Difference between 100 and 200 wpc in amp?

iskandam · January 2008

Ok so I'm ready to make my first move into separate by getting a multichannel amp. I've been reading that the more power you feed into the speakers the better sound quality you'll get out of them. I like to listen loud but nowhere near reference level. Now my question is will I hear a significant difference between 100 wpc vs 200 wpc in an amp? I'm using RTi8s, CSi5 and FXi3s btw.

I'm asking because the price difference between a 5-channel 100 wpc amp vs 200 wpc is staggering. I'm currently using HK AVR 247 receiver that does 50 wpc. It gets as loud as I want it to go. I guess another way of asking this is would I hear a big enough leap in sound quality by upgrading to a 100 wpc amp or would I need to go further up the food chain with 200 wpc before realizing that improvement?

Ricardo · January 2008

Many will say you need 200 WPC, and I am sure there wil be some improvement in sound quality even if you don't play too loud, but for your RTi's, 100 WPC will be enough to make them sing.

dephinistr8 · January 2008

As long as you have speakers with an RMS in the same range as your amp, you should get a nice sound no matter how much power you decide to go with.
The main difference you'll find is that, generally speaking, that more power=cleaner sound @ higher volumes...

bikezappa · January 2008

[QUOTE I've been reading that the more power you feed into the speakers the better sound quality you'll get out of them. [/QUOTE]

I don't believe that.

Check it out again.

venomclan · January 2008

iskandam wrote: »

I've been reading that the more power you feed into the speakers the better sound quality you'll get out of them. I like to listen loud but nowhere near reference level. Now my question is will I hear a significant difference between 100 wpc vs 200 wpc in an amp?

This is a common misconception. More does not always mean better. An increase in power can yield great results but it is not an across the board statement. If you are looking at entry level amps, it may be better to spend the extra $ for the the higher power depending on your listening preferences. As you go up the amp ladder, power levels may actually go down but performance will increase.
Venom

mhardy6647 · January 2008

the difference between 100 watts and 200 watts is 3 dB, all other things being equal. A 3 dB difference is generally considered to be "barely audible", and "all other things being equal" isn't a given.

iskandam · January 2008

I heard some speaker-amp combo will only yield noticeable result at a certain volume. I want to be able to hear that improvement at all listening levels, not only at very high volumes. My HK goes from -65 to +6.5 IIRC and I listen at -20, if that gives you an idea of my listening level for movies. The mains are 7' away from the seating position and the room is 3000 cubic feet with two large openings to other rooms.

So the bottom line is the performance. I'm just concerned that after spending so much money with the 200 wpc amp I won't be able to hear the difference. I've been considering the Adcom GFA-7400 (5 x 100 wpc) vs the GFA-5503 (3 x 200 wpc for my mains)

jakelm · January 2008

Quality over quantity... Remember that...

AndyGwis · January 2008

Get a nice 5-channel B&K amp, like the 5125, and call it a day. Should be some options on Audiogon. They are 125 wpc amps and would run your RTis wonderfully well with a nice warm of neutral sound to tame any potential RTi brightness.

You could also just consider getting a nice 2 or 3 channel amp to take some pressure off your receiver and give those 2/3 speakers more current and dynamics. Just be sure to calibrate them properly after the amp is installed. I have a 3 channel B&K 1430 on my front soundstage and love it for movies and especially music.

jakelm · January 2008

AndyGwis wrote: »

Get a nice 5-channel B&K amp, like the 5125, and call it a day. Should be some options on Audiogon. They are 125 wpc amps and would run your RTis wonderfully well with a nice warm of neutral sound to tame any potential RTi brightness.

You could also just consider getting a nice 2 or 3 channel amp to take some pressure off your receiver and give those 2/3 speakers more current and dynamics. Just be sure to calibrate them properly after the amp is installed. I have a 3 channel B&K 1430 on my front soundstage and love it for movies and especially music.

Andy, how much are those B&K's running? I will be in the market soon for a 3 channel amp for my front stage. Was looking into Emotiva, because B&K, Rotel and Adcom might be out of my price range.

