120Wx5 amp + sub, or 200Wx5 amp?

[dane_peterson]

Okay guys,
My funds have depleted. I have LSi9s as mains, an LSiC as a center, and that's pretty much it. With $1400 left, here's the equipment I still need:
Surrounds
Amplifier
Subwoofer

I've decided the surrounds can hold off until after I get a sub. So the question is:
Do I buy a 120W x 5 amp? (IE Rotel RMB1075 ~ $750) and a decent sub?

Or do I invest in a nice 200W x 5 amp? (IE B-stock Outlaw 7500, or B&K 7250)

One thing to take into consideration is that I won't have another decent amount of spending money until April, so what I get now has to hold me over for several months. I've heard mixed reviews on whether or not 120w @ 8ohms is enough to bring out LSis, hence my indecisiveness.

So what would you do?

[anonymouse]

Get an older Carver 5 channel amp with Power steering technology. They have balls. I cannot detect any difference between my RB991 300WPC unit and the Carver rated at 125WPC. The power steering can drive up to 600WPC into a single channel when needed. It just cannot do 600WPC all channels driven.

There is an SVS on sale here that would make a nice sub option. Surrounds can wait till you see a good deal on some 7s.

[Shizelbs]

You're going to want a sub no matter what.

[louthewiz]

Here is a good low cost amp:

http://www.emotiva.com/lpa1.html

[dane_peterson]

Let me add that I cannot have a cylinder sub, as the WAF factor is not there, and neither is the space.
Yeah, I'm leaning toward the 12xW/channel option as home theater without a sub is pretty lame. But thought I'd see what others have to say...

[treitz3]

If you want to purchase your system twice (or more), get the 120x5 and sub.

You need to ask yourself....will I be happy with the 120w x5 and the sub for the long haul? Or, do I want to bite the bullet and get the 200w x5...splurging for now....experiencing and learning from that for a while...and then when the time comes.....THEN get the sub of choice?

The latter will yeild a better end result, possibly only requiring one purchase. The only other thing you need to ask yourself...is can you be patient enough to wait?

My question to you would be.... have you ever heard the phrase "good things come to those who wait?"

[dane_peterson]

I understand your philosophy, and trust me, the same question has gone through my head...
To be entirely honest, however, I don't know that 120w x 5 will be inadequate for what I'm trying to accomplish. I know that 120 @ 8ohms has been deemed inadequate for LSi15s, but I have not received that general concensus yet on the LSi9s.

As for the sub, with my given space, I think I can find something that will suit me just fine for around $700. So it really comes back to whether the amp will do my speakers justice. I can go with the 200watts and never look back, but I'll never know if 120watts was enough to make me happy.

[Willow]

how about 3ch@200w and a sub. then you could add a 2 ch later or monoblocks ?

As mentioned you will want the sub. So start buy buying the sub then with the balance buy what you can get for either a 3 or 5ch @ 200W

FWIW I went with 3 monoblocks @ 200wpc so I wouldn't have to do buy amps twice. Later I'll buy a smal 2ch for the rears or two more monos and maybe at 120 or 150wpc since it'll be for the rears.

[Shizelbs]

Here is a good low cost amp:

http://www.emotiva.com/lpa1.html

Damn thats cheap. I might get one and biamp my mains.

[dane_peterson]

how about 3ch@200w and a sub. then you could add a 2 ch later or monoblocks ?

As mentioned you will want the sub. So start buy buying the sub then with the balance buy what you can get for either a 3 or 5ch @ 200W

FWIW I went with 3 monoblocks @ 200wpc so I wouldn't have to do buy amps twice. Later I'll buy a smal 2ch for the rears or two more monos and maybe at 120 or 150wpc since it'll be for the rears.

A thought I had along those lines was getting 3 Outlaw 2200s, and powering the surrounds by the receiver. But I truly don't know how capable my 2807 is of even running two LSiFXs... I'm not really fond of having two different types of amplifiers (excluding the receiver) taking up space on my already limited shelfspace.

[phipiper10]

One thing to take into consideration is that I won't have another decent amount of spending money until April, so what I get now has to hold me over for several months.

You only need a little bit of patience as April is barely a month away. Hold on to all your money, add it up with what you get in April and see how you feel then. When you have all the money together it could change your approach to your purchases.

my .02

[millerman 3732]

I'm sure you have considered this but keep in mind that the LSi are 4ohm so if you take an amp like mine (125w x 7 at 8ohm) at four ohms you will be pulling 190w x 7 almost the 200 you are looking for.

[Ron Temple]

That Emotiva looks like a pretty nice solution...225wpc @ 4 ohms. What's the Rotel rated into 4 ohms? I doubt if you'll need to output more than 100w to get extremely loud. The rest is headroom, about 3db. It would be nice to have 6, but probably not necessary.

[dane_peterson]

Indeed, Millerman.
I'm simply referring to all the amps in 8ohm assumption. Most amps in 200w @ 8ohms will drive around 350w @ 4ohms, which seems like a pretty solid number. But others would probably have better opinions than I... how many watts in 4ohms do I want/need to drive my LSis?

Phipiper, I'll be getting another ~$700 in April, so it's not an enormous chunk of change. However, it is enough to buy a pair of surrounds (if I can find some used) So my hope is to have things near completion at that point.

[dane_peterson]

That Emotiva looks like a pretty nice solution...225wpc @ 4 ohms. What's the Rotel rated into 4 ohms? I doubt if you'll need to output more than 100w to get extremely loud. The rest is headroom, about 3db. It would be nice to have 6, but probably not necessary.

