Is 105 watts be better than 200?

squeeb
squeeb Posts: 426
edited January 2011 in Electronics
I am thinking about tweaking (again) my HT and looking for advice (again). I am thinking about powering my fronts (RTi8s) with a B&K ST140 (105 watts) instead of using a TGR3 (200 watts).

What I am reading is it will add some dynamic headroom and reduce the loan on the TGR that will still be powering the center, surrounds, and surround backs.

Thoughts???

Is 105 watts be better than 200??? WTF. Sorry should read "Can 105 watts be better than 200?"
7.3 HT: Sunfire TGR-3, Sunfire Series II, Mirage OMD-28, OMD-5 (x4), REL T1 (2), T2, Oppo 103D, Optoma HD8200PRO, 106" screen, SB Touch
Family Room: Yamaha RX-V2700, RT25i, 42" Samsung, SB Duet
Pool: Yamaha V2700, SQ Duet, Atrium 60 (2), Atrium 45 (3), Atrium 65sdi
Post edited by squeeb on

Comments

  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,545
    edited January 2011
    The TGR-3 should have the juice to make the fronts perform their best. If you want to improve your two channel sound, I would consider adding a 300~2 Sunfire stereo amp to the mix. Try the B&K however, if you already have it and see how it sounds.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • polkfan38
    polkfan38 Posts: 360
    edited January 2011
    More headroom and about 3 dB more of volume is what you will get.
    Things are more like they are now than they ever will be!
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,249
    edited January 2011
    It definitely can be.

    30wpc has been a lot better than 125wpc in my case

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
  • jayman_1975
    jayman_1975 Posts: 672
    edited January 2011
    It depends on what company's watts you are comparing and what type of amplifier you are comparing as well. For instance, my 100wpc Arcam P38 stereo power amplifier blows the doors off of my Arcam P1000 135wpc 7 channel amp and my Anthem MCA 5 200wpc x 5.
    Onkyo TX NR 5008 modified by The Upgrade Company
    Oppo BDP 93 modified by The Upgrade Company
    Arcam CD37
    Monitor Audio Gold GS 60
    Revolver Audio Music 5 towers.(surround)
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,233
    edited January 2011
    What is a TGR-3 is it that Sunfire receiver?

    I can however comment on the B7K but I have no experience with that Sunfire if thats what it is.
    First off it's not the watts that sound good , it's the quality of Watts you get from a given amp or receiver. The ability to control ones speakers without strain or Distortion is whats needed. I owned a B&K St140 (not the newer 2140 which I like the newer face plate) and I will tell you it's a fantastic amp with awesome dynamic range. Clear and clean powerful and warm is qualities of B&K amps.

    As suggested , compare it to your current amps and see if it makes a difference for the better , you can always sell a B&K st140 at will. They are a timeless amp and many many who know audio will want one of these on hand.

    Now I want a B&K amp again.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • squeeb
    squeeb Posts: 426
    edited January 2011
    Yes, it is a receiver - below are some specs. I can't wait for the weekend to do some tweaking and listening. Thanks for the advice.

    Sunfire Theater Grand III Receiver (TGR-3) Black Receiver

    * 2 HDMI Inputs (Video Only)
    * 7 channels of power amplification
    * 200 watts rms per channel, (8 ohms, < 0.5% THD)
    * High quality digital signal processor supports sampling rates up to 96 kHz
    * Dolby® Digital EX™, Dolby® Pro Logic® II, and Dolby® Pro Logic® IIx processing
    * DTS® ES™ and DTS® Neo:6™ processing
    * DSP Holographic Imaging, which gives a greatly enhanced soundstage
    * Automatic 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 channel mode selection
    * Balanced audio outputs
    * Two Zone operation
    * Pre-programmed and learning LCD remote control
    7.3 HT: Sunfire TGR-3, Sunfire Series II, Mirage OMD-28, OMD-5 (x4), REL T1 (2), T2, Oppo 103D, Optoma HD8200PRO, 106" screen, SB Touch
    Family Room: Yamaha RX-V2700, RT25i, 42" Samsung, SB Duet
    Pool: Yamaha V2700, SQ Duet, Atrium 60 (2), Atrium 45 (3), Atrium 65sdi