AndyGwis · January 2008

I have a B&K ST-1430 Series II. I think they go for $400 - $450 for one in excellent condition on the used market. They don't come up too often, though. I have seen some really good 2-channel amps, like their current model 125.2 for $300 - $400 on Agon.

If you get lucky and do some looking, you could probably find the 125.2 or a 1430 for close to $300.

jakelm · January 2008

AndyGwis wrote: »

I have a B&K ST-1430 Series II. I think they go for $400 - $450 for one in excellent condition on the used market. They don't come up too often, though. I have seen some really good 2-channel amps, like their current model 125.2 for $300 - $400 on Agon.

If you get lucky and do some looking, you could probably find the 125.2 or a 1430 for close to $300.

I would be more interested in the 3-5 channel amps. $300 to $400 is in my price range. And I heard very good things about B&K, unfortunatly no where to listen to them.

sorry for the hijack...

AndyGwis · January 2008

sorry for the hijack...

we're still talking about budget multichannel amps in the 100-200 wpc range so I think all is good

I'd just click on the multi channel amp link on Agon every day or so to see what's new. If a decent brand amp falls into your limited price range in good shape, take a chance on it (that goes for you, too, iskandam). You can always resell for what you purchased for if you get a good deal. If you get a great deal, you can make money once you sell. That's why I love buying used amps

jakelm · January 2008

An amp like this would be perfect for my set up. Would work well with my 7's and HK.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Adcom-GFA-7000-5-Channel-Power-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ200194104991QQihZ010QQcategoryZ14973QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROTEL-FIVE-CHANNEL-POWER-AMPLIFIER-RMB-1075_W0QQitemZ130193067742QQihZ003QQcategoryZ14973QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But I'm sure they will go well above my buget...

jakelm · January 2008

Andy, is something like what you have?

http://cgi.ebay.com/B-K-AV5000-Series-II-Multi-Channel-Amplifier-Home_W0QQitemZ110219257389QQihZ001QQcategoryZ14973QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

MADGSF · January 2008

Not speaking for Andy but that amp would do very well with your speakers. Not sure it will stay within your price range or not.

aaharvel · January 2008

+/-3 db.

jdhdiggs · January 2008

I would much rather have a very high quality 50W amp then an ok quality 200W amp for the same money:

Most folks in the "Must have 200W+" crowd don't realize that most of the time you'll be driving a whopping 1W or less with loud peak transients pushing MAYBE 35W. Unless your one of those bonheads who wants to see what 125+dB feels like, you'd be better off getting a better, lower powered amp for the same $$$

Face · January 2008

I agree, quality over quantity.

All other things being equal, the only advantage to a well built 200wpc amp over a 100wpc amp, if it's a class AB style, the 200wpc amp will be in class A longer.

jdhdiggs · January 2008

Face wrote: »

I agree, quality over quantity.

All other things being equal, the only advantage to a well built 200wpc amp over a 100wpc amp, if it's a class AB style, the 200wpc amp will be in class A longer.

And be hotter, drain more power and be a whopping 3dB louder at stupid full blast volume...

miner · January 2008

Truly, the major difference is 100 watts.

Sami · January 2008

jakelm wrote: »

Andy, is something like what you have?

http://cgi.ebay.com/B-K-AV5000-Series-II-Multi-Channel-Amplifier-Home_W0QQitemZ110219257389QQihZ001QQcategoryZ14973QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Jake, that's the same amp model I'm running my LSi HT with. It powers my LSi15's bi-amped and the extra channel is for the LSi7 centre. I'm sure it would power the 15's with just one channel per speaker but I have a very capable amp section in my receiver (capable to drive the LSi) so I'm letting it handle the surrounds.

Very nice sounding amp, and can be had for a great price. I'd bid on it.

What there is to be said about 100WPC vs 200WPC has been said already (quality over power).

jakelm · January 2008

The Adcom, the Rotel and the B&K are all going for around the same price. So confusing.

I want a warm sounding amp, similar to the sound of my HK, warm and rich. Not a bright amp.

