Surround Sound/Home Theatre Bargains

[Mike Hoxbig]

I decided to hang on to my Jamos and fork out on a decent receiver, so I went with the Marantz NR1602. Hooked everything up yesterday morning, and it really bangs

Pic (quality is a little poor )

 

[ToxicBunny]

Very nice receiver...

I've got the 1501 and its a beaut..

How do you find the 50w per channel on your Jamo's?.. loud enuf?

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Very nice receiver...

I've got the 1501 and its a beaut..

How do you find the 50w per channel on your Jamo's?.. loud enuf?

Yeah I wouldn't stress about the 50W thing. I've done a bit of reading and it's a true 50W at 8 ohms (20Hz - 20kHz, 0.08% THD). This puts it at about 120W at 6 ohms. So it's good enough to power most speakers.

Most manufacturers don't quote the true output power - they either quote the value for 1kHz @ 8 ohms or 1kHz @ 6 ohms, which is why they seem so much higher.

The Jamos really do pump. With the volume level at about 35-40%, I have to reduce it for fear of annoying my neighbours

Very impressed with the receiver though. When I get home tonight I need to figure out how to output stereo through all the speakers, because at the moment stereo only goes to the two front speakers. The receiver does support it, just need to find the setting. Maybe you can help since you have a similar model?

 

[Grimspoon]

Nice Mike.

Loving my Jamo's.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Thats good to know..

I currently have a set of crappy LG speakers, and they are struggling a bit since I think they require a higher "volume" to really get going...

Def looking at replacing them with a set of Jamo's sometime soon though, maybe for xmas

 

[lachesis]

Yeah I wouldn't stress about the 50W thing. I've done a bit of reading and it's a true 50W at 8 ohms (20Hz - 20kHz, 0.08% THD). This puts it at about 120W at 6 ohms. So it's good enough to power most speakers.

Most manufacturers don't quote the true output power - they either quote the value for 1kHz @ 8 ohms or 1kHz @ 6 ohms, which is why they seem so much higher.

The Jamos really do pump. With the volume level at about 35-40%, I have to reduce it for fear of annoying my neighbours

Very impressed with the receiver though. When I get home tonight I need to figure out how to output stereo through all the speakers, because at the moment stereo only goes to the two front speakers. The receiver does support it, just need to find the setting. Maybe you can help since you have a similar model?

hi mike,

maybe i can help.

first you need to take the amp of the "direct" setting.

then there should be an audio option for multi channel stereo. played with the amp at dion wired yday

 

[Gemini1]

I have a Sinotech surround sound system for urgent sale. 2 tower speakers (4 speakers in each tower), 3 small speakers and an amp with a radio. They are brand new and still in the original boxes. I have sell them urgently as I am emigrating and have decided not to take appliance-type items with (due to plugs being different). I want R2000.00 for the entire system. Anyone interested?

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Nice Mike.

Loving my Jamo's.

Thanks man. An unintended bonus is I no longer have a problem with loud adverts on DSTV - Audyssey dynamic volume works a treat, and dynamically adjusts the volume when it detects a sudden surge. This also works in some movies where there is a large variation between dialogue (being too soft) and sound effects (being too loud).

The Jamos do sound great though. You'll always find something better and more expensive, no matter what you buy, so I'm happy with their performance for what you pay.

hi mike,

maybe i can help.

first you need to take the amp of the "direct" setting.

then there should be an audio option for multi channel stereo. played with the amp at dion wired yday

Thanks lachesis, appreciate the tip! Will give it a bash this evening

 

[Sensorei]

Yeah I wouldn't stress about the 50W thing. I've done a bit of reading and it's a true 50W at 8 ohms (20Hz - 20kHz, 0.08% THD). This puts it at about 120W at 6 ohms.

50W at 8 Ohms is equivalent to 67W at 6 Ohms if you use Ohm's law. How do you get a figure of 120W?

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

50W at 8 Ohms is equivalent to 67W at 6 Ohms if you use Ohm's law. How do you get a figure of 120W?

