I have Onkyo TX-SR607 with 4x Rti8, Csi5, PSW505. Do I need an amplifier?

ahtze

I have Onkyo TX-SR607 with 4x Rti8, Csi5, PSW505. Do I need an amplifier?

What will the amplifier do? Just louder or it will produce clearer sound?

rallyshark

Although, I haven't put into practice yet, I believe separates will almost always provide an improvement. It's not so much a loudness issue as it is a sound issue I believe. Separates will give you much better dynamics, and headroom from what I understand. It will allow you speakers to play louder due to less distortion and amp clipping in most cases. I sure someone can describe better than I though:)

wutadumsn23

xcapri is right, your 607 lacks the necessary pre outs that are required to run an external amp. I would also agree that adding an amp will provide an improvement, mostly in music though. If you really want to add an amp, you will have to upgrade your AVR first.

-Jeff

lmacmil

ahtze wrote: »

I have Onkyo TX-SR607 with 4x Rti8, Csi5, PSW505. Do I need an amplifier?

What will the amplifier do? Just louder or it will produce clearer sound?

I'm going to provide a dissenting view. If this amps gives you the volume you desire without distortion, then another amplifier driving the front speakers is not going to do much except let you get even higher volumes. However, if you are driving the SR607 amp into clipping, i.e., exceeding its power rating, and are hearing harshness (caused by distortion), then a separate amp will help.

cfrizz

It has NOTHING to do with loudness & everything to do with clarity. Receivers are not really capable of putting out the power that they claim that they do & tests have proven it.

Here is a test bench review from Sound & Vision done on the 605. The results would probably be similar for the 607.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/receivers/2632/test-bench-onkyo-tx-sr605-av-receiver.html

The main benefit of separate amps is that it allows speakers to operate to their full potential.

mystik610

lmacmil wrote: »

I'm going to provide a dissenting view. If this amps gives you the volume you desire without distortion, then another amplifier driving the front speakers is not going to do much except let you get even higher volumes. However, if you are driving the SR607 amp into clipping, i.e., exceeding its power rating, and are hearing harshness (caused by distortion), then a separate amp will help.

Wrong.

Its all about improved dynamic range, not loudness. The extra wattage gives you more headroom and allows the speakers to play with much more detail across all volume levels. Your speakers will not articulate as well when your amp is being pushed to its limits to handle peaks in the soundtrack.

I was running my RTi8's through an Onkyo 606 at one point, and eventually upgraded to a 706 and added a separate amp. Once I added the amp the mid-range finally filled out the way I like it to. The mid-bass hits hard, the brightness of the tweeter balances better and is tamed by the mid-range drivers, and the whole sound-stage just sounds much fuller. You honestly notice the benefits of adding an amp more with softer scenes, as subtle details in the mid-range are brought to life without being needlessly loud.

lmacmil

mystik610 wrote: »

Its all about improved dynamic range, not loudness. The extra wattage gives you more headroom and allows the speakers to play with much more detail across all volume levels.

That's totally ridiculous. I agree that extra wattage will provide more headroom if higher volume is needed but if an amp isn't driven into clipping, then having more power isn't going to provide any benefits. If only 30 watts are needed for a particular volume level, then a 60 watt or a 600 watt amp isn't going to sound any different. It's simple physics.

concealer404

lmacmil wrote: »

That's totally ridiculous. I agree that extra wattage will provide more headroom if higher volume is needed but if an amp isn't driven into clipping, then having more power isn't going to provide any benefits. If only 30 watts are needed for a particular volume level, then a 60 watt or a 600 watt amp isn't going to sound any different. It's simple physics.

Are you someone who believes that all amps sound the same as long as the wpc is the same?

Guess i wasted my money on my amp.

mhmacw

ahtze wrote: »

I have Onkyo TX-SR607 with 4x Rti8, Csi5, PSW505. Do I need an amplifier?

What will the amplifier do? Just louder or it will produce clearer sound?

both. if you want loud it will give you a boost in power but if you listen at low to moderate levels it will greatly increase your dymnamics and clarity. do you need one? i dont know but i sure like mine lol.

mystik610

lmacmil wrote: »

That's totally ridiculous. I agree that extra wattage will provide more headroom if higher volume is needed but if an amp isn't driven into clipping, then having more power isn't going to provide any benefits. If only 30 watts are needed for a particular volume level, then a 60 watt or a 600 watt amp isn't going to sound any different. It's simple physics.

If you think that/s totally ridiculous then you obviously don't know a whole lot.

mystik610

xcapri79 wrote: »

There is much more to amplifier performance than just simple watts output!
A light bulb has watts output too and doesn't sound so good does it?

You need to consider its steady state and peak power output capability, bandwidth, linear frequency response, harmonic distortion, intermodulation distortion, signal to noise ratio, slew rate, damping factor, input sensitivity, and speaker impedance capability among other things.
All amps do not sound the same because those parameters are not the same!

Exactly.

drmosh

I would say the RTi8's are about in the range for the 607, the low end Onkyos tend to have weak amps in them, but again you don't have pre-outs so yer stuck.

halo71

lmacmil wrote: »

If this amps gives you the volume you desire without distortion, then another amplifier driving the front speakers is not going to do much except let you get even higher volumes.

lmacmil wrote:

If only 30 watts are needed for a particular volume level, then a 60 watt or a 600 watt amp isn't going to sound any different. It's simple physics.

All I can say is WOW! :rolleyes:

So from your reasoning, a 50 wpc amp and a 100 wpc amp will sound no different when played at the same volume level right? Even though the more powerful amp is built with high quality parts and the lower powered amp is built with the cheapest parts available? If thats true I think I got ripped off when I bought my Integra m504.

cfrizz

lmacmil wrote: »

That's totally ridiculous. I agree that extra wattage will provide more headroom if higher volume is needed but if an amp isn't driven into clipping, then having more power isn't going to provide any benefits. If only 30 watts are needed for a particular volume level, then a 60 watt or a 600 watt amp isn't going to sound any different. It's simple physics.

Please go here: www.audioholics.com You will fit in with that crowd perfectly!:D

BAD ASP

cfrizz wrote: »

Please go here: www.audioholics.com You will fit in with that crowd perfectly!:D

It can be amusing when one asks a question and then presumes to remark that someones earnest response is ridiculous. In fact if it is ridiculous then there really is no such thing as an improvement in the sound quality between any amps operating nominally at 30 wpc.In lmacmil world there can be no perceived improvement in SQ between an inexpensive all in one compared to the most expensive tube separates as long as they are operating nominally. I suspect the question was rhetorical and we really have nothing to share.

tonyb

xcapri79 wrote: »

There is much more to amplifier performance than just simple watts output!
A light bulb has watts output too and doesn't sound so good does it?

You need to consider its steady state and peak power output capability, bandwidth, linear frequency response, harmonic distortion, intermodulation distortion, signal to noise ratio, slew rate, damping factor, input sensitivity, and speaker impedance capability among other things.
All amps do not sound the same because those parameters are not the same!

Very well put, my man. Nice to see some still get it.:)

hand-filer

lmacmil wrote: »

That's totally ridiculous. I agree that extra wattage will provide more headroom if higher volume is needed but if an amp isn't driven into clipping, then having more power isn't going to provide any benefits. If only 30 watts are needed for a particular volume level, then a 60 watt or a 600 watt amp isn't going to sound any different. It's simple physics.

Geez, I just wasted a pile of money on my Emo's if what you say is true. Simple physics?:D