I'm sure all of the above amps are excellent, its just hard, without hearing them, which are best match for my 7's and HT.

I'm keeping a close eye on the B&K. The seller for the Adcom does not have any other sold items, so there is no feed back on him. The Rotel amps, I have read, are brighter sounding amps than the other 2. It looks like the B&K is my best bang for the buck, if it stays in my price range.

Sami · January 2008

Warm sound, out of those definitely the B&K. Rotel's that I have heard are more on the bright side, while the Adcom's I find to be in between. LSi7's? Adcom or B&K are better matches than Rotel in my limited experience, and I would personally go with B&K if I couldn't do A/B comparison.

jakelm · January 2008

Sami wrote: »

Warm sound, out of those definitely the B&K. Rotel's that I have heard are more on the bright side, while the Adcom's I find to be in between. LSi7's? Adcom or B&K are better matches than Rotel in my limited experience, and I would personally go with B&K if I couldn't do A/B comparison.

Thanks Sami.

My vintage Monitor 7's. Sound great with the HK, want to find something with the same warm sound. With the option to turn the treble up on the HK, but not forced to bright highs.

jakelm · January 2008

My sig quit showing up.

Lowell_M · January 2008

iskandam wrote: »

I heard some speaker-amp combo will only yield noticeable result at a certain volume. I want to be able to hear that improvement at all listening levels, not only at very high volumes. My HK goes from -65 to +6.5 IIRC and I listen at -20, if that gives you an idea of my listening level for movies. The mains are 7' away from the seating position and the room is 3000 cubic feet with two large openings to other rooms.

So the bottom line is the performance. I'm just concerned that after spending so much money with the 200 wpc amp I won't be able to hear the difference. I've been considering the Adcom GFA-7400 (5 x 100 wpc) vs the GFA-5503 (3 x 200 wpc for my mains)

Take a look at my signature. I have followed almost the same upgrade path as you are considering. I used to have my GFA-555 (200wpc) hooked up to my RTi70's in my HT, but moved it to 2-channel duty. now I have the GFA-7000 (125wpc I think) in my HT and couldnt' be happier. The quality ADCOM power to all 5 speakers really closed the gaps between speakers in the HT. movies are amazing now and 2 channel music is still pretty darn good. You would see a huge difference in SQ over the power from the H/K. I am not saying that the HK has a bad amp section, there is just a big difference when you step to external amplification.

jakelm · January 2008

a_mattison wrote: »

Take a look at my signature. I have followed almost the same upgrade path as you are considering. I used to have my GFA-555 (200wpc) hooked up to my RTi70's in my HT, but moved it to 2-channel duty. now I have the GFA-7000 (125wpc I think) in my HT and couldnt' be happier. The quality ADCOM power to all 5 speakers really closed the gaps between speakers in the HT. movies are amazing now and 2 channel music is still pretty darn good. You would see a huge difference in SQ over the power from the H/K. I am not saying that the HK has a bad amp section, there is just a big difference when you step to external amplification.

Oh I completely understand that. I just dont want to get away from the warm sound.

I am so excited about soon purchasing a new amp (tax money). My Hafler will go on surround duty, and I will look into maybe trying to bi-amp the Monitor 7's, if possible.

I think adding an external amp will increase the life of the HK. I am pushing the HK pretty hard right now with HT. I'm not much on quiet movies:p

Lowell_M · January 2008

jakelm wrote: »

Oh I completely understand that. I just dont want to get away from the warm sound.

I am so excited about soon purchasing a new amp (tax money). My Hafler will go on surround duty, and I will look into maybe trying to bi-amp the Monitor 7's, if possible.

I think adding an external amp will increase the life of the HK. I am pushing the HK pretty hard right now with HT. I'm not much on quiet movies:p

Jake, you'll still have the H/K sound that you like, only with a more open and 3 dimensional sound stage.

jakelm · January 2008

Ok...and just so its THX certified...lol:eek::D

jakelm · January 2008

The Adcom sold for alittle over $500. Is this a normal used price?

Difference between 100 and 200 wpc in amp?

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