I need more power, right!

Redikilowatt

Redikilowatt

Audio Understudy
Subscriber
Thanks to a recent heads up from a fellow AKer I acquired a pair of Ohm Walsh 2 speakers. The Ohm website states they need a 125 watt amplifier. Currently I'm using a Pioneer SX-750 rated 65 watts RMS for 4 ohm and also have a Yamaha CR-820 (70 RMS for 4 ohm) available.

A) Am I missing a lot not having 125 watts?
B) Will I damage either the speakers or receiver as currently set up?
C) Isn't this a good excuse to upgrade? :D
Suggestions would be appreciated :yes:

Humbly rendered,
Roger
 
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Wellllll..... you really only need "X" amount of power if your conditions dictate it. If you occaisonally, or frequently, like to "crank it up" then yeah, you probably want more power. It's very easy, IMO, to burn up 60W with speakers of low or moderate sensitivity.

While 125W sounds like a lot more than 60-70W, it terms of volume it is barely noticeable. What you would hear is probably a bit cleaner and "tighter" sound when playing at somewhat elevated volumes, no so much change in terms of pure volume.

If you really want to put up some respectable headroom over the gear you have now, I'd go minimum of 250wpc. :)
 
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Yeah.. you want something bigger. Those are 4 ohm speakers if I remember right and very low effeciency, so they are pretty power hungry...

Yes you can damage them if you are trying to drive them beyond your amps capabilities. The amp can easily start clipping long before these would sing all that much...

You can never have too much power and overhead, especially with a difficult load like these speakers are.
 
+1
More power than the speakers are rated for is better in the long run. You wont have to overdrive the amp if your into loud listening AND the clipping from overdriving your underpowered amp wont kill your speakers, especially on loud peaks( 1812 Overture cannon shots etc..) Just remember that you are using a 250 watt amp and you'll be fine. Most speakers will stand up to a bit more than their rated power if it's clean power. However it doesn't work the other way around.
 
Find yourself a used McIntosh Mc252 on Audiogon. With power guard you never have to worry about clipping and you can see your power usage on the cool blue meters. Set them to peak hold and you'll know what your feeding your speakers with out guessing.:banana:


Just my opinion...
 
Redikilowatt,

At one time I was running my Polk 12B's with a Pioneer SA 7500II and thought it was great until a Hitachi HMA7500MK II came into my life .

With more power in reserve the low end will sound richer IMHO ...




Barney
 
i totally agree that more reserved power means a lot more than just louder sound. i was using hpm-150 with just 60wpc tube power and wasn't giving much respect for these TOTL hpm's. hooked 'em up to 400wpc SAE 2600, and even at low volume (9 o'clock), it's a whole different game. more definition, better sound stage, tighter bass,....and all that.
 
In agreement here that more power will give you tighter, cleaner, deeper sound.

65wpc is fine- but it's like running drag slicks on a stock Chevette.

Move up to more gusto, and reap rewards paid in rich dividends.


Stay thirsty, my friend....
 
Wow! A resounding consensus an upgrade is imperative :banana:
As I swivel the monitor so LOML can't see :naughty:

Appreciate specific suggestions with the caveat my budget is small . . . perhaps too small :scratch2:

Here's the start of the list (timidly checking the price :para: )
Hitachi HMA7500MK II
McIntosh Mc252 $$$$$$$$$$
Yamaha P2201
Kenwood M1, M2, M2a

Roger
 
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Not sure what your budget is.. but there are some really fine pro amps out there that would be great for driving these speakers, and some of the biggest bang for the buck you can get.. however, if you're looking at McGear, then you must have a bigger budget than I have, which isn't small to me.. It's all relative...
 
similost said:
Not sure what your budget is.. but there are some really fine pro amps out there that would be great for driving these speakers, and some of the biggest bang for the buck you can get.. however, if you're looking at McGear, then you must have a bigger budget than I have, which isn't small to me.. It's all relative...
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Ouch! Just checked audiogon price on MC252 :tears:
Hey, I'm a retiree and hope to stay one!
What's a pro amp :dunno:
 
Some fine example of pro amps... ;)

The top two are 425wpc @ 8 ohms (used price ~$400 each, give or take), the bottom two are 700wpc @ 8 ohms (used price ~$600 each, give or take). With pro amps sorta depends on the deal you can find. These are very clean examples of used pro amps.

These run my HT/"main" music system.

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These others run my "garage" system. Top one runs at 1,150wpc @ 4 ohms, the bottom two each run bridged mono at 2,800wpc @ 4 ohms. These three were all in the same price range as those above. They show more use than the others, but still relatively clean for used pro amps.

picture.php
 
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Pro amps.. like QSC, JBL, Peavey, Crown, Yamaha, Electrovoice, Altec, Tapco, Carvin etc.. amps used for bands, bars and nightclubs etc...

QSC has a pretty big following along with Crown. I've got a 1400w Tapco that impresses the hell outta me, and they run around $300 new with great reviews.. You can pick up used pro amps for a couple hundred or less.. I also have Altec, (tube though) Crown, Bogen, (also tube) and Electrovoice amps. All great stuff, and affordable if you shop right.
 
You could try an Adcom GFA-555, 250WPC@ 8 Ohms 400WPC@4 Ohms or, Adcom 5802, 300WPC@8 Ohms, 450WPC@4 Ohms. They are available on Audiogon for reasonable prices. I too am retired and know what it means.
 
OK, I'm starting to get the picture about pro amps. Thanks :thmbsp:

And although I know these observation aren't 100% correct

1) Integrated amps generally include preamp and phono pre, but not necessarily a tuner
2) Amps will require separate preamp (CDP, tape, aux) and phono pre (TT)
3) None of the 5 receivers I currently own have a bridge(?) to separate phono section therefore I would need separate phono pre and/or preamp if I had a pro amp.

Okay, I was an English major and under educated audiowise :yes:
 
Yep.. you pretty much nailed it... Some pre amps will have a phono in on them.. others may not, and if that's the case, yes you would need a phono pre too...
 
Sell the speakers and use the money to by something more efficient. There are a lot of really good speakers out there that do not require an amp upgrade... :nutz:
 
megawatt said:
Sell the speakers and use the money to by something more efficient. There are a lot of really good speakers out there that do not require an amp upgrade... :nutz:
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know . . . check my sig line. I often power both the Frazier Mark Vs and Klipsch 4.2s with an HK 25 wpc receiver :thmbsp:

But I'd like to expand my horizons :D
I've never done "surround" sound but use one of my receivers for the TV. The result is great music, but peoplespeak was lousy. Hooked up the Ohm Walsh 2s last nite and could actually hear the peoplespeak, too. :tresbon:
 
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