Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Axiom 8 Channel amp or multiple 2 channel amps

Others have answered your question fully but since you asked. I have the 3806. 120 Watts/channel.

I also fall into the camp that believes an external amp would not produce any further clarity for me unless I someday reach a point where I need gads more volume to fill a huge space.

I would however be willing to experiment in a true, controlled, double blind listening test to see if the science can be proven wrong. Thus I try to remain a bit neutral and stick to my advice that the Denon will almost certainly please you beyond a doubt but if you have the money to experiment with thousands of dollars for a potential of small gains, then by all means feel free and report back your findings.

Edit:
A further thought. A also have a much cheaper Panasonic 100 w/c receiver driving two M60s upstairs for music in the main house area. This is a Much, much bigger space than my small HT room in the basement with the full setup. When sitting down to listen to good source material (a good source is the key) then I am once again astounded by the clarity the M6os produce even with the much cheaper receiver.

I can push this system to levels where I 'think' I hear some light clipping (sound seems to get a bit more muddied and fatiguing' but this is at ridiculously loud experiments in volumes. Levels I would never use for long and expect my hearing not to be severely effected.

If you want to hit TRUE reference with your setup, an external amp is almost always neccessary. Go to this site and plug in your parameters: http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html#anchor_13115

For me, on a good day my Onkyo is 'supposed' to output 100 watts per channel. In reality, it closer to 75 (assuming all channels driven). But let's take the 100 watts as the best case. I sit 8 feet from my M60s. With my setup, the PEAK SPL I can get is about 100db. That is 5 dbs from reference. To get 103db, I would have to have 200 watts. To get 106, I would need 400 watts (double the power for each 3db gain). I do not know of any AVRs that will output 400 watts. Considering that my receiver is not really putting out 100 watts, I figure the best I can currently do is about 98-100db. Not exactly reference, but close enough for me.

I find true reference levels too loud and I would guess many others do as well, which is why ~100wpc works for many people.

if you have the money to Buyamp, go for it.

Of course, some people would want to Tryamp first.

Once you Tryamp you never want to go back.

Unless you're Randy. In which case, you Ditchamp.

Well, there's me, who is Wishamp.

John

It is true that un-used headroom is simply headroom that is un-used. The problem is how you know when you are at that point. Let’s say we are in a car and we pull out into the left lane to pass, as we are passing the car and we see a truck coming towards us, you realize you don't have the horsepower or torque to get passed the car you are passing in time, but now you are committed. Not a fun feeling and you are probably wishing you opted for the six cylinder version.

When or if you are pushing your audio system, how do you know if you are damaging your tweeter, until after it has been damaged? Then it's too late, damage done. Think of extra power as insurance, for that one time you (or someone else) went a little too far.

But as you said, if you never push it to that limit, you don't have to worry.

paul

I have heard enough to think that best option for me is to build room for an amp and see how it goes. "upgradeitis" is definatley hard to fight! Learning a lot though. Thanks to all for the input.....