Need power for the Monitor 70's
I will soon be buying a Harman and Kardon 3490 stereo receiver (120 watts per speaker) and I was wondering if that will be enough power to drive the Monitor 70s to their full potential.
Thanks
Thanks
Post edited by JHucke on
Comments
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Those 70's are a very efficent speaker and will work very well in all areas with the power that most AVR's have to offer. Having said that, it never hurts to have a little more power on hand, and keep in mind that AVR's power ratings are pretty exaggerated and are usually for only 2 channels driven. HK's are pretty powerful AVR's, but if it has pre-outs I would look into getting an external amp if you want some real power going to those 70's. I have had mine for a few years now, and they have handled everything I have thrown at them. Good luck.
-JeffHT Rig
Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
Center- Polk Audio CS2
Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's
Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3
2 CH rig (in progress)
Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:
It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. -
My onkyo is rated 100 wpc with 2 channels driven. When I put my acurus a200x3 on my front 3 speakers, even in 2 channel listening there is a huge difference.Receiver: ONKYO 709
Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
Front: EmpTek E55Ti
Center: EmpTek E56Ci
Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
TV: LG 55"
Blu-Ray: PS3 -
I have a HK 3490 powering my Monitor 70's and I love it. Nice warm tone and plenty of power for my listening needs.
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Upstatemax wrote: »I have a HK 3490 powering my Monitor 70's and I love it. Nice warm tone and plenty of power for my listening needs.
You say for your listening needs.. Mine may be a little different. When certain parts of my family aren't home (wife) I simply crank it up as high as possible so I can hear it easily throughout my house. Do you think that it will have enough power for that? -
You say for your listening needs.. Mine may be a little different. When certain parts of my family aren't home (wife) I simply crank it up as high as possible so I can hear it easily throughout my house. Do you think that it will have enough power for that?
I can hear mine from down the street and around the corner if I have my windows and doors open, and my receiver is rated at only 75w per channel. -
My 70's and 3490 are in my basement office and I turn it up when I'm home alone and I can easily hear it all the way upstairs. And that's no where near "max".
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My Onkyo is also rated at 100W/ch. The speakers sound much better when I bi-amp them (double power). that is, I can get them loud enough to make me feel good on a Friday night.Music
LR: Polk Monitor 70 (willing to sell if interested)
C: Cerwin Vega E-75C
Sub: HSU VTF-2 MK3
AVR: Sony STR-DE835
AMP:
HT
5.1: Paradigm CT110
AVR: Integra DTR-4.6
WTB: RTiA9 or RTi12 -
The onkyo is not a true bi-amp and it will not double the power.
It's more like a bi-wire. -
My Onkyo is also rated at 100W/ch. The speakers sound much better when I bi-amp them (double power). that is, I can get them loud enough to make me feel good on a Friday night.
Does this seem weird to anyone else?
Your bi-amping to your avr? Not 2 different amps with an external crossover? I doubt you can really hear a difference. Probably just training your ears to hear something different. :redface: Not that that's a bad thing, whatever your happy with is all the matters. :biggrin: Home Theater Setup- Receiver - Onkyo TX-RZ1100
- Mains - Polk RTi A9's
- External Amps - Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks for L/R/C
- Center - Polk CSiA6
- Side Surrounds - Polk FXiA6's
- Atmos - 4 Polk 80F/X RT's
- Sub - SVS PC-4000
- T.V. - LG OLED65C7P
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I've read a lot of good reports on the HK 3490. It's a stereo receiver, guys, not an AVR. I would guess it would sound very nice and should be all he needs.
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My Onkyo is also rated at 100W/ch. The speakers sound much better when I bi-amp them (double power). that is, I can get them loud enough to make me feel good on a Friday night.
External amp? Otherwise no biamp for you.Main Surround -
Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub
Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250
Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD -
Agreed on the Bi-Amp bologna, this seems to be an epidemic, lol. We should make a sticky on this, but as stated, if it sounds good to you, who are we to argue. Get your listen on.
-JeffHT Rig
Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
Center- Polk Audio CS2
Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's
Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3
2 CH rig (in progress)
Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:
It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. -
I will soon be buying a Harman and Kardon 3490 stereo receiver (120 watts per speaker) and I was wondering if that will be enough power to drive the Monitor 70s to their full potential.
