Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Is 50 Watt HK AVR240 enough for Axioms?

Right now I am running a VP150 center and M22Ti's but may upgrade to M60's in the future. I can get a new AVR240 at a pretty good price locally but I don't know if the 50 watt rating is adequate. I currently have a 65 watt HK AVR65 which is plenty loud. I am also looking at the Denon AVR2106 which I would rather have, but is is over $100 more than either of these HK's. I suppose if I plan to keep this receiver for several years, my current one lasted 8, then I should get the one I want and not worry about the extra cash.

But is 50 watts will suffice, I may go that route.

Greg

As long as it has pre-outs, I wouldn't be concerned at all about the amp section. 50 watts would prob prove adequate - if not, adding an outboard amp need not be too expensive. Plus, after you get a fancy amp you can go on and on about how it made the _______ more _________, and the ________ more _________.

It is my understanding that HK rates their receivers very concervatively, and are high current designed. Some manufacturers claim gobs of watts per channel, however, they are not full bandwidth rated (20hz - 20khz). I think the HK will do fine, and give you all the volume you can take. Besides the m60's are very easy, efficient, speakers anyway.

I'm sure some of the other HK owners will jump in here and provide feedback...

Greg, the first point is that the 240 rating is 65 watts, using the more realistic two channels driven standard. Then, as Randy mentioned, HK is also conservative and takes their rating farther down on the distortion curve than they'd have to; the rating would probably be about 70-75 watts on the same standard which the 2106 uses for a 100 watt rating(which is an accurate rating, as legally required by the FTC, and is 20-20KHz, full range). That number of watts should be enough in most cases, and if it wasn't, 100 watts is only about 1-1/2 dB more in maximum output and wouldn't make that significant of an increase in capability.

It depends how good that price you mentioned is. The 240 is available for around $350; the 2106 for around $500(the HK 435 is also around $500 and so is more nearly comparable in price). My own view would be to go with the 435 or 2106 if the budget will stretch a bit.

I agree with Johnk. It will work fine but if you can stretch the budget a bit I would go a little higher.

I'd probably go with a 40 series H/K, just for that cool iPod passthrough function.

In reply to:

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I would go a little higher

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If you are buying to last a few years, spend the bucks and get the features you want.

Feature wise the HK AVR240 has what I want, it is the power rating that might be off. The 335/340 has only a five watt power advantage but does have multi-room which I have no use for. So the money is not well spent on that unit. The 435 would be a good move but it doesn't have the iPod bridge option and the 440 is too far off.

The Denon is a nice option but it to lacks the iPod connector and bass management is limited to setting the same crossover for all speakers. You can choose 40hz, 60hz, 80hz and so on, but all speakers need to use the same frequency. The HK's allow for independent crossovers.

www.relayvillage.com has a way you can buy the AVR240 online for $399 and pick it up locally. So no freight charge makes the price comparable to an on-line etailer for $350 where you have a $30 shipping charge. Then there is the local advantage where I can return it for whatever reason for 30 days. That makes the $20 price premium worth it. I would still probably buy the Denon if I could get one locally for even $550 but I doubt that will happen.

I'll give a listen to an AVR240 on my lunch break and take it from there.

Thanks for the input.

Greg

Sounds like a good plan to me.

Are you music or HT? Do you have a sub?

Primary use is HT, but I am listening to more music as my M22Ti's sound so good. I also have a powered sub.

Greg