Adding Amp Question

tophatjohnny

The AVR I have is 130 per channel. Only running 2 speakers. Will adding a 165 watt per channel amp make much of a difference?? Thanks

cnh

That depends. The Onkyo's clipping power is indeed close to 165 watts x 2, I believe. But a power amp of 165 watts will have more headroom and I'm assuming that's 165 @ 8 ohms and it can handle 4 ohm loads of at least 250 watts x 2? So let's say you were driving a 4 ohm speaker. Then "yes" you should hear a difference, because the Onkyo does not handle those loads as well.

But if it were me and I was trying to "augment" an Onkyo 805, I'd get a 200 watt x 2 @ 8 ohms RMS. That would certainly give you some more punch. And most of those amps are also rated from 50-100 percent more at 4 ohms (300-400 watts x 2). So what I would recommend is getting at least 200 watts x 2 or making sure that the 165 watt amp has close at least 50 percent of more wattage @ 4 ohms, etc.

Of course it should be added that whatever power amp it is, it should be of good "quality" (Bryston, Rotel, NAD, Parasound, Carver, B&K, Adcom, etc., etc.)

cnh

tonyb

What kind of speakers ? What kind/model amp ? Details.....details.....