Do I have enough power for a good quality sound?


My system currently include the following:

B&W Matrix 801
McIntosh MC206 Power Amp(older version)
McIntosh Preamp (won't be using this in the new system)

I have chosen the following for upgrade:

Rotel RSX-1056 75 x 5, 7.1 surround receiver
B&W Nautilus 805 (for back)
B&W Nautilus HTM-1 (center)
B&W ASW 800 for subwoofer

I will be using McIntosh poweramp to drive B&W Matrix 801s and rest of the speakers will be hooked up to Rotel. Do you think Rotel 1056 (100w/ch when 2 channel driven, and 75w/ch with multichannel) would be enough not to compromise the quality of sound? I listen to classical music mostly, and the room is about 15 by 10. Need your help...
krksures4

Showing 1 response by eldartford

My power amps are in the cellar, so I rarely see them. Recently I was playing some music at about 100 dB for purposes of some test (details of which I forget) and I wandered down to the cellar. To my surprise, the clip LEDs of my three 600 wpc amps were flickering on the sides that drive the MG 1.6s, although the sides that drive the subwoofers were loafing (although the SW were playing loudly). The MG 1.6 are spec'd at 86 db and the SW driver is 92 dB. SW crossover at the time was 55 Hz. The system is adjusted to be flat to about 20 Hz.

In spite of the different sensitivities this division of power requirements between the SW and the mains is quite surprising to me. I was also surprised that I could "use up" all those watts and not, at least, blow the tweeter fuses.