power is more allways better?

goingganzo

i have a quick queston i was bored so i did some serching on all the adcom amps i like. the 7 channel 125 wpc and the 7 channel 300 wpc. if i get the 125 i can get it next month but if i want the 300 wpc i have to wait a little longer.


so should i get the 125 wpc amp or the 300 wpc amp? and do i realey need the 300wpc?

burdette

A "quick" question about power needs? Ha ha ha hahahahaha.

Take this from the cheap, law-of-diminishing returns, no need for overkill perspective that I hold...

First, not all watts are created equal. From what I've heard the guys hear say about Adcom amps, my impression is that the power is generally quality, i.e. at 125 per you are actually getting 125 per. I can't imagine very many real-world situations where that wouldn't be MORE than sufficient unless you're running extremely INsensitive speakers. But of course if you tend to blast the volume a lot, the 300 would give you more cushion... and of course there is always the **** factor of simply being able to say you're running 300 instead of a measly 125.

What is the price difference? I think that would be a big factor for me, even the cheap-**** that I am. If the price is proportionately higher, I don't see the need. But given that the 300 *would* give you at least a 3dB gain overall.... seems to really come down to what you're going to ask the amp to do.

Dr. Spec

Agreed - if you are running the speaks on small and letting a separate amp handle the bass chores, then 125x7 is more than enough power for any high passed speaker for music or HT.

If you were running say RTi150s all around on full range, I'd say yes - go with 300.

Since you are packing a solid 1,000+ watts to your sub ala Samson S1000, I say go for the 125.

Doc

polkatese

burdette and Dr. Spec are right on! I went through the same rationalizing process recently, trying to decide between a 185 watts (@4 ohms) and 300 watts (@4 ohms) to drive my LSI. At the end, I decided that there is no reason for me to go with the overkill, since other factors that I need to consider (location, heat dissipation, etc.) would give me a bigger problem. And I am glad going with the smaller one, since it has ample of current to power my speakers (set all to small except front along with a sub), just like the doctor has prescribed!

wlrandall

I think it depends on your listening habits. If you like it painfully loud, as I do sometimes, and you have a history of driving amps into clipping, you need to be around 1:1. The last thing your voice coils want is to be hung out to fry when you flatten out that nice sinusoidal wave that's hitting them...

VR3

Adcom power goes very very far. Its a very conservative amp. I would say if you listen loud, even what....125 watts? That will go very far...but 300 watts is always a back up reminder than you could drive your speakers to hell and back and they'll still be kickin. It's pretty hard to clip the amp, if you do clip it...we could have rights to call anyone stupid...because I mean the LED's pick up virtually all THD and let you know when your about to kill the amp. Adcom makes nice stuff, and either way you wont go wrong. If you have the RTxxxi speakers, I would go with the 125 watt amp, it can push them to ear bleeding levels, far beyond what you will ever listen to. If you have LSI, I would probally want about 300 watt in 4 ohms. Other than that, you can't go wrong with adcom. Their all built like a friggin tank and they have a major bang for the buck.

danger boy

I recently bought at Adcom amp @ 125 w X2. to match my Marantz mono blocks which are also rated at 125watts. I have never clipped that amp yet.. i once in a while will crank it up.. and none of the lights have even flickered. My ears couldn't take anymore volume. So i'd say 125 wpc is good enough to drive just about any speaker out there. I feel confident i didn't need to go any higher than the 125 watts.

goingganzo

this is rated a 8 ohms. adcom dont have any specks exept the 8 ohm power rateing and thd. now this amp will drive a 4 ohm load? and i am figureing the power will be around185-250 wpc@40hms


i cant wait for friday i will be going to the gramaphone to check this amp out it is the olny dealer retomeley near me. i just i hope i can hagle the price. i hate to pay retail when there is so much dealer markup.

then i just have to decide if i want to match the pre to the amp or mix and match.

VR3

Insomnia sucks...Adcom is stable down to 2 ohms. Enjoy.

Dr. Spec

The classic and long standing Adcom MO is to add 50% for a 4 ohm load.

So 175 would be 250-260 into 4 ohms. Adcom = high current - they are built for low impedance and reactive loads. It will easily power the LSi series. GREAT choice in amp.

Doc

madmax

Large or small **** aside, more is better.
madmax

RuSsMaN

"You can NEVER have too much power" - George Grand

I say go for the gusto.

Cheers,
Russ

Tour2ma

Gotta chaulk me up on the more power side as well.

"Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it" - Somebody-or-Other

goingganzo

i called the olny dealer in the area but they quoted me 1500 for the amp. i think i will have to go there and try and haggle. explane to them that i will come back to them if they give me a deal. and if they dont i will have to go some where else. the olny thing i like more than upgradeing my ht is saveing money.

fireshoes

You like saving money more than upgrading your home theater? WTF???