Does more watts simply mean higher volume?

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
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If you have a receiver that outputs 100w and you don't come close to maxing the volume, would a 150w receiver be pointless?
 

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
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Originally posted by: Jumpem
If you have a receiver that outputs 100w and you don't come close to maxing the volume, would a 150w receiver be pointless?

Not necessarily. It could mean less distortion at the rated output. However, this is really hit and miss, as are power ratings.
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
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too many variables to give a definitive answer. If it is the same brand and its like upgrading to "the bigger brother amp" then you might get less distortion at the output level, and you may get higher current allowance for lower impedances (speaker's impedance changes with frequency so higher current allowance could prevent power compression at certain frequencies making the music subjectively sound more effortless above a certain loudness).

One very important note: The position of the volume knob is not comparable to the power output of the amplifier unless you know for sure that the volume knob is specifically calibrated (some expensive receivers have this feature) to your speakers, your listening position, and the amplifier draw to obtain a reference level. You need to find out how much power your receiver is actually using at certain volume levels.
 

FP

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2005
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Would a Kill-a-watt be a good measure of how much power is being used to drive the speakers?

In other words, if I have a 100-watt RMS (2 channels driven) receiver and plug it into a Kill-a-watt and crank up the volume will it eventually draw 200-watts from the wall or does is the power used to drive speakers using a different voltage?
 

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
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Originally posted by: binister
Would a Kill-a-watt be a good measure of how much power is being used to drive the speakers?

In other words, if I have a 100-watt RMS (2 channels driven) receiver and plug it into a Kill-a-watt and crank up the volume will it eventually draw 200-watts from the wall or does is the power used to drive speakers using a different voltage?

Won't work well. The only time you are going to be using most of the power from each channel is during short dynamic spikes in a movie. In short durations we still find this tolerable, however putting a constant 100W into a speaker would deafen you in no time. Not to mention that the kill-a-watt is meant for continuous power draws and not quick peaks like you would have to measure to see the max power being used.

Not to mention receivers(analog especially) are inefficient. The amount drawn from the wall is much higher than the amount of power dropped across the speakers.
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
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Unfortunately, the kill-a-watt would only be able to tell you how much your electric bill would be impacted. In order to know how much the speakers will draw from the amplifier, you have to measure in between the speakers and the amplifier. This requires a multimeter where you probe at the speaker terminals.

If you cannot take measurements, then its too difficult to make a conclusion because you would be making assumptions on top of assumptions based on manufacturer-specifications for both receiver and speakers. Some amplifiers have trouble driving current at extreme phase angles, some amplifiers have trouble driving high amounts of current into low impedence speakers (and these details are not given by manufacturers). If you can find a review of your speakers which shows measurements of its reactivity (impedence vs. Freq., Phase angle vs. Freq., sensitivity of speakers vs. Freq.) and a review of your amplifier that shows measurements of how it can handle varying impedence w/o inducing an unacceptable amount of IM distortion or other kinds of distortion; you can make a guestimate with the understanding that there is a large margin of error.

In real life minus academics, if your amplifier clips with normal program material, you need a better amplifier. If it doesn't clip, but you are still curious, borrow the new receiver and A/B between them but make sure the voltage drop at the speaker terminals are within 0.1mV between the comparisons, otherwise the slightly louder receiver will most likely sound better (psychoacoustics).
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
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More power basically means tighter sound. Things that require quick/high power like snares or bass notes will be noticeably less distorted. They'll just sound more accurate, more impact.

Even at good listening volumes (not loud, just a good volume) most receivers will clip and not have enough power. Even if you're volume isn't maximum, you're still probably clipping. You can hear this as a smeared sound, the dynamics of the music start to disappear.

There really isn't such a thing as too much power. Well maybe, but only when you're dealing with 800 watts+ or highly efficient speakers.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,891
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The main problem is that manufacturers' power ratings are generally totally useless, at least when you want to compare one manufacturer's model to a model from another manufacturer.

In fact, in the old days some companies would rate the EXACT same product differently, depending on the market.

Yamaha used to do this with their usual models, as compared to their store specific models which were identical but had a different product number. They would increase the rated wattage for the store models despite the fact the hardware was the same... by quoting a number into 6 ohms instead of 8.

By the way, I have two Sony receivers that are quoted as 100x7 and 100x5. I have them near maxed out at times. Sound quality is fine... but it's quite clear that Sony's 100 is nowhere near the same as 100 Watts from my other receivers.

If my speakers were less efficient, my Sony receivers would be underpowered. I wouldn't be surprised if Sony's 100 Watts is similar to 50 Watts (or even less) from other receivers I've used.
 

Rio Rebel

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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You got some good answers here. Pay close attention to Spidey's. It directly answers what you want to know.

No, it is not pointless or a "waste" to have a receiver that pushes considerably more power than the speakers are rated. More power is good.