Does higher watts per channel Improve Sound Quality?

Gonzonator

I recently purchased a pair of Energy exl 25's rated at 15-150 watts for my second system in my sun room. I had an old Harmon Kardon AVR10 laying around so I decided to try and use this with the Energys for two channel listening. The AVR10 only puts out 35 wpc so I was skeptical about running the speakers on such a low powered amp. To my surprise the speakers sounded great, I was blown away by the quality of sound the Energy's produce for a smaller speaker. I have heard that under powering speakers is a sure way to damage them, should I try and find a stronger amp? If I can get away with my current amp without damaging them, will buying a second hand amp with a higher wpc improve the sound quality? I have seen a Marantz 5600 for sale rated at 90 wpc for $90, would this be worth it? Thanks for any input

Face

Higher Watts ≠ Better Sound Quality

Gonzonator

Is it better to run your speakers with some head room? I just feel that if I was to push the speakers with my current set up I might damage them.

gsxr141

i think that having more power allows you to play it louder before it gets distorted. What i mean is...... it's better to have too much power and not use it than have not enough and go to 10 on the dial.

Gonzonator

I always see speakers having rating such as 15-150 watts, but I always thought it was best to run them somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. With this old Harmon Kardon I only have to put the volume up a quarter of the way to reach a pretty loud listening level. I never thought a amp putting out 35 wpc could be efficient. I guess I'm just used to having amps with high wpc ratings and never gave the lower ones a shot.

ShadowTowel

Higher sound quality can really only come from lower THD (total harmonic distortion). Higher wattage has more to do with power, loudness, etc. Loudness does not equal sound quality, although your average consumer seems to think otherwise.

ben62670

ShadowTowel wrote: »

Higher sound quality can really only come from lower THD (total harmonic distortion). Higher wattage has more to do with power, loudness, etc. Loudness does not equal sound quality, although your average consumer seems to think otherwise.

Wrong. THD does not tell you what the amp will sound like.

ShadowTowel

ben62670 wrote: »

Wrong. THD does not tell you what the amp will sound like.

Okay... But if your speakers have high THD, your amplification of that isn't going to improve sound quality. That is what I mean. Sound quality and power are different worlds. As far as I know.

PrazVT

higher current > higher watts. But not all manufacturers display peak current on their amps, so you may have to dig a bit.

Gonzonator

So do you guys think you would make the switch for $90 for the Marantz, I really didn't want to invest much into a second system, but maybe for only $90 it would be worth it? The HK seems to be performing well, bu then again I haven't pushed it hard. I keep thinking that if I bought the Marantz then I would have no worries.

ben62670

Most amps have a different sound to them. For that price you could try it and flip it if it doesn't have the sound you wanted.

BlueFox

Some will say you only need 30W/ch for good sound, albeit at a moderate SPL, but I say falderal, balderdash, and poppycock. You need at least 35W/ch, and preferably 1000W/ch. However, 800W/ch into 4 ohms is a good start.

inspiredsports

Yes, no, and maybe

Every watt produced has to pass throught the first 3 that you really use. Quality matter more.

Charlie Freak

Gonzonator wrote: »

I have heard that under powering speakers is a sure way to damage them

The reason people say that is because with an 'underpowered' amp, you may feel the need to push the amp farther than it's capable of to obtain the volume you desire. This can cause the amp to clip.

Depending on how far you push it this can be very hard on speakers, and unpleasant to listen to.

If you don't push the amp that far, and stop increasing the volume before audible clipping occurs, you aren't in any danger of damaging the speakers, and a more powerful amp won't automatically provide any real gains in sound quality.

polkfan38

Sound QUALITY is mainly dependant on the speakers them selves. Second would be the sorce. Amp design would be a distant third. More power will only give you more headroom. And going from 35 wpc to 70 wpc will only net you a 3 dB gain in volume. Just barely perceptable.

F1nut

ShadowTowel wrote: »

Okay... But if your speakers have high THD, your amplification of that isn't going to improve sound quality. That is what I mean. Sound quality and power are different worlds. As far as I know.

Not so. Tube amps have a higher THD than SS amps, yet sound so damn good.