The Rotel is rated at 200w @ 4ohms. Maybe it's enough? I've always really liked Rotels styling and performance. The price is right, too.

[Poee7R]

I would look at Adcom as a reasonable solution to what ya need.

Look for something along the lines of a 5503, which i believe is 200@8 325@4 x 3. And grab a 545/5400 for the surrounds. With that your looking at possibly 700 give or take plus shipping. Which would leave you with 6-700 on a sub. With 600 or so you can get hip deep in an HSU or a decent SVS.

You say youll receive another 700 or so in april, theres your surrounds.

I would venture to say with your front 3 channels equally powered, you probably wont notice your surrounds are being fed less.

And this is all my opinion of course, as im a bit partial to Adcom. I kinda likem... ;)


Dave

[Shizelbs]

If April is the point at which you've have more money to burn, just wait until April. If you NEED something now, buy something used off audiogon or something that will hold you over, then sell it and make your money back. Otherwise, just wait it out.

[cfrizz]

Dane you are planning on an all LSI system. Will the 120 run all of the speakers? Yes, but it will be a heavy load for it.

As you said... "Maybe it's enough?" Ron said... "The rest is headroom, about 3db. It would be nice to have 6, but probably not necessary."

With as much money as you are putting out for all this equipment, I WOULDN'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY MAYBE'S OR PROBABLY'S ABOUT IT!

The 200wpc will GET IT DONE! with room to spare. I would much rather have all that power & not need it, than to find out I did need it after I've blown out a tweeter!

Also keep in mind that whatever other upgrades you do, your amp won't be one of them!

Do it right the first time Dane. That way you won't have to 2nd guess, wonder, or worry about it.

As a matter a fact I think I remember some guy came on here pooh poohing the need for so much power with the 9's. Right up until he blew out a tweeter! I'll try to find the thread & link it.

[dane_peterson]

As a matter a fact I think I remember some guy came on here pooh poohing the need for so much power with the 9's. Right up until he blew out a tweeter! I'll try to find the thread & link it.

Yes, I believe I recall that thread myself. :)

My Dad is coming over this evening to experience the almighty LSi9s. I'm afraid he's going to be a bit disappointed running off the 2807. :rolleyes:

[cfrizz]

Well then you will just have to have him back over once you have them properly amplified with 200wpc!:D

Yes, I believe I recall that thread myself. :)

My Dad is coming over this evening to experience the almighty LSi9s. I'm afraid he's going to be a bit disappointed running off the 2807. :rolleyes:

[AndyGwis]

If you get a used 5-channel amp now with $600-$700 and a sub with the rest, you should be able to resell the amp for the same price you bought it down the road, should you choose to upgrade once you've got more green in your pocket.

I don't shy away from pulling the trigger on a great deal, even if it's only a temporary thing. I like to try stuff out, resell when I find something better, and not loose any money.

But, to each his/her own. I can see other's point of view to just buy the biggest/baddest thing you can afford, then not worry about it for a long time.

On an aside. . . If we played a drinking game where everyone took a shot anytime someone said "at least 200wpc" we would be getting our stomachs pumped daily.

[Shizelbs]

Yeah, this would be a great time to get something off the used market.

[AndyGwis]

This B&K amp you were mentioning off 'gon does seem like a really good deal, especially if you can sell the IC's for a franklin or so.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1176523779

[Ron Temple]

I do agree with Cathy...more will be better.

My only experience (though I'm old) relates to driving my SDAs to around 100dbs, average, with 5 db peaks. The meters were measuring around 30 - 50 watts, the peaks kicked up to around 100 watts. Now I don't know if the meters were compensating to 6 ohms, it doesn't really matter to my thinking. I still had 5-6 dbs of headroom and there is no way I was going to crank it any louder.

Since the SDAs can handle 500wpc @ 6 ohms, I was considering a bigger amp, but have now realized that in this room, I can't or won't ever need more headroom for these speakers. My amp can provide ~ 300-325wpc RMS @ 6ohms. Not to say that an amp that can give them 5-600 watts won't sound better, IDK. I just won't make that decision based on what my room will require from the amp.

Futureproof your purchasing decision as best you can...but, hell you'll probably want to upgrade in a year, just because...;)

[MSALLA]

how about 3ch@200w and a sub. then you could add a 2 ch later or monoblocks ?

As mentioned you will want the sub. So start buy buying the sub then with the balance buy what you can get for either a 3 or 5ch @ 200W

FWIW I went with 3 monoblocks @ 200wpc so I wouldn't have to do buy amps twice. Later I'll buy a smal 2ch for the rears or two more monos and maybe at 120 or 150wpc since it'll be for the rears.

I think this is your best bet. 120 watts of high current power is enough to drive your speakers, but you don't seem comfortable with it and will probably always wonder if 200 would be better so go for the 200 now. You MUST run a sub though. You don't have surrounds yet so I wouldn't worry about powering them at this point. I'm in the same boat you are as far as money. Just have to be patient.

[cfrizz]

Here it is. It turned out to be a hilarious thread!

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45029

[Willow]

With as much money as you are putting out for all this equipment, I WOULDN'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY MAYBE'S OR PROBABLY'S ABOUT IT! Do it right the first time Dane. That way you won't have to 2nd guess, wonder, or worry about it..

I have to agree with CFrizz , after all it was this same info which lead me to buy her outlaw mono and buy two other (Marant monos) but all @ 200ws.

It'll cover my butt, for my next set of speakers , casue I'm sure there will be more...many more. Just can't let my wife see me type this, or she'll have my current speakers on the FM with my in a coffin ;)