High/Low power amplifier or receiver

muncybob
muncybob Posts: 3,135
edited November 2008 in Electronics
I see many references to low and high power amps....just what criteria determines if an amp is high power...or low for that matter?:confused:
Yep, my name really is Bob.
Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
Post edited by muncybob on
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited November 2008
    Like everything else in audio, it's purely subjective...
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited November 2008
    This content has been removed.
  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited November 2008
    my guess is that anything under a 100wpc is low powered... but amp ratings can be very misleading. Most of the companies now rate their equipment with two channels being driven when tested. For example, Sony nominally rates their receivers 100-120wpc with two channels driven. When driving all seven channels, they drop to about 30-45 watss which is a big 6dB loss in volume.

    Conversely, Onkyo rates their top tier receivers at ~120-140wpc with two channels driven. Reviews shows that the receivers can still deliver a considerable 100-120wpc when all channels are driven.

    The difference here is that the Sony does not have a power supply big enough to supply the current required to maintain the power output. The Onkyo OTOH has a large power supply which is quite powerful. It shows up in the weight of the receiver, Sonys weigh in at about 30-40lbs, and the Onkyo weighs about 45-55 lbs. Opening them up reveals the Onkyo has huge power transformers compared to the Sonys.

    So if you are looking for a powerful receiver, do your research and see how the units are reviewed at A/V sites.
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  • curved
    curved Posts: 664
    edited November 2008
    Kex wrote: »
    Do you mean "high power" or "high current"?

    I'm sure that's what he meant to say.....
    Living Room:....................[HTML] [/HTML] Zone 2 (Workout Room):
    AVR - Yamaha RX-V757......JBL 4312 Pro Monitors
    Pre - Nak CA-5
    AMP - Adcom 555 (Main)
    Main - Polk RTI8**/RTiA5
    AMP - Adcom 545II (Center)
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    CD - Yamaha CDC-555.......Def Tech AW5500
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    BR - LG BD390
    Monster HTS1600 Power Center
    Dedicated Circuit - (2) 20amp, (1) 15amp
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,265
    edited November 2008
    The Pioneer SX-34/SX-34B(aka Allied 333 and Knight 333) 6BM8 push-pull stereo receiver (at about 8 watts continuous per channel) would qualify as low-powered. Not a bad little receiver, though, attractive and relatively inexpensive on the used market.

    sx34b.jpg

    The Sansui 221 solid state stereo receiver was also 8 wpc:

    warehousesoundbotl2.jpg


    on the other hand...


    A Pioneer SX-1980 solid state receiver would qualify as high-powered at 270 watts continuous per channel into 8 ohms).

    SX-1980p1.jpg

    The winner of the 1970s (i.e., FTC-power-spec-era) power wars, though, was the Technics SA-1000 at 330 continuous watts per channel into 8 ohms.

    scan0002.jpg

    In between there was ahem the Marantz 2600 at 300 watts per...

    scan0011.jpg
    That's pretty much the gamut :-)
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,135
    edited November 2008
    High current is what I meant...sorry!
    Those oldies brought back some memories!
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
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  • apphd
    apphd Posts: 1,514
    edited November 2008
    mhardy,
    Boy that did bring back some memories.:p I had a Technics SA1010 (early 80's) only 120wpc but it did sound nice and could run MM and MC cartridges on a switchable phono input. Overall build quality wasn't all that great but it was my first real "high end" receiver. That's gone but I still have the speakers I bought to go with it. Genesis Physics 320's they're sitting in a spare room with replacement surrounds waiting for me to get time to replace them.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,265
    edited November 2008
    muncybob wrote: »
    High current is what I meant...sorry!
    Those oldies brought back some memories!

    oh. nevermind. :-)
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  • John30_30
    John30_30 Posts: 1,024
    edited November 2008
    mhardy6647 wrote: »

    In between there was ahem the Marantz 2600 at 300 watts per...

    scan0011.jpg
    That's pretty much the gamut :-)

    Dear God, that Marantz wrapped with padauk is schweet. Doesn't even look like they oiled it or anything.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,265
    edited November 2008
    It's a monstrosity. They're known to have somewhat undersized power transformers, unfortunately.
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