am i really asking this?

[dowey]

i have a set of dcm timewindows and would like to hear some opinions on which receiver would drive them best? pioneer sx 780 (1978) 45 watts per channel or onkyo tx 8511 (2004)100watts per channel. im curious to hear the reasons for or against between the two.

 

[HomeBody]

100 watts p/c
It's not about the volume. It's about the quality....
Old school always told me that High Wattage wasn't about volume...but about definition.
It still seems to hold true to my ears to this day-

 

[olblueyez]

I always thought current was more important than wattage.

 

[tshoejohn]

Here are some specs if it helps:

ONKYO TX 8511
Power Output (8 ohm, 20 Hz-20 kHz, FTC) 100 W/Ch
Dynamic Power* 140 W/Ch/135 W/Ch
THD (Rated Power) 0.08 %
Frequency Response 20 Hz-30 kHz (+/- 1 dB)
S/N Ratio -
Phono(MM) 80 dB (IHF-A, 5 mV input)
CD-Tape 100 dB (IHF-A)
Phono Overload (1 kHz) 120 mV RMS, 0.5 % THD
Tuner Section
Usable Sensitivity -
FM Mono 11.2 dBf, 1.0 uV (75 ohm IHF)
FM Stereo 17.2 dBf, 2.0 uV (75 ohm IHF)
AM 30 uV
S/N Ratio (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 76 dB (IHF-A)/70 dB (IHF-A)/40 dB
THD (FM Mono/FM Stereo/AM) 0.15 %/0.25 %/0.7 %
FM Stereo Separation 45 dB at 1 kHz
Dimensions (W x H x D) 17 1/8"" x 5 7/8"" x 12 11/16""
Weight 19.6 lbs./8.9 kg


PIONEER SX 780
Power Output: 45 watts per channel RMS into 8 ohms.
Harmonic Distortion: Less than 0.05%
Intermodulation Distortion: Less than 0.05%
FM Sensitivity: 1.8uV
FM Capture Ratio: 1.00
FM Harmonic Distortion Mono: <0.07%
FM Harmonic Distortion Stereo: <0.15%
Dimensions: 19 x 12.5 x 5.5
Weight: 24.75 lbsc

if your main source is phono and FM, then I think the Pioneer

If your main source is Digital then either.

I like the looks of the Pioneer better, but the Onkyo is more "convienent"

Really the best thing you can do is try both.

 

[donberry]

if the sound of the Onkyo is acceptable, I would choose more power any day of the week. Even if I did not care for the sound, I would try using the Pioneer as the preamp and the Onkyo as the power amp to see how that sounds.
It can be very surprising the difference power makes to a speaker, and I am not just talking volume.

 

[Cogito]

I always thought current was more important than wattage.

Current X Voltage = Wattage.

 

[dowey]

how would i use the pioneer as a preamp? would you hook it to the onkyo like an eq using the tape loop or is it more complicated than that? is it safe to do this for the receivers? thanks for the replies...

 

[Deathjester]

Any tape-line out will go into any line-in except for the phono. Ive used this trick for decades to extend the range of my decks. Before decks with remote lines or remote speaker controls I would 'chain' decks together using this method.
The only thing I'd listen for is a variance in the reference ground that can create a hum. Just ground the chassies together...
But remember this might not create a favorable sound. You are adding a layer of electronics to the signal this way; thus a layer of potential distortion.

Try it and listen!!

 

[klama2006]

I've never completely been awed by the time windows, but at the same time I do not think they sound at all bad. In fact I think they sound pretty good.

I've never found them to be a very amp picky speaker. In my systems, I've had good results with everything in between a Sonic T-amp, to a 120 watt Anthem.