amplifier question

Knucklehead
Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
edited December 2009 in Electronics
I am currently deciding on wether or not to upgrade to an external 5 channel amp. I was reading online somewhere over the weekend that when you double your power to your speakers you only gain 2db. Is this true?
Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
Mirage PS-12
LG BDP-550
Motorola HD FIOS DVR
Panasonic 42" Plasma
XBOX 360[/SIZE]

Office stuff

Allied 395 receiver
Pioneer CDP PD-M430
RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]

Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan
Post edited by Knucklehead on
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited December 2009
    It's like 2 or 3db.

    When you're upgrading your amps, it's not necessarily to gain volume. It's to gain clarity at those higher volumes, since you'll have a ton more headroom, when compared to MOST AVRs.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited December 2009
    Knucklehead wrote: »
    I am currently deciding on wether or not to upgrade to an external 5 channel amp. I was reading online somewhere over the weekend that when you double your power to your speakers you only gain 2db. Is this true?

    3db iirc.
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited December 2009
    Thanks Freddy, Im wondering with my modest main speakers if I would gain much clarity than what my Pioneer is able to do.
    Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
    Mirage PS-12
    LG BDP-550
    Motorola HD FIOS DVR
    Panasonic 42" Plasma
    XBOX 360[/SIZE]

    Office stuff

    Allied 395 receiver
    Pioneer CDP PD-M430
    RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]

    Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,549
    edited December 2009
    yes... It will, and you will be asking yourself why you didn't do it sooner. I would suggest however, starting upgrading the mains first, because I am unsertain about how well they will handle the extra power.
    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
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited December 2009
    Thanks nooshinjohn, making my decision a little easier. I just didnt want to dump a bunch of money into an amp if I really should be looking at my mains first.
    Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
    Mirage PS-12
    LG BDP-550
    Motorola HD FIOS DVR
    Panasonic 42" Plasma
    XBOX 360[/SIZE]

    Office stuff

    Allied 395 receiver
    Pioneer CDP PD-M430
    RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]

    Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan
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  • Jed Leland
    Jed Leland Posts: 183
    edited December 2009
    Hello,
    Decibels are easy ways to compare two voltage or power ratios. When comparing two power levels, divide the smaller one by the larger. Then take that result and determine the logarithm of this. Then multiply that by 10 and you have the dB result. For example going from 100 to 200 Watts would be 100 divided by 200 which is .5, the log of that is 0.301 and 10 times that gives 3.01dB. A power difference expressed in dB. For voltage comparisons do the same thing, except multiply the log by 20 instead of 10.
    Cheers, Ken
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited December 2009
    R50s can handle some power... i threw a lot at mine. That said, they never sounded AMAZING.

    But, they do seem to be the weak point of your system. Your Pioneer isn't real weak, i'd upgrade them first.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited December 2009
    Thanks Jed....concealer, what should I upgrade to? Sorry for so many questions guys...im still learning for sure!
    Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
    Mirage PS-12
    LG BDP-550
    Motorola HD FIOS DVR
    Panasonic 42" Plasma
    XBOX 360[/SIZE]

    Office stuff

    Allied 395 receiver
    Pioneer CDP PD-M430
    RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]

    Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan
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  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited December 2009
    Knucklehead wrote: »
    Thanks Jed....concealer, what should I upgrade to? Sorry for so many questions guys...im still learning for sure!

    Seeing as how you've got a real nice center channel there, I'd recommend looking for something used on CL.....RT/LS series ;)

    There's the pair of RT1000i's up for karma, and the RT1000p's I've got for sale but you're a bit far from us unfortunately. Those would match perfectly with the 350 seeing as how they use the same tri-laminate dome tweeter. You can also look into RT55's, 600's, 800's, 1000's, 20p's, 3000's or LS50's, 70's, and 90's.

    If you want something that'll perform equally well for music and HT, check out the LS' series. I haven't heard them personally but alot of people use LS speakers for 2 channel listening.

    -Freddy
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited December 2009
    awesome, freakin craigslist here is killing me, hasnt been anything on here in awhile.
    Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
    Mirage PS-12
    LG BDP-550
    Motorola HD FIOS DVR
    Panasonic 42" Plasma
    XBOX 360[/SIZE]

    Office stuff

    Allied 395 receiver
    Pioneer CDP PD-M430
    RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]

    Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan
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  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited December 2009
    Knucklehead wrote: »
    awesome, freakin craigslist here is killing me, hasnt been anything on here in awhile.

    Have you seen my 2 threads regarding bookshelves/speakers I'm looking to buying? Trust me CL, audiogon, AND ebay aren't helping me at all.
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
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  • thuffman03
    thuffman03 Posts: 1,325
    edited December 2009
    I thought it was 10 times the power to double the volume. Not an EE but that is what I think it is.
    Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited December 2009
    Knucklehead wrote: »
    Thanks Jed....concealer, what should I upgrade to? Sorry for so many questions guys...im still learning for sure!

    I snorted Mt. Dew all over my monitor. ;)

    Freddy has you covered on that question. :) I was just running mine in two channel, and everything i've tried since then has been an upgrade. But in your case, you should match that center.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited December 2009
    3db is precived as twice as loud.
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited December 2009
    The LS's will match that center best. Look for some LS90's. They are easy to drive and will work fine with your receiver until you can get some power to throw at them. Good Luck!
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited December 2009
    thuffman03 wrote: »
    I thought it was 10 times the power to double the volume. Not an EE but that is what I think it is.

    It takes ten times the power to gain 10 dbs.
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited December 2009
    concealer404 wrote: »
    I snorted Mt. Dew all over my monitor. ;)

    Freddy has you covered on that question. :) I was just running mine in two channel, and everything i've tried since then has been an upgrade. But in your case, you should match that center.

    Sorry bout that, my Virginia etiquitte sometimes shines through. :D
    Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
    Mirage PS-12
    LG BDP-550
    Motorola HD FIOS DVR
    Panasonic 42" Plasma
    XBOX 360[/SIZE]

    Office stuff

    Allied 395 receiver
    Pioneer CDP PD-M430
    RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]

    Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter