onkyo 818 power specs

jrchand

The onkyo TX-NR818 specifies 135W/channel into 8 ohms with 2 channels driven.* I specifically asked what the max power per channel would be with 5 channels driven and 7 channels driven would be.* The replied and specifically stated

"The TX-NR818 is rated at 135 per channel at 8 ohms. That rating will be the same with 5 channel and 7 channel driven which is 135 per channel at 8 ohms with 5 and 7 channels driven."
*
Im not sure I totally believe that.* I thought all AV recievers derated their outputs with more channels driven.* I amost tempted to power each channel in whole house mode into 8 ohm power loads and measuring the power directly.* If its true that each channel is putting out 135 real watts max, then there would be a benfit of biamping vs powering with only 1 135W channel. if thats really the case.* Any thoughts?

adabro

Here's the ratings for the 807 - I would imagine the 818 to be almost the same:

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 105.5 watts
1% distortion at 122.0 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 29.9 watts
1% distortion at 33.0 watts

cnh

Welcome to Club Polk!

I usually refer to WEIGHT and POWER draw when it comes to Onkyos. And I use my older 805 as the "standard". The 805 can put out a legitimate 130 watts x 5 at full power. It also weighs almost 51lbs, most of that weight being in the monster power transformer in the front of the receiver.

The amp is rated at 9.5 amps on its back panel. So take that as a guideline as well.

So how much does the NEW model weigh? And how much current does it DRAW from your wall? I would expect the 818 to peak at around 80-85 watts x 5--could be off 10 or so watts though.

805 50.9lbs. 9.5 amps
818 40.3lbs. 8.1 amps (remember that this receiver can now drive TWO MORE channels than either the 805 or 807)
807 39.7lbs 7.8 amps

The "significant" power drop in the 807 from 5 to 7 channels would suggest that the 105.5 watts x 5 rating is an "optimistic" one, since the 7 channel rating falls to far less than 50 percent of the 5 channel rating?

Certainly enough power but not HUGE power in surround mode.


cnh

adabro

Found some measurements for the 806 - seven channel reading not quite as big a dropoff - maybe those results were a likttle skewed for the 807.

HT Labs Measures
Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 107.2 watts
1% distortion at 123.4 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 79.6 watts
1% distortion at 106.4 watts

F1nut

To my knowledge, one of the few AVR's that put out their rated power with 5 channels driven are the Pioneer Elite SC series. There is only a slight drop with 7 channels driven.

jbooker82

HT Mag shows the SC61 dropping from 127 2ch, to 109 at 5ch, to 99 at 7ch. I don't know where the SC61 is in the food chain it was just the newest review of the pioneer avr's that they reviewed. Looks like the SC68 drops off pretty good too.

SC61
http://www.hometheater.com/content/pioneer-elite-sc-61-av-receiver-ht-labs-measures

SC68
http://www.hometheater.com/content/pioneer-elite-sc-61-av-receiver-ht-labs-measures

F1nut

jbooker82 wrote: »

HT Mag shows the SC61 dropping from 127 2ch, to 109 at 5ch, to 99 at 7ch. I don't know where the SC61 is in the food chain it was just the newest review of the pioneer avr's that they reviewed. Looks like the SC68 drops off pretty good too.

SC61
http://www.hometheater.com/content/pioneer-elite-sc-61-av-receiver-ht-labs-measures

SC68
http://www.hometheater.com/content/pioneer-elite-sc-61-av-receiver-ht-labs-measures

Interesting, thanks. It would appear the newer D3 amps aren't quite as robust as the original ICE amps.

The SC-37 with ICE amps;

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 135.7 watts
1% distortion at 171.9 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 125.4 watts
1% distortion at 164.7 watts

jrchand

thanks for the info folks