Wattage and watts per channel
aps1ngh
Posts: 36
I've been doing a lot of reading on this forum and many others over the course of the last few weeks and a reoccurring statement I hear is the quality of wattage versus the quantity.
Before I moved to my new apartment, I had my used rt800i's wired to the lowest end Yamaha a/v receiver model from 3-4 years ago (my old roommates) and it was rated at 110 watts x 5 channels. The receiver was cheap (~$150 dollars refurbished) and the speakers sounded pretty decent at this setup. They did sound rather cold and I'm sure much better sound quality would be had with a better setup.
I am considering buying this NAD C352:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57211
The integrated amp in question has a rated 80 watts x 2 channels.
I'm very inexperienced with owning decent home speaker audio equipment (other than nice headphones) but I know what I like to hear and I've demo'ed different setups here and there at audio stores and retail stores from time to time so instead of completely cheaping out I'm considering dropping some serious cash (I'm a college student) to buy this integrated amp.
To the point:
The impressions I've gotten is that from a high end audio company like NAD, I can expect a lot more sound quality and even volume from this integrated amp even though it's rated at a lower wattage because it is a much higher quality device.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Before I moved to my new apartment, I had my used rt800i's wired to the lowest end Yamaha a/v receiver model from 3-4 years ago (my old roommates) and it was rated at 110 watts x 5 channels. The receiver was cheap (~$150 dollars refurbished) and the speakers sounded pretty decent at this setup. They did sound rather cold and I'm sure much better sound quality would be had with a better setup.
I am considering buying this NAD C352:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57211
The integrated amp in question has a rated 80 watts x 2 channels.
I'm very inexperienced with owning decent home speaker audio equipment (other than nice headphones) but I know what I like to hear and I've demo'ed different setups here and there at audio stores and retail stores from time to time so instead of completely cheaping out I'm considering dropping some serious cash (I'm a college student) to buy this integrated amp.
To the point:
The impressions I've gotten is that from a high end audio company like NAD, I can expect a lot more sound quality and even volume from this integrated amp even though it's rated at a lower wattage because it is a much higher quality device.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Post edited by aps1ngh on
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that NAD integrated amp will push your RT800i speakers just fine.... and yes your thinking is correct.PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
absolutely...quality over quantity, all things being equal.
People get WAY too wrapped around the axle in wpc ratings. Consider this: to get a 3db increase in volume, you need to double the power. So the difference between 80 and 100 wpc is negligible.
50wpc and a couple db of headroom is more power than most applications would ever require.
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
Most of my listening is done under 3 wpc."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Does the same hold true in the the car audio industry or with subwoofers as well? I feel as if no (from personal experience) and also because of the different types of amplification (Class D vs A and B etc.). I'm not an electrical engineer, so my knowledge of resistance and electrical powered devices is very limited.
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To the point:
The impressions I've gotten is that from a high end audio company like NAD, I can expect a lot more sound quality and even volume from this integrated amp even though it's rated at a lower wattage because it is a much higher quality device.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
What happens with the higher end company is that they will underrate their power output, distortion, and other ratings. Also, they like to overbuild their products a bit more. So with a NAD, you'll get a lot more power that stated, and its a more robust product. Yammie, on the other hand, will almost lie with some of their ratings and will build a product to meet a price, not a quality level.Brian Knauss
ex-Electrical Engineer for Polk -
What happens with the higher end company is that they will underrate their power output, distortion, and other ratings. Also, they like to overbuild their products a bit more. So with a NAD, you'll get a lot more power that stated, and its a more robust product. Yammie, on the other hand, will almost lie with some of their ratings and will build a product to meet a price, not a quality level.
Wait a minute, so a 7.1 receiver that does 130 wpc and weighes about 5 pounds is lying to me? Who would have known....
(insert sarcasm here) -
AFAIK, there are still Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations, first promulgated in 1974, that relate to power claims for two-channel (stereo) home hi-fidelity equipment. There are (again AFAIK) still no such regulations in effect for multichannel/home theatre equipment, nor for car audio.
My everyday amp is a class AB, pentode-mode push-pull EL84 stereo integrated tube amp (EICO HF-81) which is capable of about 14 watts per channel at a reasonable distortion level and power bandwidth. Plenty for me with the speakers I use.
These AK threads might be of interest(?)
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=124114&highlight=watts
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=122481&highlight=watts -
Yammie may not be lying,but their ratings will most likely be based on driving an 8 ohm resistor.When you hook up a real speaker it certainly does not present a pure 8 ohm load so the rating is not realistic.On the otherhand as you mention NAD rate their products conservatively and are usually capable of driving a 4 ohm load.Yammie other hand, will almost lie with some of their ratings and will build a product to meet a price, not a quality level.Testing
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NAD is fine company and you should enjoy your gear no matter what it is, however, you are thinking correctly about the amperage or current supply being a part of the equation of any fine audio system.
RT1 -
reeltrouble1 wrote: »NAD is fine company and you should enjoy your gear no matter what it is, however, you are thinking correctly about the amperage or current supply being a part of the equation of any fine audio system.
RT1
I was going to say something along those lines. With your NAD, you will be getting high current amperage.
I had yamaharxv540 rated at 80wpc. My hk335 is 50 or 55wpc. the HK blew the yam out of the water. I think it's partially due to better parts as well s the high current 35amps. -
Yammie may not be lying,but their ratings will most likely be based on driving an 8 ohm resistor.When you hook up a real speaker it certainly does not present a pure 8 ohm load so the rating is not realistic.On the otherhand as you mention NAD rate their products conservatively and are usually capable of driving a 4 ohm load.
Well, Yammie doesn't technically lie. What they do is measure the receiver in stereo mode. They then take that power output and put "x5" or "x7" on the end of it. The receiver could never ever perform with that much power. Now you take a brand like NAD or Adcom, and they will hit those stated numbers and most likely do a good percentage more.Brian Knauss
ex-Electrical Engineer for Polk -
mhardy6647 wrote: »AFAIK, there are still Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations, first promulgated in 1974, that relate to power claims for two-channel (stereo) home hi-fidelity equipment. There are (again AFAIK) still no such regulations in effect for multichannel/home theatre equipment, nor for car audio.
My everyday amp is a class AB, pentode-mode push-pull EL84 stereo integrated tube amp (EICO HF-81) which is capable of about 14 watts per channel at a reasonable distortion level and power bandwidth. Plenty for me with the speakers I use.
These AK threads might be of interest(?)
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=124114&highlight=watts
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=122481&highlight=watts
There are a ton of loopholes in that, especially when you apply it to multichannel receivers. But that is what Yammie is doing more or less (among other companies. I don't have it out for them). They do the FTC rating for stereo, and then add how many channels are on the receiver.
But like most things in life, pay the money for the good stuff. Its worth it in the end.Brian Knauss
ex-Electrical Engineer for Polk -
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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Which is precisely what I meant when I said NAD rate their products conservatively, so we are in agreement:)Now you take a brand like NAD or Adcom, and they will hit those stated numbers and most likely do a good percentage more.Testing
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