Thanks
Yes, absolutely!Styx
Condo: HK-3490, HK Bridge II, HK BTA-10 Polk TSx500T's -
Upstatemax wrote: »The onkyo is not a true bi-amp and it will not double the power.
It's more like a bi-wire.
"True" bi-amp? I don't follow you. I'm using 4 independent channels to drive 2 speakers. Even if you believe this is limited by the AVR's power supply, I still fail to see how you think this AVR, which is rated for 7 speakers, can't drive what is effectively 4 speakers?
You might have a point if I were driving 5.1 and trying to bi-amp at the same time. But I am driving 2.1 and at most 3.1. Is this your complaint?Music
LR: Polk Monitor 70 (willing to sell if interested)
C: Cerwin Vega E-75C
Sub: HSU VTF-2 MK3
AVR: Sony STR-DE835
AMP:
HT
5.1: Paradigm CT110
AVR: Integra DTR-4.6
WTB: RTiA9 or RTi12 -
"True" bi-amp? I don't follow you. I'm using 4 independent channels to drive 2 speakers. Even if you believe this is limited by the AVR's power supply, I still fail to see how you think this AVR, which is rated for 7 speakers, can't drive what is effectively 4 speakers?
You might have a point if I were driving 5.1 and trying to bi-amp at the same time. But I am driving 2.1 and at most 3.1. Is this your complaint?
A) your upper section doesn't require nearly as much power as your bass section, so you won't be drawing double the power, nor is double the power provided.
receivers put out the most power into 2 channels
C) as they are using the same common power supply, you aren't getting double the power.
D) True biamping uses separate amps, each with their own dedicated power supply, and an outboard crossover - no loss using the internal crossover in the speaker.
E) this has been explained so many times it hurts, seriously use the search feature. It's the button at the top that says "Search".Main Surround -
Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub
Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250
Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD -
truer words lol I myself have fallen victim of posting before searching, so no worries.
I think the "bi-amp" problem is one of the more prodominent ones.Home Theater Setup- Receiver - Onkyo TX-RZ1100
- Mains - Polk RTi A9's
- External Amps - Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks for L/R/C
- Center - Polk CSiA6
- Side Surrounds - Polk FXiA6's
- Atmos - 4 Polk 80F/X RT's
- Sub - SVS PC-4000
- T.V. - LG OLED65C7P
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truer words lol I myself have fallen victim of posting before searching, so no worries.
I think the "bi-amp" problem is one of the more prodominent ones.
Whether it has an effect or not, I don't know or care... Either way, I don't really see where it's a "problem." He wasn't looking for an answer, so why would he have searched? He was just making a comment based on his experience. Yeah, so it's not a proper bi-amp. Perhaps it would have been better to ignore and offer some advice to the OP, which is what this guy was doing before he got "corrected."
/rant -
mdaudioguy wrote: »Whether it has an effect or not, I don't know or care... Either way, I don't really see where it's a "problem." He wasn't looking for an answer, so why would he have searched? He was just making a comment based on his experience. Yeah, so it's not a proper bi-amp. Perhaps it would have been better to ignore and offer some advice to the OP, which is what this guy was doing before he got "corrected."
/rant
I agree...So what if he bi-amps,if he likes it,so be it..bi-amp bro,go for it..:) and call it whatever you want..Samsung PN50B550 Plasma
Pioneer Elite SC-25
Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD
Adcom 7500 Amp-Panamax 4300 Conditioner
Polk RTi10's Fronts
Polk Csi A6 Center-Polk M60s rear Surrounds
Klipsch Synergy Sub-10 X2
Klipsch Synergy S-10 Premium back surround -
What you all are suggesting is that AVRs are designed to deliver the full power of their PSU into 2 channels. Furthermore, adding any channels above 2 takes power away from the existing 2 channels.
Put another way, you won't get anymore power out of your AVR than you can get with only 2 speakers.
I can only speak for the AVRs that I have tried. The Onkyo HT-RC270 does not exhibit the behavior you all are suggesting.
