Need some help with an amp

[plainer]

Hi I'm new to this and was looking for a bit of advice/guidance. I've recently picked up a set of Focal Chorus 714v speakers for a very good price. But just want some input as to what amp would be best to power them. I'm not looking to run any other speakers so only need a 2 channel amp but might be getting an active sub at some point so a pre-out (I believe that this is what I would need to connect a sub) would be advantageous. Like I said I'm new to this so any help would be great.
Cheers

 

[Vladimir]

What is the size of your room and what are your listening habbits? Do you have a max budget figure in mind?

Focal recommends 25-150Wpc amplifiers because these are not difficult to drive speakers. How big depends on your room and listening habits (loudness and type of music). A rough guide:

Small room, easy listening vocals, jazz and pop = 25-50Wpc.

Medium room, rock, pop, jazz, you like to turn it up a bit, 50Wpc-100Wpc (4 ohms rated amp).

Big room, loud listening, electronica, hip-hop, classical, 100Wpc + (4 ohms rated amp).

Cheers

 

[Thompsonuxb]

The Yamaha as500 @ £199 to £219 from Richer Sounds.

85watts per channel.

Will suit those speakers fine. You could audition it with those speakers also stocked at Richer's.

But its coming to the end of its line.

Doubt you'll need a sub though. But if you're determined to get a sub consider an av amp.

If you audition an av amp don't be put off if it sounds quieter/less exciting compared to a stereo amp in the shop - they require a fair amount of set-up to give their best but will offer useful function over the stereo amp (sub out included) and set for stereo.1 more than enough oomph to do those speakers justice.

 

[plainer]

Thanks for the information. It'll be in a medium sized room and I listen to a lot of bass heavy electronic and rock music.

 

[Vladimir]

The Yamaha A-S500 has no 4 ohms power rating and if you see the smallish power supply under the hood, you see why. It's obviosly built to a price.

What is your budget plainer?

 

[Tzutzu]

...may be suitable for you. I have both - Arcam and 714. They complement each other nicely.

 

[Blackdawn]

Hi

Yes Yamaha does give a power rating for the A-S 501.

http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/audio-visual/hifi-components/amps/a-s501/?mode=model

Max power into 4ohms is 120w

High dyanmic power is rated at 185w for 4 Ohms.

In other words the Yamha would easily be able to run the Focals, no problem.

 

[Vladimir]

Hi

Yes Yamaha does give a power rating for the A-S 501.

http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/audio-visual/hifi-components/amps/a-s50...

Max power into 4ohms is 120w

High dyanmic power is rated at 185w for 4 Ohms.

In other words the Yamha would easily be able to run the Focals, no problem.

Maximum Power (4 ohms, 1kHz, 0.7% THD, for Europe) 120 W + 120 W

That 0.7% is borderline clipping, which is probably 1% (actual clipping) at 20Hz - 20kHz in 4 ohms at the rated 120Wpc.

Well at least they published the 4 ohm specs for the new A-S501. Caveat emptor.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

@Vlad

These speakers have a 91db sensitivity.

Are you the same fella who believes all amps sound the same?

I would suggest an audition nothing more.
Compare it with the Arcam and consider the price difference.

 

[plainer]

Thanks for those I'm looking through them. Also what are your views on nad amps? Also the focals are an 8 ohm rating. Does that make a difference?

 

[Thompsonuxb]

No.....

They're an easy load with hi sensitivity so not hard to drive loud.

@85wpc should sound nice with the Yamaha.

Thanks for those I'm looking through them. Also what are your views on nad amps? Also the focals are an 8 ohm rating. Does that make a difference?

 

[Vladimir]

Focal Chorus 714v go down to 4 ohms. For loud listening of bass heavy music in a medium sized room they will eat through watts like pothead through a Pringles tube. I personally appreciate buying an amplifier with headroom since watts are cheap and blown tweeters not so much.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Lol.... C'mon Vlad,

Yes I think I read you saying you bought the kandy over the Caspian - the claim of 175wpc having something to do with it.

I think.

Even so that 4ohms you speak of has little to nothing to do with how these Amps Will perform.

They have all been tested with the loads they are expected to drive.

Maybe a Denon DM39 would struggle to drive these speakers but a Yamaha as500 ......prrft

Have I upset you or something?

Focal Chorus 714v go down to 4 ohms. For loud listening of bass heavy music in a medium sized room they will eat through watts like pothead through a Pringles tube. I personally appreciate buying an amplifier with headroom since watts are cheap and blown tweeters not so much.

 

[Vladimir]

Even so that 4ohms you speak of has little to nothing to do with how these Amps Will perform.

They have all been tested with the loads they are expected to drive.

Maybe a Denon DM39 would struggle to drive these speakers but a Yamaha as500 ......prrft

Have I upset you or something?

