Does my receiver have enough power?

marcb515
marcb515 Posts: 8
edited October 2005 in Speakers
I currently have a 1998 Onkyo DS-747 rated at 90W/ch@8ohm, and 105W/ch@6ohm. I'm powering a pair 1980's Cerwin Vega D5's(3 way W/12" woofers), and a small pair of PSB 300IB's for the rears; No center.

I just ordered a re-edge kit for the CV's, as I like the sound of those old bears.

If I go for new fronts like the Lsi9's, does my receiver have enough power to comfortably drive them?

Thank you,....marc
Best regards,....marc
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited October 2005
    for 4ohm lsi9's- no where close. You'll need a separate outboard amplifier to drive them. Welcome to the forums!
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited October 2005
    If you want a receiver to power the lsi you are going to need something like a Sunfire, B&K, NAD, Rotel or some other expensive exotic less known one. If your ONK has pre-outs you can use those and hook to a high current amp. If not, well, if you want LSI you are in the market for something new as far as power.

    RT1
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited October 2005
    I have a DPR 1001 .... 50 watts/ch into 8ohms, 6ohms, 4ohms. not a high current amp. It is running two Lsi9s, LsiC, and two Lsi7s just fine. Im sure a better, more powerful amp would sound better, but it does sound great. Watching movies at pretty loud volumes for an apartment (volume at -20 or so) the only channel that seems at all strained is the center channel. People on the forums are a little too power crazy I think.
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

    HT:
    32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • mldennison
    mldennison Posts: 307
    edited October 2005
    lanion wrote:
    People on the forums are a little too power crazy I think.
    blasphemy!
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited October 2005
    lanion wrote:
    People on the forums are a little too power crazy I think.
    Experience is the best teacher...and most here who recommend "better high current power" know from first hand experience what they are talking about. The LSIs simply perform better when powered properly.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,085
    edited October 2005
    lanion wrote:
    People on the forums are a little too power crazy I think.

    Maybe so but more speakers get jacked up by underpowering them than OVERpowering them.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,735
    edited October 2005
    I have a DPR 1001 .... 50 watts/ch into 8ohms, 6ohms, 4ohms. not a high current amp. It is running two Lsi9s, LsiC, and two Lsi7s just fine.

    Kinda like shoving a 4 banger in a Corvette. Sure, it'll move it, but it isn't going to MOVE it.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited October 2005
    F1nut wrote:
    Kinda like shoving a 4 banger in a Corvette. Sure, it'll move it, but it isn't going to MOVE it.

    amen brother.

    I'm not power hungry at all, nor are many on these forums. My system is powered by 2 Adcoms: a 80x2 adcom for the stereo pair, and a 60x5 adcom for the center and 4surrounds- and they'll tear the ballz off 80% of the receivers on the market today; regardless of the 'wattage specs'.

    And Lanion with all due respect, you're driving your 4ohm lsi9's, 4ohm lsic and 6ohm lsi7's with a Harmon Kardon receiver- imo H/K's are at the top of their class (including ONkyO) when it comes to conservative watts and actual high current capability.

    Bottom line: It's an Onkyo receiver. He's going to need better amplification. :)
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited October 2005
    Originally Posted by F1nut
    Kinda like shoving a 4 banger in a Corvette. Sure, it'll move it, but it isn't going to MOVE it.

    Well, the Digital path thing sounded cool. But hey, I'm just out of college and had to cut costs somwhere! an Outlaw 7125 is my goal in the next year or so.
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

    HT:
    32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited October 2005
    Just pick up one of these and enjoy :D
    http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/755_gallery2.html
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited October 2005
    marcb515 wrote:
    I currently have a 1998 Onkyo DS-747 rated at 90W/ch@8ohm, and 105W/ch@6ohm. I'm powering a pair 1980's Cerwin Vega D5's(3 way W/12" woofers), and a small pair of PSB 300IB's for the rears; No center.

    If I go for new fronts like the Lsi9's, does my receiver have enough power to comfortably drive them?

    Thank you,....marc
    Alot of it depends on how loudly you usually listen to movies (if you are currently running Cerwin Vegas - I am guessing a little on the loud side. :D ) and how close you want the LSi9's to get to their sound quality potential.

    There is almost no way to adequately describe how hard of a load an LSi9 is compared to a cerwin vega speaker.

    I think the D5's are around 98db efficent so that would mean to get the LSi-9's to play at the same volume as you currently listen to your D5's your amp is going to have to put out 10x the amount of power. I am sure it will work for the average power required by your system, but I bet your amp will clip fairly often and you will be replacing tweeters in your LSi speakers as the rest of your surround system. (since the LSi's will require more power from your AVR, less will be available for your other speakers)

    Long story short, it can be done, but what you end up with will be not nearly as impressive an upgrade as what you thought it would be (or what it should have been).

    Michael

    BTW - odd how those who don't have enough power are the only ones who say it doesn't matter.
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited October 2005
    BTW - odd how those who don't have enough power are the only ones who say it doesn't matter.
    ohhh snap!

    Anyway, it makes sense though. If you have a less-expensive reciever, which pretty much everyone has at somepoint, and you are totally satisfied with its performance, there's no reason to spend more. I want more power though, I'm just poor.
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

    HT:
    32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • mldennison
    mldennison Posts: 307
    edited October 2005
    welcome to the club!
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,085
    edited October 2005
    To get better sound, you don't have to be rich......just patient and educated.

    Hell, I can't even afford a mahageny pipe. ;)

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited October 2005
    lanion wrote:
    If you have a less-expensive reciever, which pretty much everyone has at somepoint, and you are totally satisfied with its performance, there's no reason to spend more. I want more power though, I'm just poor.

    Fair enough.... :)

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited October 2005
    Troy is right.. getting good or better sound than what you have now doesn't all come down to how much money you can throw at equipment at all. I'm sure there are some high cost components or speakers (Bose) that don't sound like what they cost. lol

    I've only purchased in the last 6 yrs three new items for three different stereo rigs and home theater. 1 being my receiver, 2 the TV, and 3 the DVD player. Everything else is used.. the amps, CDP, DAC, tuner, pre, more amps, another silver faces Pioneer tuner, and a few more mono block amps. and it was all pretty inexpensive.

    And in case you're wondering. no it doesn't sound like **** either. :p
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited October 2005
    Lanion if it sounds good to you then i wouldn't sweat the amp. I can't speak for everyone else, but I would love to have your receiver, and if i had an entire setup of lsi7's (not 9's or lsic)- I would have no reservations whatsoever in letting my h/k run them, and it's not as nice as yours.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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