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Power Question

#1
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3/13/09 at 7:37am
  • Joined: March 2009
  • Location: VA
  • Post Count: 2
Hey, gents. Currently I have a Yamaha RX-V8630 which has 735watts (105 x 7 channels) and 5 PSB speakers from the Image line. All of them are 150 watt program speakers with 88db sensitivity and 4 ohms.

I want to upgrade the front mains from the B25 monitors (really just bookshelves) to the new PSB Synchrony 1s after a great demo at my local store. These speakers are 300 watt program speakers, same ohms and same sensitivity though. But that's a big difference in program wattage.

The recommended input power would go from 10-100 on the S50s to 20-300 for the Synchrony 1s. Big difference.

Question is do I need more power than my current Yamaha can present? If I do, then I am totally lost in that field of pre-amps and post-amps and whatever else I know nothing about. So if you guys do think I need more juice to dump to the new speakers I need to plan. Some recommendations for a solution would be great too.

Many thanks!
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#2
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3/13/09 at 1:07pm
  • Joined: January 2004
  • Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
  • Post Count: 1,116

Re: Power Question

Hi Tim,

No additional power is needed. The 300 watt rating is just telling you what the speakers can handle, not what they need.
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#3
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3/13/09 at 1:36pm
  • Joined: August 2000
  • Location: SF Bay Area
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Re: Power Question

How much power you'll need depends on a lot of factors: How loud do you listen; what do you listen to; how big is your room; etc.

If you decide to add an amp, it would not be difficult. I believe your Yamaha receiver has pre-outs, so all you need to add is a 2 channel power amp (or a pair of mono-blocks). Let the receiver continue to power the center channel and surrounds while the 2 channel amp drives the Synchrony 1s.

The cost can be as low or as high as you want. There are lots of quality stereo amps available on the used market that would do a much better job of driving those speakers than the amp section of your receiver. All you need to add is an amp and a couple of interconnects from the receiver to the amp.
Dan

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
--Benjamin Franklin
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#4
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3/13/09 at 2:45pm
  • Joined: March 2009
  • Location: VA
  • Post Count: 2

Re: Power Question

Thank you for the answers! I was hoping to hear that. Not sure why I couldn't seem to figure it out on my own, so I appreciate you taking the time. These new mains are going to be a huge upgrade to my system and it's a pretty small room and I have people living below me so I think I can just keep the power down all around then.

Cheers
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#5
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3/17/09 at 11:27am
  • Joined: November 2008
  • Post Count: 141

Re: Power Question

I cannot understand all the attention given to Watts as a measure of a systems sound level. I currently have two systems set up in my family room.

System #1 Integra 6.8 receiver rated 115 watts per all channel @ 6 ohms running into a B&W M1 5.1 system which is a 6 ohm speaker.

System#2 1970's Sansui 9090DB rated at 125watts per channel @ 8 ohms running into a pair of 1970's Bose 901 Series II speakers.

Although the specifications look pretty similar In A B comparison of the same music source System #2 is able to produce a significantly louder music than System #1. Although System #1 is plenty loud for any application I use it for System #2 has the ability to cause pain and cause the lights room lights to dim and peel paint off the walls.
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