T
thehorseshoe
New member
Can I use a stereo receiver to push my speakers instead of a power amp? If I cannot, why not? Do I need to purchase a power amp and studio monitors?
dragonworks
Banned
yes you can.
elevate
New member
I use a receiver with my Yorkvilles, and it works just fine. The issue is any coloration of the sound, so make sure your EQ is flat and you have any bass boost/loudness crap turned off.
dachay2tnr
One Hit Wonder
A stereo receiver is a power amp. It just incorporates other things as well - such as a radio tuner.
T
The Green Hornet
New member
Yo curved iron shoes for the Mare:
I have used an integrated amp for years and if you get a good one, it works fine.
I have this Yamaha AX 592 and one of its features is a "straight through switch." Push in the button and the sound being pushed through, like from a recorder, is NOT colored by the amp.
I can run two tape decks, either way, I have CD, two sets of speakers, on/off on both sets of speakers, a phono plug, an AUX plug, am/fm [which I never use].
For a home studio, a good stereo amp can give you some neat advantages if you buy a good unit. Many possibilities.
Keep your hooves trimmed.
Green Hornet
I have used an integrated amp for years and if you get a good one, it works fine.
I have this Yamaha AX 592 and one of its features is a "straight through switch." Push in the button and the sound being pushed through, like from a recorder, is NOT colored by the amp.
I can run two tape decks, either way, I have CD, two sets of speakers, on/off on both sets of speakers, a phono plug, an AUX plug, am/fm [which I never use].
For a home studio, a good stereo amp can give you some neat advantages if you buy a good unit. Many possibilities.
Keep your hooves trimmed.
Green Hornet
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thehorseshoe
New member
You guys rock. Thanks a bunch! I just ordered a Panasonic cheapo for $139 which accepts a digital input. I think this will be neat. Although not like my HarmonKardon that I use for my home system, it wil more than do the job. Thanks!
Blue Bear Sound
New member
I think that's very debatable (that a $140 receiver will "more than do the job" of a studio amplifier), but YMMV...........thehorseshoe said:
Bruce
A
atomictoyz
New member
Sure its debatable Bruce, its even debatable whether its a tube or solid state. Which manufacturers are better at it. The "church" I attend bought a "Radio Shack Studio Amplifier", so let the debate begin!
Where is the price cutoff between receivers that are pretty good, and studio amplifiers made for monitoring? What part of the specification is the key factor in that determination? Who decided that a special amplifier is required? Can I use an amp specially designed for the Mastering Environment for mixing? I mean its not really "designed" for mixing and tracking.
Ready.......
Set.............
Go!.....................
Peace,
Dennis
Where is the price cutoff between receivers that are pretty good, and studio amplifiers made for monitoring? What part of the specification is the key factor in that determination? Who decided that a special amplifier is required? Can I use an amp specially designed for the Mastering Environment for mixing? I mean its not really "designed" for mixing and tracking.
Ready.......
Set.............
Go!.....................
Peace,
Dennis
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thehorseshoe
New member
Okay, lets debate PRICE$$$. I looked at a power amp and the event 20/20. Total came to a little over $500. I really really wanted to buy sampletankXL, so I cannot do both. I have been doing decent with the JBL stereo speakers I have, and although a little colored, I plan to turn this new unit's features off (DSP) etc.and get it about as flat as possible. I mean, for $139- c'mon! It isn't going to be LOADED with special effect and features...., so I am really looking forward o this very basic system. After all, I am a "junior" as under my screen name states, what more do you expect? 
W
wilkee
New member
There has always been a load of Bollocks spoken and written about amplifiers.
Any "well designed amplifier will power any well designed loudspeaker" period. Only the available comfortable SPL will vary.
The diffs in sound quality are DWARFED by the actual loudspeaker.
Just my 2 cents, euro's, pounds worth etc.
Any "well designed amplifier will power any well designed loudspeaker" period. Only the available comfortable SPL will vary.
The diffs in sound quality are DWARFED by the actual loudspeaker.
Just my 2 cents, euro's, pounds worth etc.
T
The Green Hornet
New member
Yo bent Iron of elliptical angles:
Well, it all comes back to a good integrated amplifier or an amplifier that integrates with your ears.
So, listen, enjoy, record, and struggle to make it better.
Green Hornet
Well, it all comes back to a good integrated amplifier or an amplifier that integrates with your ears.
So, listen, enjoy, record, and struggle to make it better.
Green Hornet
H
happy hour
New member
I would have to agree with Wilkee. The physics involved in making a good loudspeaker are way more crucial than the electronics of an amplifier.
Myself I would buy an integrated amp ONLY because they don't have as much RF running around as something with a tuning section.
Mike
Myself I would buy an integrated amp ONLY because they don't have as much RF running around as something with a tuning section.
Mike
Blue Bear Sound
New member
Sorry guys... you're all missing the point.
A quality amplifier is able to cleanly deliver power and handle high-transients typical of a recording environment, where not all tracks have been massaged/softened to final listening levels.
A typical (read "budget") home-stereo receiver does not have the high-current capability nor the high-transient-handling ability to cleanly deliver the necessary amplication. And if the amp doesn't do it cleanly - especially with the transients - your monitors get a nice, squared-off waveform that will fry your monitors in a second.
It has nothing to do with 20-20000 +/- 0.1db response... it's all about clean power, something you simply WILL NOT get at a budget level.
Bruce
A quality amplifier is able to cleanly deliver power and handle high-transients typical of a recording environment, where not all tracks have been massaged/softened to final listening levels.
