Amp/speaker compatibility
July 18, 2002
Is there such a thing as certain speakers being
incompatible with certain amps? I've heard a few people say that it isn't the norm, but
every so often you'll find two pieces of high-quality equipment that just don't pair well
together.
Tyler
The issue of speaker/amp incompatibility can be
complicated, but more times than not it can be traced to two things: an impedance mismatch
or a power-related mismatch. If the amplifier is not capable of driving the speaker load,
then there will be sonic -- and even functional -- consequences. If the speaker is rated
at 4 ohms and the amp cannot drive a 4-ohm load, the sound will suffer and the amp may
become damaged. This is a common problem, especially with receivers that hate
low-impedance loads.
If the amplifier will not deliver enough power into the
speaker, there will also be issues. A low-sensitivity speaker (say, below 83dB) will
likely not perform to its potential with a 50W integrated amplifier. This type of mismatch
can also have disastrous effects, especially if you run the amplifier into clipping
looking for the sound levels you wish you could achieve.
To sum up Make sure you have enough power for your
speakers, and make sure the amp will drive the load they present to it. Follow these rules
and you'll likely be fine.
Upgrades for larger space
July 17, 2002
In my current home-theater setup, I have Paradigm Minis as
my front and rear speakers, a Paradigm CC-370 as my center-channel, and a Paradigm PW-2200
as my sub. I have a Sony SCD-CE775 SACD player and a Panasonic DVD player connected to a
Denon AVR-1801 A/V receiver. I use Analysis Plus Clear Oval speaker wire for my main
speakers and Analysis Plus Oval One interconnects. All of this is hooked into a Monster
Cable HTS800, which I bought a while back as a stop-gap solution. I am pretty happy with
the overall sound of the system in my small room, but I am moving to a new, larger place
in a little over a month, and I've got the upgrade bug. Particularly, I'm interested in
putting a pair of Paradigm Monitor 11s in as my main speakers. I'm a little concerned,
however, that the Denon 1801 won't provide the Monitor 11s with enough power. With this in
mind, I envisioned possibly installing a pair of Marantz monoblocks or a stereo amp to
better power the main speakers. What kind of sonic improvement might I expect with these
purchases? Would you recommend these changes?
Mike Marlo
First, you'll make huge gains in performance by
upgrading your main speakers. In most cases, this is the best bang-for-the-buck upgrade
you can make to sound of your system. I'm all for that one.
Right on the heels of this is the power issue. A/V
receivers are typically OK for medium-sized rooms and speakers. When you get into larger
speakers in larger rooms though, you'll need more power, This is why you see those preamp
output jacks on your receiver -- to add more power to those front channels where it is
needed most. It will also relieve your receiver a bit, making its performance into the
rear and center channels that much cleaner. You're two for two.
You should get a more dynamic sound, with better bass
(larger speakers) and more effortless overall performance (more power and headroom). Looks
like you're on the right track.
Thanks
July 16, 2002
No question. I just wanted to say thanks for a realistic
and helpful audio site. I read the July issue and found the answer to a question I had. I
was going to try to have a mini-jack-to-RCA cable made, but lo and behold there it was in
your coverage of Twisted Pair cables! Well done!
Carl
Thanks, Carl. There is a mountain of information in our
various archives, and it's growing all the time. But if you can't find what you're looking
for, we like to hear from you, so don't hesitate to ask us anything related to budget
audio gear. Glad you found what you were looking for!
Ported versus sealed
July 15, 2002
Do you think ported speakers work better than sealed
speakers? I've heard that ported speakers have deeper bass, but some say they have looser
bass too.
Fran Upton
That does seem to be the accepted wisdom that has been
bandied about for years. The problem is, I've heard enough of both types that don't fit
that description to render the "wisdom" close to useless. You simply have to
listen to the speaker to determine how it sounds to you in your room. If the hard-and-fast
rules worked 100% of the time, they would make buying an easy process, one you could
probably do by looking at the specs and a design brief. Unfortunately, it doesn't work
that way.
Klipsch ProMedia
July 11, 2002
I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to go get the Klipsch
ProMedia 2.1. And after 12 hours of continuous listening, all I could say was, "Hot
damn, is Klipsch trying to make audiophiles out of computer nerds?"
Well? Are they? This speaker threesome packs more punch
than my Mordaunt-Shorts! Plugging these bad boys into a computer soundcard almost seems
like blasphemy. Can you review these things and share some helpful tips on how to set
these things up -- considering that most people who bought them probably just plop them
anywhere on their computer desk completely unaware of their sheer power. Thanks!
Francis
Thanks for the tip. We'll see what we can do about
getting the Klipsch ProMedia in for review.
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