Is 20w x 2 Really Enough?

Minimoke

Minimoke

Minimoke

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Joined
27 Feb 2009
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317
Hi all,
I've been around audio for years now, from producing in studios to teching at live shows. More recently I've really been getting into my home audio as I've got the time to these days. For my main setup I've got a pretty beefy Pioneer receiver that's whacking out 130w per channel. I'm about to invest in the Logitech Squeezebox products, more specifically the ones that don't have a screen or anything, and just plug straight into your system.

I want to get a few amp and speaker sets for around the house, they don't need loads of features. I like the look of the Cambridge Audio amplifiers, but can't help thinking....Is 20w per channel enough? I'd only be using bookshelf speakers with it, but they can all handle 80w RMS+ these days. I don't want to spend £100+ on something that for a little bit more I could get a fully fledged AV receiver with 100W+ per channel. I guess you're paying for the quality of the sound rather than the volume with the higher end stuff, am I right? And I vaguely understand the case of higher end products being more efficient, so they don't need as much power to get to decent volume levels.

Sorry for the long post, I just like to know all I can about something before I take the plunge. Especially since it'll be costing me a fair bit of wedge.

Thanks in advance,

Chris.
 
The difference here is that these dedicated stereo amplifiers are made to do one thing very very well whereas hifi units and receivers that you get in high streets with hundreds of watts per channel RMS, some even quoting PMPO instead, are rubbish in comparison.

My NAD C325Bee outputs about 50 watts per channel, the Rotel stereo amp I had before that put out even less.

Both amps can drive a pair of floorstanders (I have Tannoy V4s and have previously used Mordaunt-Short MS 914i and Tannoy M4) at volumes that far exceed what you'd consider to be comfortable listening.

It's not about the wattage, it's about the quality of the sound and that's where these dedicated amps trump multichannel units on the whole.

In light of that though, I'd avoid Cambridge Audio first and listen to other amps first at your nearest Richer Sounds store, listen to the CA last and then pick the one that you like the sound of first. The staff will sit in their listening room for hours in there just flicking between amps and speakers, whatever you want. I did this a while back when I was deciding on what speakers to upgrade to from the 914 and I found them very helpful.

Personally I found CA amps to sound too enclosed, not detailed enough and the bass was often beefy but too muddy.

Most of all, get a feel for the sound you like from a certain brand and look at the second hand market. You can get excellent bargains on high quality equipment :)

So yes, to answer your question, 20W per channel is certainly enough. Just get kit that marries up together well.
 
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Thanks very much for the speedy reply. I've experienced how it isn't all about power handling with speakers through my work, but wasn't totally sure if it was the same with amplifiers.

That's reassuring to hear. I have been thinking of popping to an RS store and having a gander. Thanks for the suggestion on the CA amps, I'll have a better look around.

Thanks again.
 
No problem :)

To give you an idea, my current speakers are rated at 200watts each, now my amp is only outputting 50watts to each side and I can't put the volume dial above about 9-o-clock without it being deafening.

Stress free running is the order of the day, match up speakers that will be driven with ease ;)
 
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