Amp question

Vette C6.r
Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
edited April 2009 in Electronics
After hearing several praises about external amps I am really considering a Carver amp. ( possibly the A-500 )

My question is by using the HT receiver, I have a Pioneer, does it completly bypass the power of the receiver or does it piggyback the power.

For example it the receiver as 100 wpc and the amp has 100 wpc do I effectivly now have 200 wpc. Is this correct thinking or does it use only a portion of the receiver power.

Thanks
Post edited by Vette C6.r on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,548
    edited April 2009
    no... once you tap the preouts on the reciever to the extenal amp, the amp takes over and drives the speakers, so whatever the amp is powerwise, it is. I would actually go after the TFM-35/45/55 instead of the A series personally, but thats just me. Good luck in your quest
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2009
    When you use an external amp you wire your speakers to it and use the pre-outs on your receiver to output the signal to the AMPLIFICATION in the external amp (the Carver), you don't add Pioneer watts to Carver watts. The receiver functions only as a pre-amp and processor, your power would come from the Carver. N..John is the man on Carver recommendations....I'd go with what he says...

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited April 2009
    The amp bypasses the internal amps so you just have 100wpc from the separate amp.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,548
    edited April 2009
    cnh wrote: »
    When you use an external amp you wire your speakers to it and use the pre-outs on your receiver to output the signal to the AMPLIFICATION in the external amp (the Carver), you don't add Pioneer watts to Carver watts. The receiver functions only as a pre-amp and processor, your power would come from the Carver. N..John is the man on Carver recommendations....I'd go with what he says...

    cnh

    There are other Carverites that know far more than I, but thanks for the support. I do know that a lot of them on this forum use the series that I recommended.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2009
    Thanks for the info guys.

    Any ideas on why the TFM series Carver's are better than the others.

    BTW can someone explain exactly what headroom is in reference to amps.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,068
    edited April 2009
    I believe that headroom refers to WPC. The higher the available WPC, the more headroom in the amp. BTW, I went from an 80WPC AVR to using the AVR as a pre with a 150WPC Adcom separate amp and the difference is night and day.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited April 2009
    I'm sure there are some that can give a better definition but headroom is the difference in clean power between what your speakers are utilizing (at a give volume) and the total that the amp or receiver can deliver upon demand. First think "real watts" and not manufacturer's advertised watts. It should also be watts delivered at an acceptable distortion level.

    Headroom is that "reserve" power that lets the amp or receiver comfortably respond to peaks in music or soundtracks and the varying resistance load of the speakers.
    Sony 60'' SXRD 1080p
    Amp = Carver AV-705THX 5-Channel
    Processor = NAD T747
    Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray
    Main = SDA-1C Studio with RD0s, spikes, XO rebuild, rings, I/C upgrade
    Center=Polk CS10, Surround = Athena Dipoles, Sub= Boston 12HO
    Music/Video Streaming = Netgear NEO550
    TT = Audio Technica
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter