MOnitor 70 questions

RampantAndroid

Hi all,

Just picked up some monitor 70s for my fronts, and I've got some RM8s for my surround and a RM8 center (the surrounds sound a little too quiet, but I can tweak that on my own) and matched them to an Onkyo RC260 in a 5 channel setup.

My first question is: bi-amping, do I gain anything by using the surround-back channels to bi-amp my Monitor 70s? I potentially give it more power, yes? At the very least, separating the frequencies will help to lower distortion, right? Since I don't have any amps external of my reciever...

The second question is about the tweeters; I've read of a lot of people blowing theirs out - why? Are they cranking the volume too high? What do I need to do to avoid the same thing, just be conservative on volume (I'm in an apartment, so I need to be anyway ) and would bi-amping help any?

I didn't see any threads that answered this well for me, and didn't want to necro - sorry if this is a repeat.

Thanks all!
RA

Knucklehead

Welcome to CP......I wouldnt consider bi-amping without external amplification. It looks like you are off to a good start with the M70's, pick up a CS2 center and maybe some M30's for your surrounds a decent sub and you will be ready for external amplification. just my opinion. As for the tweeter question, without proper power to the 70's the tweeters start clipping resulting in damage, you just have to be easy with the volume control.

David

RampantAndroid

Also, to add another question: People call bi-amping off the same reciever passive at best, why? You're using different amplifier sections, right? You're drawing power from different power transistors, right? So your total draw limited by the power supply is the same, but each channel can draw it's maximum as well, not?

Channel A supply 100W of power, without biamping you get 100W maximum for the entire speaker; if you then split the speaker up to also use channel b, doesn't that mean the individual speaker sections can now each draw 100W on their own, effectively supplying a potential for 200W total to be supplied to the speaker?

Am I missing something?

Knucklehead wrote: »

Welcome to CP......I wouldnt consider bi-amping without external amplification. It looks like you are off to a good start with the M70's, pick up a CS2 center and maybe some M30's for your surrounds a decent sub and you will be ready for external amplification. just my opinion. As for the tweeter question, without proper power to the 70's the tweeters start clipping resulting in damage, you just have to be easy with the volume control.

David

Define proper power The RM8s are relatively new and came with a cheap RM95 setup...so I could bi-amp or do 7.1 (I have a powered sub already) - but my best source is DVD/XBox games. Viva la HDDVD? Would 7.1 even be worth the trouble? Would PLIIz have any effect on that?

As far as an external amp, how would that be paired with my Onkyo? It doesn't have line level outputs afaik?

But I'm not looking to spend more, so the speakers I have are all that I'm doing, unless someone can suggest a power amp to add to my setup for the Monitor 70s that would improve their lifespan and make them sound better?

Thanks!

Knucklehead

Very few AVR's will output the advertised wattage, its usually measured in the 2 front channels driven only, once you start adding other zones......maybe 45W per channel, hence the clipping of the tweeters.

RampantAndroid

Knucklehead wrote: »

Very few AVR's will output the advertised wattage, its usually measured in the 2 front channels driven only, once you start adding other zones......maybe 45W per channel, hence the clipping of the tweeters.

FWIW, they claim 100W per channel...but I don't know how that's measured.

How would I add a 2 channel power amp to my Onkyo? Would the amp take the non-line level outputs? Or it is not possible given I have no real preamp?

Knucklehead

Yeah, I dont think your AVR has pre-outs so unless you upgrade your AVR, just go easy on the volume control. Proper power- 150W or more per channel.

RampantAndroid

Knucklehead wrote: »

Yeah, I dont think your AVR has pre-outs so unless you upgrade your AVR, just go easy on the volume control. Proper power- 150W or more per channel.

Phooie...I'll look at the calibration to see if there's any way to output line-level, but I doubt it. Thanks for the info :-/

RampantAndroid

Knucklehead wrote: »

Yeah, I dont think your AVR has pre-outs so unless you upgrade your AVR, just go easy on the volume control. Proper power- 150W or more per channel.

Assuming I decided to spend money, what would a good AVR be, and amp to match? Going budget friendly, mind you - a stereo power amp for the fronts and use the AVR for the center/surround for the time being?

Thanks!

Edit: I assume something like this:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_022RXV667/Yamaha-RX-V667.html?tp=179

Plus a decent 150W Stereo amp?

Thanks!

Knucklehead

Wow....my choice would be to go used, you would get a lot more for the money, everyone has a preference mine happens to be Pioneer. I have a Rotel amp for my front soundstage that has 150w x 3, nice clean warm sound that tames my Rti8's.

RampantAndroid

Only reason I link to Crutchfield (insanely overpriced 99% of the time) is I can use some cashback bonus from discover there...but that's still too much IMO.

What would it cost in your experience to find used the amp/AVR setup I'd want?

For clipping...how can I tell when it's occuring...I mean, I've done sound work and I know what clipping is, but I'll be darned if I've ever heard it on a HT setup. I just never crank it THAT loud. I mean...playing some music I never crank it loud enough to hurt...I don't know how to classify this..since room size even changes how many DBs it is...sigh.

My Onkyo for example, I think volume scale wise goes to 100...and I'm hitting with classical music that is generally recorded softer, 30 on the knob; with rock or louder sources, 25 or so.

Thanks!

Knucklehead

Example: I picked up my AVR for $125 My Rotel for $225 & my Adcom for $130...not all at once mind you. As for clipping my best guess would be when you here your speakers limits with the source being used.