P.S. I know it does not double the power if it hits the PSU limit.Music
LR: Polk Monitor 70 (willing to sell if interested)
C: Cerwin Vega E-75C
Sub: HSU VTF-2 MK3
AVR: Sony STR-DE835
AMP:
HT
5.1: Paradigm CT110
AVR: Integra DTR-4.6
WTB: RTiA9 or RTi12 -
What you all are suggesting is that AVRs are designed to deliver the full power of their PSU into 2 channels. Furthermore, adding any channels above 2 takes power away from the existing 2 channels.
Put another way, you won't get anymore power out of your AVR than you can get with only 2 speakers.
I can only speak for the AVRs that I have tried. The Onkyo HT-RC270 does not exhibit the behavior you all are suggesting.
P.S. I know it does not double the power if it hits the PSU limit.
You should have backed away gracefully from this... -
Not trying to polemize or anything, I have the exact same setup, M70 + RC270. I tried the so-called "bi-amping" with extra cables out from avr to the speakers, just for the sake of it, and it did squash for me, not one sign of improvement.
But maybe I just don't have good enough ears :-) -
Not trying to polemize or anything, I have the exact same setup, M70 + RC270. I tried the so-called "bi-amping" with extra cables out from avr to the speakers, just for the sake of it, and it did squash for me, not one sign of improvement.
But maybe I just don't have good enough ears :-)
The sound quality does not change, it only allows the volume to get louder.Music
LR: Polk Monitor 70 (willing to sell if interested)
C: Cerwin Vega E-75C
Sub: HSU VTF-2 MK3
AVR: Sony STR-DE835
AMP:
HT
5.1: Paradigm CT110
AVR: Integra DTR-4.6
WTB: RTiA9 or RTi12 -
The sound quality does not change, it only allows the volume to get louder.
I don't get it????? Bi-amping in "supposed" to improve bass and treble performance. I thought the volume control allowed the volume to get louder?
I tried both bi-wiring and bi-amping from my avr and didn't notice any significant difference at all from a "seat of the pants" point of view. I suppose if I had some fancy meters I could have have seen some change somewhere.Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2
Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)
EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman -
here we go again...just dont mention emotiva now or all heck will break looseMarantz 1607 - Polk S60 - S35 - Emotiva XPA-3 - Polk DSWPRO550wi
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Knock, knock.
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mdaudioguy wrote: »knock, knock.
emotiva ! ! !Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2
Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)
EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman -
The sound quality does not change, it only allows the volume to get louder.
Really ?? How so ? Inquiring minds would like to know.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
I don't get it????? Bi-amping in "supposed" to improve bass and treble performance. I thought the volume control allowed the volume to get louder?
I don't know what its "supposed" to do other than increase power output. I only did it for the watts. The volume control makes the volume louder. Its the available power that sets the limit.
If you can't hear it, there is no point in doing it?I tried both bi-wiring and bi-amping from my avr and didn't notice any significant difference at all from a "seat of the pants" point of view. I suppose if I had some fancy meters I could have have seen some change somewhere.Music
LR: Polk Monitor 70 (willing to sell if interested)
C: Cerwin Vega E-75C
Sub: HSU VTF-2 MK3
AVR: Sony STR-DE835
AMP:
HT
5.1: Paradigm CT110
AVR: Integra DTR-4.6
WTB: RTiA9 or RTi12 -
99.9% of what we do on here is for something that we can hear.
So yeah, if you can't hear a difference, it's not worth doing...
As for the "more watts" issue, you really need to look at bench testing an AVR... -
The sound quality does not change, it only allows the volume to get louder.I don't know what its "supposed" to do other than increase power output. I only did it for the watts. The volume control makes the volume louder. Its the available power that sets the limit.
If you can't hear it, there is no point in doing it?
Don't you think you're contradicting yourself a bit here? The whole purpose of bi-amping in the first place is to make an attempt to improve "sound quality" by feeding more power from an external amp. In this case, and please correct me if I'm wrong, you're only bi-amping off your own avr by combining the back surround channels with your front channels which is intended to "separate" power delivery to the tweeter and woofer, not increase it. In any case, it's all about improving sound quality, not increasing power or watts, in order to do that, you would need to add a "power" amp to increase the wattage to drive a power hungry speaker.
I think mdaudioguy said it best, you should have backed away from this gracefully.Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2
Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)
EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
