Speaker, Amp and Receiver Question - Blu-ray Forum

jaydoc24 · 01-29-2009, 03:45 PM

I have a KEF 5.0 system with a Martin Logan Dynamo sub (see my sig) along with an Onkyo 674 and I am wanting to potentially pick up an amplifier from Emotiva as it is a good value for the money and well-rated. My question which is barely addressed by the KEF website is how much power from an amplifier would be too much?

I realize that before I can even get an amp, I'll have to replace my receiver because the 674 does not have pre-outs. I'll likely upgrade to the Onkyo 706, but I will entertain the Yamaha RX-V663 or maybe something from Denon.

The three front speakers have power ratings from 15-150W. So is it dangerous to throw 200W at them? I was looking at the XPA-3 http://emotiva.com/xpa3.shtm. The other issue is if that is dangerous then the UPA-7 is out too because my rears can only handle 100W and the 125W through 7 channels would be too much for them. Please Help!

jaydoc24 · 01-29-2009, 03:53 PM

Bump!

Can someone please help me?

PSB_Paradigm_HSU · 01-29-2009, 08:34 PM

I asked the same thing...

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=81692

Audiophile_At_Birth · 01-29-2009, 08:42 PM

125watts a channel wouldn't be to much for fa 100w speaker. I would believe that you would be fine, but that is completely up to the manf on how they publish the specs of their units. I recently picked up an Onkyo 805 that can output a 150watts a channel at clipping. Obviously anyone would be dumb to attempt to drive their speakers that hard, but getting beyond the 120watts at .01% THD is only 5watts below the recommended power rating of my rears. It wouldn't be that hard to go beyond that point. I contacted polk audio about this and they said their published wattage ratings are conservative but within reason for the average consumer. It's also an insuraunce factor for warranty ect. He said I could prob drive my Monitor 40s to about 140watts max before I could have the potential to ruin them. The monitor 40s are rated to 125watts. Case and point. You're more likely to damage a speaker with an underpowered amp that one that delivers clean power at a higher wattage rating with a low THD.

REMEMBER: with an upa7, will you ever drive your speakers that hard. One believes me that that power rating is at 1%THD which is clipping.

gearyt · 01-29-2009, 08:43 PM

I've been out looking for the thread that covers this
but a quick answer is
it's not the power, it's the distortion that damages

primaz · 01-29-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaydoc24

I have a KEF 5.0 system with a Martin Logan Dynamo sub (see my sig) along with an Onkyo 674 and I am wanting to potentially pick up an amplifier from Emotiva as it is a good value for the money and well-rated. My question which is barely addressed by the KEF website is how much power from an amplifier would be too much?

I realize that before I can even get an amp, I'll have to replace my receiver because the 674 does not have pre-outs. I'll likely upgrade to the Onkyo 706, but I will entertain the Yamaha RX-V663 or maybe something from Denon.

The three front speakers have power ratings from 15-150W. So is it dangerous to throw 200W at them? I was looking at the XPA-3 http://emotiva.com/xpa3.shtm. The other issue is if that is dangerous then the UPA-7 is out too because my rears can only handle 100W and the 125W through 7 channels would be too much for them. Please Help!

If you are upgrading to a separate power amp dont get a new reciever get a non powered surround sound pre amp processor. Emotiva or Outlaw are good. Outlaw is comming out with a very cool new flagship processor for $1300 but if you are ok with their current older model they are selling those cheap for $ 699!

As far as power you can tune the amp and as someone else said it is not generally the power that will kill a speaker but rather distotion. I have a lot more power on a few of my speakers with no problems.

Intamin · 01-29-2009, 11:00 PM

No, you don't have to worry about too much power. The majority of listening situations will never even require that much power, but you'll have extra headroom for the dynamic passages or sequences. Yes having that much power to a speaker could be harmful, but you'd probably go deaf before you damaged the speaker.

01-29-2009, 03:45 PM	#1
jaydoc24 Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:142	Speaker, Amp and Receiver Question I have a KEF 5.0 system with a Martin Logan Dynamo sub (see my sig) along with an Onkyo 674 and I am wanting to potentially pick up an amplifier from Emotiva as it is a good value for the money and well-rated. My question which is barely addressed by the KEF website is how much power from an amplifier would be too much? I realize that before I can even get an amp, I'll have to replace my receiver because the 674 does not have pre-outs. I'll likely upgrade to the Onkyo 706, but I will entertain the Yamaha RX-V663 or maybe something from Denon. The three front speakers have power ratings from 15-150W. So is it dangerous to throw 200W at them? I was looking at the XPA-3 http://emotiva.com/xpa3.shtm. The other issue is if that is dangerous then the UPA-7 is out too because my rears can only handle 100W and the 125W through 7 channels would be too much for them. Please Help!

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01-29-2009, 03:53 PM	#2
jaydoc24 Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:142	Bump! Can someone please help me?

01-29-2009, 08:34 PM	#3
PSB_Paradigm_HSU Active Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:VA Home Theater Gallery:9 Blu-ray collection:23	I asked the same thing... https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=81692

01-29-2009, 08:42 PM	#4
Audiophile_At_Birth Special Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:El Paso, TX Home Theater Gallery:31 4K collection:8 Blu-ray collection:235 Blu-ray reviews:1	125watts a channel wouldn't be to much for fa 100w speaker. I would believe that you would be fine, but that is completely up to the manf on how they publish the specs of their units. I recently picked up an Onkyo 805 that can output a 150watts a channel at clipping. Obviously anyone would be dumb to attempt to drive their speakers that hard, but getting beyond the 120watts at .01% THD is only 5watts below the recommended power rating of my rears. It wouldn't be that hard to go beyond that point. I contacted polk audio about this and they said their published wattage ratings are conservative but within reason for the average consumer. It's also an insuraunce factor for warranty ect. He said I could prob drive my Monitor 40s to about 140watts max before I could have the potential to ruin them. The monitor 40s are rated to 125watts. Case and point. You're more likely to damage a speaker with an underpowered amp that one that delivers clean power at a higher wattage rating with a low THD. REMEMBER: with an upa7, will you ever drive your speakers that hard. One believes me that that power rating is at 1%THD which is clipping.

01-29-2009, 08:43 PM	#5
gearyt Power Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Henderson, NV Home Theater Gallery:8 Blu-ray collection:33	I've been out looking for the thread that covers this but a quick answer is it's not the power, it's the distortion that damages

01-29-2009, 11:00 PM	#7
Intamin Power Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Houston Home Theater Gallery:38 Blu-ray collection:318	No, you don't have to worry about too much power. The majority of listening situations will never even require that much power, but you'll have extra headroom for the dynamic passages or sequences. Yes having that much power to a speaker could be harmful, but you'd probably go deaf before you damaged the speaker.

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