers they ever made) I'm guessing you have a AVR3xxx model which could benefit from A300 or another A series amp. Don't sweat the surround speakers, anything 60-80w is plenty and your AVR will do that. Good luck on your journey.
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Post by Ex_Vintage on Apr 17, 2021 22:27:32 GMT -5
What matters most is the 2 channel driven spec IMO. You will not find a scenario for HT where all channels are asked to produce max power simultaneously. Also IMHO the 1kHz spec at 1% thd means the amp is already going into clipping and will sound nastyIf you want more power with the hardware you have, do as recommended and split the load between the A-500 and the Denon.
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Post by leonski on Apr 18, 2021 0:08:56 GMT -5
You generally won't notice much or anything unless you go DOUBLE the power or more.
Double, you say? Yes. Double is 'only' 3db difference at max. And as it turns out, Better Watts ARE Better. So for 2 amps rated the same? MIGHT notice a slight improvement.....LEVEL CONTROLLED.....with the better amp.
What matter even more than a specification is the amps Actual Ability to drive a real speaker. Amp testing is ALL done into power resistors. Turning electricity into heat. But speakers look to an amplifier as a capacitor or inductor, and
than at different frequencies. Some amplifiers rated the same as another, simply do NOT like driving a 'reactive' load and will sound bad or even outright distort.
You'll notice that in most cases, the higher output / lower impedance spec is at 1% distortion. That's a LOT and under many conditions an audible issue.
My opinion is 'one and done'. Buy better NOW and you won't have to repeat for 2 decades or more.
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Post by 405x5 on Apr 19, 2021 7:28:52 GMT -5
While reading through this thread, it suddenly occurred to me that I’ve never owned a receiver. Started with old Stromberg Carlson tube gear around 1968. Separate Fisher tube preamp and amplifier chassis. Closest I got was the AR integrated amp. that taught me one thing....still not enough juice. I ran the whole gammit from 1000 per channel @8ohm. until present day at a tad over 400..... With my multichannel behemoth, I understand exactly WHERE the overkill is....but it’s an equitable trade, having one box with nothing to worry about.
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Post by leonski on Apr 19, 2021 14:58:06 GMT -5
While reading through this thread, it suddenly occurred to me that I’ve never owned a receiver. Started with old Stromberg Carlson tube gear around 1968. Separate Fisher tube preamp and amplifier chassis. Closest I got was the AR integrated amp. that taught me one thing....still not enough juice. I ran the whole gammit from 1000 per channel @8ohm. until present day at a tad over 400..... With my multichannel behemoth, I understand exactly WHERE the overkill is....but it’s an equitable trade, having one box with nothing to worry about. A KW with low sensitivity speakers like my panels....about 83db 1watt/1meter is a VERY different deal than the same power into some horns over maybe 95db.....over 10x 'apprent' power difference. I had a 'd' amp on my panels. It had a pair of ASP500 modules for 500 a side into 4 ohms. And you know? 400 a side by my 2x200 Parasound amps is better and subjectively plays louder with less 'stress'..... One of these days I'm going to migrate up to LA and check out some KLIPSCH Forte IV which are about as 'opposite' from my panels as is possible to GET.... That's gonna make VERY good use of available power. Nothing WRONG with a receiver, except perhaps the HT receiver of the last decade or more. The problems are poor output into multiple channels AND very low capability into lower impedance loads. Getting repairs on a HT receiver over a few years old gets problematic, too. Fewer boxes is a 2-edged sword, perhaps. But I understand Where you are coming from. It's possible to 'concentrate' the wiring into one spot and THAT be a hassle. But you gain the advantage of NOT needing 20 receptacles for all that 'gear'. But may still benefit from another power circuit or more. I've seen rooms with stuff strewn from one corner to the other and stacked. Not a good 'look'.....
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