Too Much Power for LSi-15?

TRINADS

I'm currently looking for an amplifier to power my LSi-15 fronts, and one for the LSiC center, they are currently powered by my Pio Elite 82TX amp, I want an amp that sounds good but won't kill my wallet, I really don't have a specific price range, anyway, my real question is, is that the LSi15 is rated @ 4ohm @ 250w, and the center is at 200w, do I have to buy an amp that is rated at those specifications, or can I get an amp that is rated way above the specs? Like a 500wpc amp @ 4ohms, is that too much power? Will it blow the speakers or sound really good? Any recommendations on which amps I should consider? Thanks for the help!!

Early B.

Don't worry about the high wattage rating on an amp blowing your speakers. All other things being equal, more is better. Your ears will likely give out long before the speakers will.

Grimster74

It is better to overpower your speakers than to underpower your speakers. They are many amplifiers out there to choose from but I would start in the area of Outlaw audio, Rotel, Adcom just to name a few. Check Audiogon as well, you may be able to find a used amplifier for a pretty decent price. Welcome to the forum by the way.

Rob

Hawkeye

Low power amps will do more damage to a speaker than a high power amp. Low power amps run out of steam when pushed and will clip, potentially damaging your speakers. I'm running 500 watt mono amps into my speakers which are rated for 250. My normal listening level is about 5-7 watts which equates to about 75-80db @ 11 feet. When pushed over 50, I notice no distress to any gear except the room starts to load up and get congested.

500 watts of clean, honest power is a delight and would serve you well.

Gordon

devani

there's no such thing as too much **** and too much power....more the better

Face

Hawkeye wrote: »

Low power amps will do more damage to a speaker than a high power amp. Low power amps run out of steam when pushed and will clip, potentially damaging your speakers. I'm running 500 watt mono amps into my speakers which are rated for 250. My normal listening level is about 5-7 watts which equates to about 75-80db @ 11 feet. When pushed over 50, I notice no distress to any gear except the room starts to load up and get congested.

500 watts of clean, honest power is a delight and would serve you well.

Gordon

Gordon, those amps are probably putting down about 600 watts each on the bench.


I agree with the others. It's better to have some headroom, than run out of steam. I'm using a 270wpc amp for a pair of speakers than can only handle 85 watts.

McLoki

I am currently running the exact senario you are talking about. (500wpc into LSi15,C and 7's) It sounds great at all volumes.

Best advice I can give (regardless of budget) is purchase used. You will get a much better bang for the buck that way.

There are lots of great amps out there - what's your budget and how many channels are you looking to run?

TRINADS

I want to power the pair of LSi 15's and the Center channel. So you're not worried about pushing too much power to the speakers? My concern is that they are rated at 250w, is it safe? I plan on purchasing used equipment, I didn't want to spend more than a thousand, give or take a few hundred.

Hawkeye

What is it that your worried about?

Mcloki has an identical set up that your considering. Mine is not, but my amps bench test at 720 watts @ 8 ohms and 1000 @ 4. I would rather have more, not less power. I'd be willing to bet your ears will give out before you hit 250 watts for an extended period. You'll be fine.

Gordon

McLoki

The ratings are continuous, they can handle short term peaks much higher than their rated content.

With that being said, I was able to push the 7's to far. When the soundstage starts to collapse, turn it down. (I never hurt my 7's, but when I had them as mains, I did push them to max once.)

With 15's, I have never had that issue. (I do still have 7's as rears, but they do not get enough sustained power to cause an issue.)

The speakers will absorb the power with no problem, you start having issue when those short term peaks are clipped because the amp runs out of power. That is what blows the speakers.

You will be fine.

Michael

Sherardp

3 Channel D-sonic amp would be cool, hence the term Icepower.

TRINADS

I greatly appreciate the response, it's good to know that I can a higher powered amp without any issues. That actually gives me such a better option of different amps than i was thinking that I was limited to 250watts. Anyway, my set up is a Pio Elite I believe VSX82TSX, with LSi15's for fronts, LSiC center, and 2 pairs of FXiA4 surrounds for the 7.1 set up, my sub is a weak PSW110, anyway, if I run separate amps for the fronts and center, do you think that the Pio Elite is enough to power the surrounds? I really didn't want to have to get more amplifiers for the surrounds, I was hoping that the Pio would be ample enough for them.

engtaz

Grimster74 wrote: »

It is better to overpower your speakers than to underpower your speakers. Rob

You will have a better chance of hurting your speakers with a under powered amp then will a over powered amp because a under powered amp will start clipping and damage the speaker. +1 Rob

engtaz

McLoki

TRINADS wrote: »

if I run separate amps for the fronts and center, do you think that the Pio Elite is enough to power the surrounds? I really didn't want to have to get more amplifiers for the surrounds, I was hoping that the Pio would be ample enough for them.

Yep - since you have an AVR anyway, I would just get a decent 3 channel amp to run your fronts with. Something like this would work well and keep the cost pretty reasonable...

Michael

cfrizz

Just be warned that once you get the 3 front amped, sooner or later you are going to want all of your speakers amped!

Been there, done that, & so have many others on here!:eek::D

Welcome to Club Polk!

lanion

THE POWER! ITS OVER 9000!!!!!!

don't worry about it.