Am I going to blow a fuse?

dane_peterson · February 2007

Since I live in an apartment, I don't have the flexibility to rewire, make dedicated power lines, etc. I just sold my DefTech towers today to make the switch to LSis.

My question... will running a 200x5 amplifier cause me to blow a fuse? I know those things take a lot of juice... I don't want to make an investment that's only going to hinder my experience.

Would I be better off just holding off on the amp until I get my own place?

Sometimes I wish this bug hadn't bitten me... I'd be better off putting my money to more useful things, and get some satellite system or something. But I just love this stuff too much. $:\$

Willow · February 2007

Well on the same plug I run:
1 Outlaw monoblock 200wpc
2 Marantz monoblocks 200wpc
HK 335
LG LCDTV
LG dvd
Marantz DVD
Xbox
HD cable box
and my Energy s10.2 sub 150WPC (RMS)

all plugged into my panamax 1000+ and have not blown a fuse.

Does that help ?

dane_peterson · February 2007

Yes, it definitely does. I'm at about that... at least this time I won't have 3 speakers plugged into the source for their powered amps. Maybe I'll be okay...

Ricardo · February 2007

As Willow says, you should be ok; at normal listening levels an amp consumes just a fraction of it's wattage ratings.

heiney9 · February 2007

Nope, not in and of itself. 200x5 amp isn't going to draw anywhere near the continuous current to have issues. That being said if you have many devices plugged into one outlet which is on one circuit that could cause problems.

H9

dane_peterson · February 2007

Thanks for the help, guys. Sounds like I'll be okay, and when I get my own place, I'll have to equipment to be able to crank it up.

Monster Jam · February 2007

Your neighbors hate you, dont they dane?

What LSi speakers are you looking at - LSi15 or LSi25, seeing that you've coming from DefTech towers? Also, what prompted you to switch?

dane_peterson · February 2007

So far, no complaints. I have a very friendly couple next door that are rarely home, and below me are what I'm thinking are drug dealers, and are most likely too high to notice or care. To be honest, I only like to turn it up a little bit when we have guests over for a weeked evening or something. Otherwise I'm probably watching The Office... no need to crank it up then.

I'm actually considering getting LSi9s. Part of the switch was my disappointment in the sound with the placement I was restricted to on the towers. The subs just didn't sound very good. It would be nice to have a little more control of sub placement w/ a separate. I also felt that there wasn't a very significant dynamic range, which led me to desiring an amplifier. Don't get me wrong, the DefTechs produce an enormous soundstage (maybe a little too big for my space) but the action sequences didn't feel that much more intense than the dialogue.

Another reason for the switch is we live on the 3rd floor of a 3-story townhome-style apartment complex. Hauling those towers up and down stairs was NOT fun. (That's not to say I wouldn't get LSi15s if I found a good deal...) What I make up from selling my DefTechs should land me a decent bookshelf LSi setup, and a little left over for an amp.

Additionally, we finally ditched the black futon and got real furniture. I'm trying to make the move from a 'pimped out dorm room' look, to more of an 'upper-class suburban home' environment. The LSis add a little maturity to the setup.

unc2701 · February 2007

It might take a few tries to get the caps charged. After that you'll be fine unless you leave it off for a long time or crank it. My bryston, plus the amps in the LSi25's (and the TT, pre and overhead light) were enough to pop a 15a breaker pretty regularly, but once I got the 25's on another breaker, it was fine.

Once you get in a house, you'll want to pull a dedicated 20a line, but you're fine for now.

Monster Jam · February 2007

Dane, did you mention which 200 x 5 amp you were eyeing? I've got my eyes on the Gemstone....maybe as early as a month.

dane_peterson · February 2007

I'm really trying to stay in the sub-$1000 category, so it's down to an Adcom (which I'd rather not, because the styling just doesn't compliment the rest of my system), a Sunfire Cinema Grand (ideal as it has an updated look and consistently sells for ~$950) or maybe a Rotel RMB1075/1095. I've heard that the 1075 really doesn't put out enough juice for LSis, so I'd have to find a killer deal on the '95. I'd also consider an Outlaw, but they're near impossible to find. As soon as they hit the market, they're sold.

SKsolutions · February 2007

dane_peterson wrote:

My question... will running a 200x5 amplifier cause me to blow a fuse? I know those things take a lot of juice... I don't want to make an investment that's only going to hinder my experience

That's not a ton of juice when compared to many appliances. You can add a couple of hundred to the 1000W you may be able to push, and come up with your max consumption. A hairdryer can be 1800W. So, unless you are plugging your power hungry, current demanding gear into the same circuit you will be OK. In city-living old apartments, I've run a heavy extension cord to another room, so that hopefully the outlet would be on a different circuit.

I'm still trying to build that fusion reactor in the basement, but until then, I have to pay the electron mafia.

Am I going to blow a fuse?

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