Receiver, amp???

[rbh]

So guys I have been looking for a receiver/amp to power my bose 901's.
I am not having much luck! probably because I do not know were to start.
My old sony (old 4 channel) is 100 watts per side, and thats just not enough, do I use this or a newer style AV receiver and add an amp after it to power the speakers or what?

(someone draw me a picture please )

(found a onkyo tx sr 600 for $80 on CL is that any good?)

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Receiver, amp???

Look into TEAC A guy I know who did audio for a living recommends them......but I am not sure they have the juice to power the 901's the right way.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Receiver, amp???

I have always used separates on my 901's in the past, one amp per channel with a pre-amp/receiver. The last set I had was a set of Carver TFM 25, they put out 225 watts each and were a good match for the 901's that were also used in a home theater system, do some reading up at http://www.audioreview.com to get a good idea of what might work out best for your particular needs.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Receiver, amp???

I'd go for a quality professional poweramp a carver, crown, QSC or mackie. (or carvin)

The manual says you can run up to 450 watts per channel.

When it comes to solid state amps you need a lot of extra power capacity (I actually have a carvin 4 channel amp that's pushing 500watts per channel into 4 cabinets (2000 watts) for my guitar amp and I don't really play that loud. It's a quality thing not volume)

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Receiver, amp???

My old sony (old 4 channel) is 100 watts per side, and thats just not enough,

It's not that straight forward as just needing more power. 50 Watts of clean power should blow your face off with those speakers. But wattage ratings for audio equipment is often misleading. If the signal is distorting then it does take a lot of power to make speaker volume. But if the signal to noise ratio and thd of the amp show quality, you don't need much power.
Are your speakers in phase with each other? In a small room, having one connected backwards will make almost all bass disappear.
I would look long and hard at your setup. If the Sony is a surround sound unit and you just want to use it for stereo, there may be some configuration involved- it might be trying to power a subwoofer amp section or something.
What model is the Sony?

 

[rbh]

Re: Receiver, amp???

1987/88 ta-av501, 100 watts per side front speakers, 30 watts per side rear.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Receiver, amp???

I agree that clean power is far better than more, if you want one of the ultimate's and you have the money, get yourself a couple of Mark Levinson, mono-blocks, those at 25 watts will blow your socks off and work quite well with Bose, but they are about $25 grand each..

But again, I will say, going with separates with the Bose is your best possible option for the best sound...

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Receiver, amp???

1987/88 ta-av501, 100 watts per side front speakers, 30 watts per side rear.

the manual (http://www.docs.sony.com/release/TAAV501.PDF) shows 110W per front channel and 15W for the rears. The specs on that amp are pretty decent. Not "boutique" , but should be nice and powerful to the front outputs. If the specs are to be believed, you should be enjoying some nice sounds.

Need good speaker wire to carry the power, not the typical 22 ga. or whatever it is for bookshelf systems..need heavy (monster) wire. Other than that run the 901's off the front outputs, select surround "OFF" and if no oomph, maybe an issue with the amp... I'd give the Sony a chance, but there are some nice amps out there too, new or used.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Receiver, amp???

McIntosh

http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/us/Pages/Home.aspx


POWER OUTPUT
2000
RATED POWER BAND
20Hz to 20kHz
REMOTE POWER CONTROL
Yes
S/N BELOW RATED OUTPUT
123dB Unbalanced; 127dB balanced
SHIPPING WEIGHT
Tri Chassis Unit Output Module (1): 146 lbs., (66.2kg); Power Module (2): 158 lbs., (71.7 kg) ea. 304 lbs. total.
THD
0.005

 

[Cofe]

Re: Receiver, amp???

Take a look at Carver amps. You will not be disappointed. 250-300 watts per channel should play nicely on 901's, and use about as much power as a hair dryer set to max. Used Carver amps can be found on ebay.

Note: Only play music your neighbors like, or you could get into trouble.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Receiver, amp???

rbh,

Probably one of the biggest questions that need to be answered, how much are you willing to spend? Once a budget is set, that will lead you in the right direction to get the quality you desire, the problem I have with many of the AV units and consumer line stereos is the distortion percentages or variations in their output. As was said by another poster, good sound and loud sound are two different things.

 

[rbh]

Re: Receiver, amp???

So As was asked, or was it??
What do you want in the end. well lets see, first it would be nice to upgrade the reciever to 5.1/6.1/7.1, hdmi plug/fiber plug, you get the drift of it.
Then the power output for the main speakers IE 901's, do I put a power amp 500-600 watt in line?? that is the question folks!

Used E-bay reciever $250-$500 +-
Power amp $500????
Ability to pizz of my neighbours---PRICELESS

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Receiver, amp???

rbh,

I am sure by now, you have looked at this and downloaded it, Right?

http://products.bose.com/pdf/customer_service/owners/og_901.pdf

 

[rbh]

Re: Receiver, amp???

^^^^^^^
Yes I read that pub awhile back, my reciever now only has eq in and out so when we go to look for a newer one better find one with the pre amp package, or not.
I guess just going from the speaker out to the power amp is doable as well, just set volume on the power amp, but control the input volume with the reciever.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Receiver, amp???

Well if you get one with the pre-amp set up, and purchase separate amp(s), the volume will be controlled by the pre amp, separates normally don't have volume controls.

If I was setting up a system again, I would probably go with a pre amp/separate set up.

If your wanting a good quality integrated system, you might do some searching for a Denon, they used to make some great equipment, I have not purchased any of their stuff for a few years now, but for an integrated system, they were always rated very well. Carver also make good quality integrated system as well if your trying to keep the number or pieces down to a minimum.. I was never thrilled with pioneer, sony, or any of the other general consumer companies, their equipment just had to much distortion for my tastes.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Receiver, amp???

Reading this wow have I ever fallen far behind when it comes to audio packages. What ever happened to the 8track player (book of matches optional) and a set of 6x9 speakers.

I have the Onkyo HT-R340 package and it works great and was around $500 mark. I don't think the Onkyo name is bad at all. I will have to agree that sound quality verse loudness is the way to go.

Yup rattle the neighbors widows all night long when needed.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Receiver, amp???

Whoa 50 watts should be enough??? No way man.

First off your speakers are 8 ohm (man I had to go all the way through that pdf to get that!)

A 50 watt solid state amp is rated at 50 watts at 4 ohms not 8. In fact it's more likely putting out 30 into your speakers.

You have to check though because some are rated at 2 ohms so it would only be 20 watts at best.

This is huge when comparing amps.

Of course this isn't a problem with tube amps due to the output transformer matching impedence.

Secondly big power produces transients, every low end noise eats up your power amps ability to accurately reproduce the next one.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Receiver, amp???

The Mark Levinson, mono-blocks I mentioned above are tube amps, and they are awesome, but also VERY expensive, they are made for a specialty market, I have only seen two set ups with these amps in 30 years. They will blow your socks off!

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Receiver, amp???

The Mark Levinson, mono-blocks I mentioned above are tube amps, and they are awesome, but also VERY expensive, they are made for a specialty market, I have only seen two set ups with these amps in 30 years. They will blow your socks off!

I heard that too!

 

[Cofe]

Re: Receiver, amp???

RBH you need to get one of those used Carvers on ebay. One about 250-300 total watts should suffice for 901's.
Be it a component system or a receiver, you and your friends will not be disappointed.