To address the OP's question. There is only one absolute in audio, synergy. Either you have it or you don't.

polkfan38

I like your sigs F1!

Fongolio

My 50 year old Eico tube amp rated at a little better than 35 watts sounds just as good if not better to me than my 375 watt Carver TFM-45 both pushing my SDA-1C's. Not all watts are created equal. I really love the sound of the Carver but most of the power is for headroom in my case. I've never had the volume knob past 12 o'clock while using it but down low it is sooooo smooth punchy and seductive. As is the Eico tube unit. I haven't had it past 12 o'clock either and it's vibrating the whole room. It's all about quality not quantity.

halo71

BlueFox wrote: »

Some will say you only need 30W/ch for good sound, albeit at a moderate SPL, but I say falderal, balderdash, and poppycock. You need at least 35W/ch, and preferably 1000W/ch. However, 800W/ch into 4 ohms is a good start.

Is that statement meant to be a joke??

Face

halo71 wrote: »

Is that statement meant to be a joke??

Not if you're 60+ years old.

blueboxer

I just went from 200 watts a channel to 125 and noticed an improvement in sound quality and an actual perceived increase in sound level at similar volumes. Go figure...

nguyendot

Quality of amplification is paramount to quantity of amplification.

Also---really a discussion on THD?

Ricardo

You say you like what you are hearing, and you're just at 25% in the volume pot. You should be fine then. The only reason to get that $90 amp would be to try something else, but I would say you don't need it.

Lietuvis91

Gonzonator wrote: »

To my surprise the speakers sounded great, I was blown away by the quality of sound the Energy's produce for a smaller speaker.

Ricardo wrote: »

...I would say you don't need it.

I agree... if you like the sound you hear and the speakers dont clip at the levels you listen to, then it sounds like you really dont need anything different...

blueboxer

I wish my search ended at $90!!! Congrats, every system and room is different. Now you can invest in more CD's or downloads.

Gonzonator

I wish my search ended at $90, my wife is about to divorce me because of the audio purchases I have made within the last couple years lol. My main set up is where I have invested some real $$, but I just wanted small set up in the sun room for when I'm out back trying to get lost. I figured on buying stuff second hand to save a couple dollars. I bought the energy speakers not knowing what to expect, and it turns out I like them a lot. So I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to blow a speaker with a low powered amp. If it meant that I would have to spend another $100 to get a different amp then that is what I would do. Seems by the opinions here that my set up is ok, so I guess I'll save the cash.

photocrazy

polkfan38 wrote: »

Sound QUALITY is mainly dependant on the speakers them selves. Second would be the sorce. Amp design would be a distant third. More power will only give you more headroom. And going from 35 wpc to 70 wpc will only net you a 3 dB gain in volume. Just barely perceptable.

Hmm...3db is double the volume right ? just barely perceptable ?

Ron Temple

photocrazy wrote: »

Hmm...3db is double the volume right ? just barely perceptable ?

No, 3db is what is usually called noticable. 10dbs is doubling the volume and costs 10x the power...20db costs 100x. That's why dynamic peaks need headroom. You can operate in the 1 to 5 watt zone until a peak hits, then you're clipping...might only be for a second, but it happens.

Face

1db is noticeable and is what the system is based on.

cfrizz

For me higher wpc did improve sound quality until I reached the limits of my current speakers.

I could not hear a difference between my 405wpc Sunfire & my 205wpc Parasound on my main RTA-8Ts & 200wpc Outlaw monoblock on my Boston Audio CC speakers. Which told me they were getting all they needed. But my FXis came alive when I added my 5 channel Sunfire.

For me the most important factor is making sure all of my speakers have all the power that they need when they need it, and 200wpc seems to be it at the very least. Now all of this might change if I ever need to buy new speakers.

inspiredsports

photocrazy wrote: »

Hmm...3db is double the volume right ? just barely perceptable ?

There's lots of confusion about this, but just look at what 1 Watt can do at 3-4 meters where many of us sit, and remember, these measurments are for 1 channel. My 50 WPC (it has been modded) tube amp can deliver a clean, ear-bleeding 105db to my Exotech SPL meter at my listening position about 11 feet back.

I rarely listen over 80 db so the FIRST WATT is really what's doing the heavy lifting.