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Re: How much RMS per channel do I need?
What are the speakers effiency's ratings? Usually something like 89dB @ 1 watt measured at 1m. Doubling power in our example gets you +3dB. So 2 watts=92dB, 4 watts=95dB, 8w=98dB, etc. However, you lose 6dB for every doubling of distance...so 4 watts would yield 89dB @ 2m. These are generally anechoic measurements so in room is going to be at least as loud as the "ideal" math. Now, figure out how loud you want to listen.
For a real world example. My living room system is a Pioneer 516...$100 pre-BF deal last year that's optimistically rated at 100 wpc. Speakers are el cheapo and tiny Polk R150s. Room is 22x20x9 plus it's open to 18' high foyer/dining room/kitchen...basically the whole downstairs of a 2900 ft^2 low country. Anyway, I've measured 105dB peaks at 17' from the l/r mains when I was pushing this system to see what it could do...nothing broke/distorted/self protected at that level. With gasoline lawn mowers clocking in the mid 90dBs, I'd call the 516/R150 combo plenty loud.
That's all a rather long winded way of saying you should be fine with any receiver manufacturer you've mentioned, unless you're listening room is an airplane hanger.
-Brent
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