Two channel stereo amplifiers

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Gambit

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#167435 13-Mar-2015 13:12

Hi,

I'm looking at getting one these at some stage as i feel my avr isn't quite preforming how I'd like for music.
I'll be using wharfedale 10.1s for a while due to house renos so my 10.6s will be in storage but once done these will be my main speaker's.
I'll be using a fiio x5 as the player.
is there anything I need to look out for? eg ohms, WPC etc.
There are a few on trademe but not sure what to look for.

Thanks

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#1257951 13-Mar-2015 15:26

Both sets of your Wharfdales have a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. 10.1 up to 100Watts and 10.6 up to 150Watts.
As long as the amplifier copes with a 6 ohm impedance (most will but check) and if you get something that goes over 150Watts at 6 ohms then DON'T crank it up!
I usually go for more power because Iam totallyin control here (BITCH) so there are never any mishaps.

Gambit

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#1258135 13-Mar-2015 21:30

hi,
thanks for your reply.
Most of the amps seem to be around 50 wpc.
Ones i was looking at are:

onkyo TX 8020
yamaha A201
Marantz PM 5005
Pioneer A10

just a start.
i guess the fiio would go through the rcas as there's no coaxial on any of these?
i don't need a tuner or all that other stuff and just want a nice basic solid amp to play the fiio or cd player through.
nothing amazing or too expensive.

wally22

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#1258169 13-Mar-2015 22:35

Any of those will do but you may be lacking in power a little. I don't know how loud you listen.

The ratings of 50W are at 8ohms impedance so your 6 ohm speakers will only receive approximately 35-40 Wayys, depending on the circuitry. As they handle much higher levels they will not be as sensitive to the lower power. If you can, arrange for a home trial with your speakers first, for a couple of days. Just to see if you are happy with it.

Just be careful you are not tempted to crank it to full volume as the distortion will detract from the music and potentially damage the tweeters. I subscribe to the notion that 50% volume is a max setting because of this.

Gambit

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#1258219 14-Mar-2015 08:02

Hi,

There are times I "crank" the music but not so much at the moment with a 9 month old in the house :(
On my AVR Id probably go to around -20 which is reasonably loud.
Ive had a poke around on Trademe this morning and found:

Onkyo A9555
Pioneer A400
Pioneer A400 x

I guess more power is better for driving the floorstanders and if I move house and get a bigger lounge.
Ill keep looking and thanks for your advice

:)

wally22

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#1258256 14-Mar-2015 09:47

Gambit:

Onkyo A9555
Pioneer A400
Pioneer A400 x

:)

Onkyo looks like a good choice. Class D and I have no experience with these. But Onkyo is a generally reputable make and I found no disparaging reports for it.
Pioneer A400 had some bad press amongst audiophiles, despite glowing Hi-Fi press releases and reviews on release, hard to match up for a smooth sound apparently.

To correct my earlier comment,
"50W are at 8ohms impedance so your 6 ohm speakers will only receive approximately 35-40 Wayys"
6 ohms will receive approximately 60 to 70 Watts. I mixed my maths up :-(

wally22

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#1258294 14-Mar-2015 11:05

856974339
856261635
857796655
Have a look at these Trade Me auctions too

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ilovemusic

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#1258316 14-Mar-2015 12:45

wally22: Any of those will do but you may be lacking in power a little. I don't know how loud you listen.

The ratings of 50W are at 8ohms impedance so your 6 ohm speakers will only receive approximately 35-40 Wayys, depending on the circuitry. As they handle much higher levels they will not be as sensitive to the lower power. If you can, arrange for a home trial with your speakers first, for a couple of days. Just to see if you are happy with it.

Just be careful you are not tempted to crank it to full volume as the distortion will detract from the music and potentially damage the tweeters. I subscribe to the notion that 50% volume is a max setting because of this.

You have that backwards.
Competently designed amplifiers should increase output as load decreases.

Gambit;

As you were using an AVR, do you require multi-channel output ?

What budget do you have ?

Gambit

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#1259316 14-Mar-2015 14:13

Hi,

just 2 channel music and around $6-700? hopefully.

Thanks

kiwijunglist

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#1259390 14-Mar-2015 16:52

has your avr got pre/outs?

above is correct if your amp is rated at 50W for 8ohms, then if it is 6ohm stable it would output approximately 65W

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

Gambit

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#1259410 14-Mar-2015 17:11

Hi,

I don't think it has pre outs- Pioneer vsx 920.
good for movies but I want better sound for music.

Thanks

Gambit

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#1259647 15-Mar-2015 13:52

Hi,

any thoughts on this one?

nuforce dda 100.
on special for $499 at the moment.

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richms

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#1259657 15-Mar-2015 14:24

When I had to give back the bryston amp I was borrowing, I just got a cheap PA type amplifier from the rock shop. Cant recall the brand but it seemed to be some made up thing. Seemed to go great to about 70% of its capabilities, got aweful towards its limits. rated at "500w per channel" into 4 ohms but I found that highly doubtful

It disappeared when it was at a friends bach a few years back so I dont have anything loud for music anymore.

Richard rich.ms

Gambit

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#1259659 15-Mar-2015 14:28

Have seen marantz pm 6004 and nad 326 bee.
a little bit more but not too expensive for me.

Batman

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#1259694 15-Mar-2015 15:58

with those speakers you can use whatever amp you want that outputs with THD <0.05%
ignore the watts

audiophiles will kill me but audiophile won't be listening to wharfedale 10.1s

Batman

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#1259697 15-Mar-2015 16:00

if you're thinking saving it for the 10.6s in the future, i must say the 10.6s aren't the most balanced of speakers either [i have them. when i shopped and auditioned for better speakers they cost me a new mortgage so i went head-fi instead] ... so it'll be ok

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