Ohms law applies to electrical impedance, not acoustic impedance. With acoustic impedance you'll need to factor in temperature and air density in addition to frequency. In this case, the power figure usually quoted by manufacturers at 6 ohms occurs at 1kHz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_impedance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_power
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-ak-ohm.htm

I haven't done the calculation myself, but did come across it while researching the specs on the receiver on Friday evening. Can't find the link right now though

 

[Sensorei]

Ohms law applies to electrical impedance, not acoustic impedance. With acoustic impedance you'll need to factor in temperature and air density in addition to frequency. In this case, the power figure usually quoted by manufacturers at 6 ohms occurs at 1kHz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_impedance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_power
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-ak-ohm.htm

I haven't done the calculation myself, but did come across it while researching the specs on the receiver on Friday evening. Can't find the link right now though

Very interesting but now I'm confused. Just checked and my Onkyo receiver is rated at 85W/channel (8&Omega and 100W/channel (6&Omega. I have no idea how that works but I guess time to google some more.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Very interesting but now I'm confused. Just checked and my Onkyo receiver is rated at 85W/channel (8Ω) and 100W/channel (6Ω). I have no idea how that works but I guess time to google some more.

Is that at 1kHz, or across the entire 20Hz - 20kHz range?

 

[Sensorei]

Is that at 1kHz, or across the entire 20Hz - 20kHz range?

It doesn't mention Khz.

 

[Dolby]

Most amplifiers actually quote powers at the full range and at 4, 6 and 8 ohm. Onkyo aside, it's generally the smaller brands that 'cheat' with regards to power

Generally - the power output would double as ohms halves ... so 50w @ 8 ohm is 100w at 4 @ ohm. Power supplie also make a huge difference with current supplied at lower resistance. Also remember that ohms varies with the frequency being played ... so 8 ohm speakers may - for example - drop to 6 ohm and rise to 9.5 ohms ... so power supplied to the speakers isn't constant either

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Most amplifiers actually quote powers at the full range and at 4, 6 and 8 ohm. Onkyo aside, it's generally the smaller brands that 'cheat' with regards to power

I wouldn't consider Yamaha, Onkyo, Denon, Cambridge Audio or Sony as small brands.

Next time take a moment to look at the specs that are published - very few of them publish the power output across the entire 20Hz - 20kHz range. They usually either omit the frequency altogether, or publish the power output at 1kHz. The manufacturers that I'm aware of who do are Rotel, Marantz, NAD and (surprisingly) Pioneer.

Obviously you wouldn't think of the others as inferior on this basis alone, but it would be nice for manufacturers to adopt an accurate standard so that they can be compared to each other.

 

[bavmorda]

Nice sub. But will it work on our 220v plugs. American active subs would need a 110v plug.

From what i've been told. Yes. Apparently has a switch at the back for 110V and 220V.

 

[Dolby]

Hi Mike,

I've had a few Marantz, Yamaha and Onkyo - and speaker wise had a few AR, Infinity, Elac, MB Quart etc I know the specs and how to read and yes, you can't *always* compare easily.

The full specs are not on the site as you say, but the full specs are always in the manual. If you're spending R50,000.00+ downloading it shouldn't be too much on an issue

I don't have time to download each brand you've listed to see if you're right or wrong, but a quick look at your Cambridge site shows a full frequency. Downloading the Denon owners manual also shows the full frequency - and Marantz we both know does as well.

 

[Sensorei]

Dolby, the Onkyo manual says 100W/channel at 6 ohm 1Khz, but where it says power is 85W/channel at 8 ohm it DOES NOT mention frequency (Hz). Same story on the Onkyo sites.

 

[Dolby]

Onkyo aside, it's generally the smaller brands that 'cheat' with regards to power

Dolby, the Onkyo manual says 100W/channel at 6 ohm 1Khz, but where it says power is 85W/channel at 8 ohm it DOES NOT mention frequency (Hz). Same story on the Onkyo sites.

I excluded Onkyo :/

I checked the Marantz, Denon and Cambridge - but I know Onkyo don't

 

[Necrite]

http://www.3stechnology.co.za/mede8er-med500x2-multimedia-player-p-2739.html

Seems like a decent price for a mede8er 500X2