Am I going too far?

[inlayterms]

Hey everybody, I've been running my 5.1 setup using four Parasound HCA-1000A poweramps. I was on audiogon recently and found another one for sale, which I ended up buying. With this fifth amp in tow, I'll now be able to dedicate one amp for each speaker (Dahlquist DQ-86.3/II mains, Paradigm CC-190 centre and Paradigm ADP-190 surrounds). Does anyone think I am going too far? Could I be damaging my Paradigm centre and surrounds by mono-bridging the amps (which would give me 400 watts RMS into 8 ohms)?

As I am also incorporating my Parasound PLD-1100 with my Parasound AVC-1800, I could split my system down the road (2 amps for music and 3 amps for home theater), but was wondering what your opinions were.

[Pelican170]

If i had the cash flow and the speakers to go along with it, id spring for seperate amps for each speaker...

[X400]

please please post some pictures of your setup, that sounds so awesome!

[inlayterms]

Originally Posted by X400

please please post some pictures of your setup, that sounds so awesome!

O.K., O.K., just as soon as the other amp is delivered and I get a camera to take some decent pictures, learn how to upload them, etc.

Thanks for your curiosity.

By the way, what movie is your Clint Eastwood quote from?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by inlayterms

O.K., O.K., just as soon as the other amp is delivered and I get a camera to take some decent pictures, learn how to upload them, etc.

Thanks for your curiosity.

By the way, what movie is your Clint Eastwood quote from?

Cool Deal....

The one-amp to one-speaker won't hurt anything.... just don't turn it up to painful levels, and you'll be fine.

P.S. I think his quote is from Gran Torino.

[inlayterms]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Cool Deal....

The one-amp to one-speaker won't hurt anything.... just don't turn it up to painful levels, and you'll be fine.

P.S. I think his quote is from Gran Torino.

Thanks for the input (pun intended). The reason I ask is because, while the Parasound HCA-1000A outputs 400 RMS at 8 ohms in mono, the maximum recommended input for the Paradigm CC-190 and ADP-190 speakers are 80 watts each. Even though I want to eventually upgrade all of my speakers to the Studio series, I don't want to damage the ones I have, or the amps, for that matter.

[X400]

yeah its from Gran Torino wasn't exact was from memory, its exact now though
its when Eastwood rescues the girl neighbour from some thugs on the street


as for your question (sorry i strayed so far) i don't like going overboard but i do enjoy pushing things to the limit... just looking at numbers alone that would seem like you might have just crossed the line from pushing the limit to overboard

i'd email the tech help at paradigm they should be able to tell you exactly

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by inlayterms

Thanks for the input (pun intended). The reason I ask is because, while the Parasound HCA-1000A outputs 400 RMS at 8 ohms in mono, the maximum recommended input for the Paradigm CC-190 and ADP-190 speakers are 80 watts each. Even though I want to eventually upgrade all of my speakers to the Studio series, I don't want to damage the ones I have, or the amps, for that matter.

yeah, but RMS is the amps sustainable output...... so you'd have to turn up the volume to the limits of it's capabilities........ When you're watching/listening at moderate levels (or enjoyable ones) you're probably feeding them 40-50 watts each (just a ballpark for sake of example) although the amps are capable of much more.........

Using the specs from the amps/speakers is just that.... "Specs"

That's like putting a 100 MPH rated tire on your car that is capable of going 150 MPH...... You won't be at risk.... IF you don't push your car and tires past that 100 MPH level (in this case the tires can certainly handle the excess speed, so not the best example)

[rded]

Originally Posted by inlayterms

Hey everybody, I've been running my 5.1 setup using four Parasound HCA-1000A poweramps. I was on audiogon recently and found another one for sale, which I ended up buying. With this fifth amp in tow, I'll now be able to dedicate one amp for each speaker (Dhalquist QS6.3 mains, Paradigm CC-190 centre and Paradigm ADP-190 surrounds). Does anyone think I am going too far? Could I be damaging my Paradigm centre and surrounds by mono-bridging the amps (which would give me 400 watts RMS into 8 ohms)?

As I am also incorporating my Parasound PLD-1100 with my Parasound AVC-1800, I could split my system down the road (2 amps for music and 3 amps for home theater), but was wondering what your opinions were.

Bollocks!!!Going too far is a myth in my book! If you have space to house 5 amps and the mulah for it, I say knock yourself out!

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by inlayterms

Hey everybody, I've been running my 5.1 setup using four Parasound HCA-1000A poweramps. I was on audiogon recently and found another one for sale, which I ended up buying. With this fifth amp in tow, I'll now be able to dedicate one amp for each speaker (Dhalquist QS6.3 mains, Paradigm CC-190 centre and Paradigm ADP-190 surrounds). Does anyone think I am going too far? Could I be damaging my Paradigm centre and surrounds by mono-bridging the amps (which would give me 400 watts RMS into 8 ohms)?

As I am also incorporating my Parasound PLD-1100 with my Parasound AVC-1800, I could split my system down the road (2 amps for music and 3 amps for home theater), but was wondering what your opinions were.

