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Amp wants-needs- ?

G

Guest158

Super Member
Newbie with questions here.I've owned many recievers over the years & toasted many. On new years eve this year my Pioneer Elite (dont remember model late 90s 105 wpc) gave up the ghost after a few hours of cranking.Didnt even make it to midnite! So I though its time for seperates & got a Rotel RSP-976-already had a Carver TFM-15cb(100 wpc) in garage system so brought in house. Great sound powering 2 sets of speakers- Pioneer CS-803 4 way 15" woofs & JBL 4410 3 way 10" woofs.Once again got it hot cranking & poof. Now running a Kenwood KM- 207.Supposedly 200 wpc.I dont think it sounds as good or drives as well as the Carver did .Doesnt power both sets of speakers well at once it seems to sound better turning one set off.
The Kenwood amp doesnt run warm, Carver always did.Also have Carver AV-405 powering center & rears which gets hot at high volumes & shuts down till cool.
Now the ? What type-brand-power amp do I need to look for? Something with a cooling fan ? Pro sound equip? Still want good sound but like to go to high volumes. I think Pioneer speakers are rated 150 rms JBL are 125.How much power do I need? I like Carver & think a TFM-25 would be great ?Not a lot of $ so it have to be a deal I stumble across or a trade. May sell or trade JBLs prob. worth 300-350, maybe enough for amp ?
Thanks for any input, Robert
 
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Sound like you need a pro amp.

Plenty of options around.

Behringer EP2500 is a decent low-cost option, I've seen them used for $200 or less. ~450wpc @ 8 ohms.
 
if all of your amps are going poof, I believe i'd check those speakers and make sure the resistance isnt way off what its supposed to be.

one amp going poof is one thing, two of them going poof raises a brow. you know what i mean?
 
Sounds like two speakers in parallel, likely 4 ohms, maybe less, "cranked" for hours on end, likely in a stack (and I'm guessing amp isn't on top getting the good ventilation). All a recipe for problems with a typical home audio convection cooled amp.
 
Thanks guys, $200 range could be doable in future & yes should check resistance. JBLs are relatively new to me but have had Pioneers 10 yrs plus.Havent killed everything hooked to them, Kenwood 1060VR still doing duty in garage, powered them great but would get hot & kick off. Onkyo now in garage still kicking too,supposedly 130wpc wouldnt shut down but wouldnt crank either!
 
99, nothing paralleled I know of use A + B outs.Amps arent stacked they sit alone. Had a fan on Kenwood recvr. when in house.Not much help.Prob my listening level, hard of hearing or selective hearing as my better half says!
 
I guess I need another amp to split up the load.
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Or just an amp that will handle the load you're presenting.

However, i suspect that with the listening habits you indicate, your next problem will be blowing speakers.

IMO, it sounds like you've been pushing your speakers to their limits, their components are getting warm, effectively increasing resistance to the point that it's taking your receivers into the danger zone.

Once you decide to power your speakers with serious power capable of handling low impedance loads, you're going to start driving them into the "thermal breakdown" zone ultimately releasing the magic smoke.

Just my .02 y'all understand....................
 
Yea,its kind of like me & drag car.Push till you find weakest link then try to upgrade.I tend to do this even when things arent"broke".Keeps it fun & interesting!
 
You need a Crown MA-12000i :drool:
It is made to drive speakers in large stadiums and race tracks.

2100 Wrms/ch
Damping Factor > 5000 (Can drive speakers lower than 2 ohm!)

Make sure you get a dedicated 50 Amp ac outlet for it! It can suck up more juice than a washer and drier combined!:yikes:

In a serious not, try Crown. They are made for abuse, and the XLS line is very affordable. try the XLS 202, a 200W/ch.
 
bowtie427ss said:
Once you decide to power your speakers with serious power capable of handling low impedance loads, you're going to start driving them into the "thermal breakdown" zone ultimately releasing the magic smoke.

Just my .02 y'all understand....................
Click to expand...

Yup...it all pieces together into the old adage, "not enough rig for the gig". :yes:
 
Driving 4 sets of speakers that loud, you were reallllly pushing that 100wpc amp, am not surprised really that it gave up the ghost. Just my opinion, but if you are going to be playing 4 speakers cranked up, you need at least a 200wpc amp and preferably one with high current. A 100wpc amp with one pair of 8 ohm speakers played bone rattling loud would do the trick, add another pair, you are really taxing that amp now.
Not really familiar with the Kenwood, but I believe that is a late 80's amp ? Probably more of a mass market type amp (I could be wrong) so not really a high current amp, so it will sound much better with 2 speakers as opposed to 4.
If you like bone jarring loud with 4 speakers, you will probably just keep having problems unless you get a higher current amp that can handle the load.
Also, if you are(and it sounds like it is) pushing the amp that hard, good chance you are close to clipping, which will ruin a speaker faster then you can say....clipping
Just my opinion
 
turn the damn music down man... no way to blow a carver amp of any kind with that config, unless it's distorting all the hell right before it blows... try a fan on the onkyo, once you get the impedance figured out. should see 8 ohms per set, way lower then the damage you did to the pioneers's by cranking them, might have changed the resistance in the voice coil, or crossover.
 
Have been looking at Crown stuff on ebay awhile...I try not to crank into distortion or clipping...spouse has occasionallly...I correct asap.Part of prob. is most things I have are thrift store garage sale flea market stuff cond. unknown. Carver TFM-15 for ex. was flea mkt. purchase.Meters nor lights worked but I used it bridged in garage over a year powering a Cerwin Vega MX-400 for center channel.Then lasted 6-7 months in house powering 4 speakers.Not bad for free after I sold the Carver reciever that came in the package deal with it(still have big Cerwin Vega MX-400,100 disc Kenwood cd got all for $100).
Just for the record I also dont always listen to "cranked up".Have been working in garage on pop up camper project lately & been enjoying newest find Mission 761 speakers(solo audition).Sound great IMO for $20 goowill score.
 
you need a pair of large altecs if you like loud music. one pair of big boys will easily piss off your neighbors and they dont need more than 100wpc.
 
Room is 18 x18 with 10' ceiling.Bose 901s hung powered by Spatial Control reciever also in room.I know.... overkill.....more is not better...but...good for soundfield reenforcement...I guess...
 
Personally, I'd probably just start looking for a pair of pro audio speakers along with the amp, for these crankfests.

For good, but relatively inexpensive, PA speakers I'd recommend the Yamaha Club Series.
 
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