Stereo receiver instead of power amplifier?

[Blue Bear Sound]

>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.

Then you haven't been pushing the amp very hard!

 

[wilkee]

>I
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.

This was my point exactly but you put it so much better !

 

[drstawl]

>Then you haven't been pushing the amp very hard!

Is that the real determining factor?

I'm running the vol on the amp at between 20% and 30%.

Any more and the neighbors call the police.

And this cheapo consumer amp is rated at ~half of the rated wattage that the Events can handle. 65W vs. 150W.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I'm running the vol on the amp at between 20% and 30%.

How do you make THAT determination?

Keep in mind that volume pots on 99% of consumer amps/receiver/etc... are calibrated with full rated power being acheived with the volume level at the 50% (or 12:00 o'clock) position. (doesn't matter if the controls are digital or not, calibration is the same)


As well, don't forget that it's underpowering speakers that are more likely to damage monitors than overpowering. (ie, amp distortion caused by clipping kills tweeters far more quickly because the amp can clip before you hear it (killing speakers in the process) compared to the obvious audible effects of overpowering a speaker.........


Bruce

 

[drstawl]

>How do you make THAT determination?

By hooking my Events to this 65W/side amp and checking the SPL in front of the speakers at various settings of the volume knob.

If my speakers are being "underpowered" but are putting out an SPL over 100dB, then it seems that the Events are indeed worthless: a hearing damage machine.

NOT!!!!

You can turn 'em down to 80 - 90 dB and
{whaddaya know?}
they won't fry because of this.

 

[darrin_h2000]

There are some High end amps that do a fine job just for referece use. You have to get a carver or a phase linear or bryston. but you dont have to spend 700.00 dollars for one nowdays.

Im willing to bet about 100% of the time they are going to have that consumer level stereo amp for lunch.

There are some studios that use the carvers religiously. You can find a used one for arround 200.00. Due to the home theatre revolution taking over 2 channel amps are not as popular as they used to be. Making them usualy a good value used.

P.S. You shouldnt have to learn an amp, And if you have to learn your monitors, maybe you should find some that will be more true to the sound coming in.

 

[atomictoyz]

I am pretty sure, that the db levels are determined by how long your listening to something according to OSHA. The guys and gals over at the Mastering Engineers bbs typically monitor in the 83 db to 89 db range. Since they do it for extended periods and its a job, their subject to OSHA in the US. Their monitors are farther out than nearfields and the power is super clean. Ive used various amps from the Alesis, to specialized Carvers and Ive also used a Custom Allied Electronics, and a Panasonic home reciever. I would like to inherit my dads Onkyo, he bought it when living in Montreal and paid about $1200 for the amp alone. Its clean, its huge and its passive. You use home stuff until you can afford to do something else. So regardless of what Bruce says or what Mr Extremo Cheapo says (diametric opposition) we all want better stuff, but can't usually afford it. I know If I handed Brucie a big ole $10,000 check to redo his amp and monitors, he would get what he could for $10,000, and another point, even good power amps can't save you if its loaded wrong.

My hopes are that all ya alls have fun till it blows up...

sniff....sniff....is that burnt plastic ionization...I love that plugin



Peace,
Dennis

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Actually... I'm not sure what the big debate is all about -- I didn't state anything controversial, simply facts.... and some generalities about consumer gear - which will be true 80-90% of the time!

If someone's using their consumer receiver and it's working for them without problems, then what's the issue???