I don't think that you are going too far at this point. I have 4 upgraded (highly modified) Aragon Palladium 1k monoblock amps (am looking for a 5th) and an upgraded Krell KAV-a250/3 3 channel power amp. I am presently using 2 of the Aragon Palladium 1k monoblocks to drive my totally rebuilt Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers. I have a Nola Reference LCR center channel speaker and Dahlquist DQ-6CI bookshelf speakers for the rear speakers.

Once I move, I will be using the amps for some mirror imaged 32 drivers per tower front L & R channel speakers, half tower center channel (16 drivers). After the first round of making the 1st 3 speakers, we will be making a L & R surround (12 drivers per speaker) based upon the front main speakers and we will design a pair of rear channel speakers.

So no, you aren't going too far, but maybe I am.

Rich

[J6P]

Yeah, Richard, there are a few people on this forum that should never, under any circumstances, be allowed to post in a "am I going too far?" thread.

You're one of them.

[inlayterms]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

I don't think that you are going too far at this point. I have 4 upgraded (highly modified) Aragon Palladium 1k monoblock amps (am looking for a 5th) and an upgraded Krell KAV-a250/3 3 channel power amp. I am presently using 2 of the Aragon Palladium 1k monoblocks to drive my totally rebuilt Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers. I have a Nola Reference LCR center channel speaker and Dahlquist DQ-6CI bookshelf speakers for the rear speakers.

Once I move, I will be using the amps for some mirror imaged 32 drivers per tower front L & R channel speakers, half tower center channel (16 drivers). After the first round of making the 1st 3 speakers, we will be making a L & R surround (12 drivers per speaker) based upon the front main speakers and we will design a pair of rear channel speakers.

So no, you aren't going too far, but maybe I am.

Rich

Yeah, J6P, and I thought I had a problem! By the way, naturephoto1, you have a beautiful turntable, but how many speakers are you powering with 7 channels? Are your mains bi-amped.

Anyway, sometimes I wish I didn't sell my vinyl when I was young, but CDs had just come out and, oh well, there's something to be said for convenience. Thank goodness for HDCD.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by inlayterms

Yeah, J6P, and I thought I had a problem! By the way, naturephoto1, you have a beautiful turntable, but how many speakers are you powering with 7 channels? Are your mains bi-amped.

Anyway, sometimes I wish I didn't sell my vinyl when I was young, but CDs had just come out and, oh well, there's something to be said for convenience. Thank goodness for HDCD.

Thank you regarding the turntable. At present, there are only 3 Teres Certus 450 Turntables and 1 Teres Audio Illius Tonearms in existence (1st production unit).

Only 3 amps are in usage at present. Nothing is bi-amped. 2 of Aragon Palladium 1K monoblocks are in storage until the house and the listening room/home theater are completed. Only using a 5.1 system at present due to the small living room in the house that I rent.

They may have broken ground on the house today. We hope to close by the end of November. But, work has to be done on the listening room before we move into the new digs. Hopefully that will be done in December. But due to the extreme costs of the house, the listening room, speakers, additional components, wiring, rack system, etc. it be awhile before the final speakers, projector, screen, and seating are installed.

Rich

[SeanMF]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

yeah, but RMS is the amps sustainable output...... so you'd have to turn up the volume to the limits of it's capabilities........ When you're watching/listening at moderate levels (or enjoyable ones) you're probably feeding them 40-50 watts each (just a ballpark for sake of example) although the amps are capable of much more.........

Using the specs from the amps/speakers is just that.... "Specs"

That's like putting a 100 MPH rated tire on your car that is capable of going 150 MPH...... You won't be at risk.... IF you don't push your car and tires past that 100 MPH level (in this case the tires can certainly handle the excess speed, so not the best example)

I was wondering about this whether amps delivered its constant state of power its rated at and therefore damaging speakers with lower watt ratings. If you don't crank it up to a ridiculous level your saying the speakers will be fine?

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by seanfarley2

I was wondering about this whether amps delivered its constant state of power its rated at and therefore damaging speakers with lower watt ratings. If you don't crank it up to a ridiculous level your saying the speakers will be fine?

Sean,

As long as you are not utilizing too much power from the amps, in most instances the speakers should be OK. You just have to monitor how loud you are getting. That is why some speakers have fuses installed. As an example, though my rebuilt Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers do not have any fuses and can really use a fair amount of power, my upgraded Aragon Palladium 1K monoblock amps output 125 watts class A watts into 8 ohms RMS, 400 watts class A/B watts into 8 ohms RMS, 600 watts class A/B watts into 4 ohms RMS, and 1000 watts class A/B watts into 2 ohms RMS.

I have never pushed the amps at this point to be a problem. I could potentially blow the speakers with the power capabilities of the amps. The speakers probably dip below 6 ohms certainly at times. In all likelihood, I never or very infrequently use more than several 10s or some number of 10s of watts at any time with the Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers. I am probably always operating the amps in class A, under 125 watts.

Rich