A typical (read "budget") home-stereo receiver does not have the high-current capability nor the high-transient-handling ability to cleanly deliver the necessary amplication. And if the amp doesn't do it cleanly - especially with the transients - your monitors get a nice, squared-off waveform that will fry your monitors in a second.
It has nothing to do with 20-20000 +/- 0.1db response... it's all about clean power, something you simply WILL NOT get at a budget level.
Bruce
M
M.Brane
New member
Bruce is right-on. More speakers are blown by power amp clipping than by being overdriven. Best to have an amp that can deliver plenty of power.
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wilkee
New member
Blue Bear Sound said:
Would the budget amplifier do the job ? Probably
Would it be ideal ? Probably not
But are we talking about powering budget monitors i.e. basically slightly modified Hi-Fi speakers or real Pro monitors like ATC. Quested etc. that do present a difficult load to the amplifier because of the xover.
FWIW the peak current abilities of even budget amplifiers has increased over the last few years as this has been one of the "In" requirements as mooted by the HI-Fi press.
p.s. I have spent the last 20 years designing and using large P.A. amps and speaker rigs of up to 1500w/channel so I do know it is just not about 20 - 20000 hz. etc I may be Junior in my posts but not in years or experience
Blue Bear Sound
New member
Then you should also realize that whether the monitors are budget or not is irrelevant, budget drivers can get blown due to amp-clipping as easily as drivers on more expensive monitors - probably easier, because the tolerances on more expensive monitors is going to be tighter.
For the most part, in terms of scale, the novice or intermediate home-recordist is not going to notice the difference, so you are correct from that perspective, but just because someone is not in a position to hear the difference doesn't mean the pros here should "dumb down" the underlying best practices advice!
Bruce
PS... you're being a bit defensive there Wilkee, I'm not attacking you -- I suggest you lower your guard a bit.
For the most part, in terms of scale, the novice or intermediate home-recordist is not going to notice the difference, so you are correct from that perspective, but just because someone is not in a position to hear the difference doesn't mean the pros here should "dumb down" the underlying best practices advice!
Bruce
PS... you're being a bit defensive there Wilkee, I'm not attacking you -- I suggest you lower your guard a bit.
W
wilkee
New member
Blue Bear Sound said:
Sorry if that is the way I came across, I had not taken any offense.
Regarding blown speakers due to low amplifier output, I agree that it is more common than having too much power but you have to be cloth eared not to hear the distortion caused by the clipping. But I agree it does happen!
VOXVENDOR
New member
Bruce is right...
While they work decently, you can't compare a cheapy reciever to an expensive dedicated power amp....
But......
Most of us, with a few exceptions, just have modest studio's and can't fathom that type of expense...
I use a cheap NAD Reciever.. It works Great... It was about $300 Canadian ($200US) I've "learned" it and it works great for me..
I would love to have an Ashly or a Hafler, but honestly.. I can't justify the expense....
I don't *need* anymore of a power amp, and most of you don't either...
Honestly, for a home recording situation, I think it's totally silly to spend a grand or something close on a real nice Power amp..
I rather see that money spent on compressors or decent mics, or something..
I see a few posts around here, where the person is using N-track, and Studio Projects Mics, and Mixes on Roland monitors...
Yet they go out and spend $600 on a power amp...
Crazy shit...
Joe
While they work decently, you can't compare a cheapy reciever to an expensive dedicated power amp....
But......
Most of us, with a few exceptions, just have modest studio's and can't fathom that type of expense...
I use a cheap NAD Reciever.. It works Great... It was about $300 Canadian ($200US) I've "learned" it and it works great for me..
I would love to have an Ashly or a Hafler, but honestly.. I can't justify the expense....
I don't *need* anymore of a power amp, and most of you don't either...
Honestly, for a home recording situation, I think it's totally silly to spend a grand or something close on a real nice Power amp..
I rather see that money spent on compressors or decent mics, or something..
I see a few posts around here, where the person is using N-track, and Studio Projects Mics, and Mixes on Roland monitors...
Yet they go out and spend $600 on a power amp...
Crazy shit...
Joe
drstawl
Banned
>And if the amp doesn't do it cleanly - especially with the transients - your monitors get a nice, squared-off waveform that will fry your monitors in a second.
I think that noise about my cheapo amp "squaring off" the transients to the point where my Event monitors are in danger of frying is just that: Noise.
There've been an awful lot of seconds that my monitors have been exposed to this cheapo amp. Still kickin' it with no smoke emanating from the enclosures.
I think that noise about my cheapo amp "squaring off" the transients to the point where my Event monitors are in danger of frying is just that: Noise.
There've been an awful lot of seconds that my monitors have been exposed to this cheapo amp. Still kickin' it with no smoke emanating from the enclosures.
drstawl
Banned
>I rather see that money spent on compressors or decent mics, or something..
>....
>....
>Yet they go out and spend $600 on a power amp...
I'd love to be able to spend $700 for an amp to drive my Events.
You know, the Hafler.
It's a no-brainer. That amp is VERY clean.
However, compared to other "crap" in the chain, it doesn't rate with its ability to improve the final product when compared to the improvements available from better mics/pres/cables/etc.
>....
>....
>Yet they go out and spend $600 on a power amp...
I'd love to be able to spend $700 for an amp to drive my Events.
You know, the Hafler.
It's a no-brainer. That amp is VERY clean.
However, compared to other "crap" in the chain, it doesn't rate with its ability to improve the final product when compared to the improvements available from better mics/pres/cables/etc.