Indeed they did some tests and by law they are obliged to publish the results in a specification sheet. The specification clearly shows Yamaha A-S500 will simply not work well with 4 ohm loads (where all the tasty bass is) and the new A-S501 decided to publish the 4 ohms rating and it will only give out clean 100Wpc in 4 ohms. The power supply will not deliver large current to maintain voltage at 4 ohm load. Like I said, it is a budget amp, built to a price.

Here is some visual aid.

Yamaha A-S500 - has no 4 ohm rating in public spec sheet, in white paper published Maximum Power: 120W + 120W at 4 ohms, 1kHz, 0.7% THD

Yamaha A-S2100 - has 4 ohm rating in public spec sheet, Maximum Power: 150W + 150W at 4 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, 0.07% THD

Do you know how speakers manufacturers get high sensitivity from speakers? Of course you do, but let me explain briefly for other readers sake. They use 4 ohm woofers that suck 2W (5.66V) measured at 1m instead of the expected 1W (2.83V) measured at 1m for 8 ohms and that gives a nice boost in sensitivity at a certain frequency and they publish the sensitivity for that frequency, not an average across 20Hz-20kHz. A good rule is everytime you read a speaker sensitivity in a spec sheet is to deduct 3dB of the published figure.

And no worries, why would you upset me? I LOVE discussing gear, which is why I'm a forum member and an audiophile.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

And that young people is why crack is wack!

What are you talking about?

We come back to that statement 'these are not intelligent devices'

What makes you believe that an amp delivering 85watts into an 8ohm load is going to struggle to deliver wattage into a 4ohm load?

Its the same electrical signal being presented to the speaker - the speaker does all the required juggling via its crossover ref volts, amps, watts etc.

The speakers only concern is there is enough juice so it can shift its cones.

What do those images you posted even mean?

To the OP, don't mind us...... ;-)

Even so that 4ohms you speak of has little to nothing to do with how these Amps Will perform.

They have all been tested with the loads they are expected to drive.

Maybe a Denon DM39 would struggle to drive these speakers but a Yamaha as500 ......prrft

Have I upset you or something?

Indeed they did some tests and by law they are obliged to publish the results in a specification sheet. The specification clearly shows Yamaha A-S500 will simply not work well with 4 ohm loads (where all the tasty bass is) and the new A-S501 decided to publish the 4 ohms rating and it will only give out clean 100Wpc in 4 ohms. The power supply will not deliver large current to maintain voltage at 4 ohm load. Like I said, it is a budget amp, built to a price.

Here is some visual aid.

Yamaha A-S500 - has no 4 ohm rating in public spec sheet, in white paper published Maximum Power: 120W + 120W at 4 ohms, 1kHz, 0.7% THD

Yamaha A-S2100 - has 4 ohm rating in public spec sheet, Maximum Power: 150W + 150W at 4 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, 0.07% THD

Do you know how speakers manufacturers get high sensitivity from speakers? Of course you do, but let me explain briefly for other readers sake. They use 4 ohm woofers that suck 2W (5.66V) measured at 1m instead of the expected 1W (2.83V) measured at 1m for 8 ohms and that gives a nice boost in sensitivity at a certain frequency and they publish the sensitivity for that frequency, not an average across 20Hz-20kHz. A good rule is everytime you read a speaker sensitivity in a spec sheet is to deduct 3dB of the published figure.

And no worries, why would you upset me? I LOVE discussing gear, which is why I'm a forum member and an audiophile.

 

[Vladimir]

Oh, nevermind. Just look at the pretty pictures! *preved*

 

[BigH]

Here is an article about amps and Ohms:

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/spkramp.html

I agree with Vlad, there have been a couple of posts about Marantz 6004 amps cutting out with 4 Ohm speakers, presumably they dip below 4 Ohms and after a while the amp packs in. One replaced the amp with something more powereful and did not have any more problems. However I did read an article about amps that can drive low Ohm speakers compromise on sound quality?

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Lol......don't be like that.

These are 8ohm speakers by the way this theoretical 4ohm dip is not the norm , the spec sheet go's down to a 2ohm value.

That said 'budget' is a strange term in that it does not mean rubbish.

The amp has had great reviews - and compare well to the 700pound amps I listened to a while back.

It won't hurt to audition was all I was saying.

Oh, nevermind. Just look at the pretty pictures! *preved*

 

[Vladimir]

Lol......don't be like that.

These are 8ohm speakers by the way this theoretical 4ohm dip is not the norm , the spec sheet go's down to a 2ohm value.

That said 'budget' is a strange term in that it does not mean rubbish.

The amp has had great reviews - and compare well to the 700pound amps I listened to a while back.

It won't hurt to audition was all I was saying.

Oh dear. Your Yamaha DSP-AX620 also has no 4 ohms rating. *mosking*

 

[Thompsonuxb]

I don't disagree with Vlad - just this argument ref this amp/speaker combo.
Sensitivity 91db@8ohm 150watt handling.

I recall auditioning the Arcam 65 - many moons ago auditioned with a pair of eltax5 200watt @ 6ohm 'budget' 2way speakers. (poor build, excellent sound)

The Arcam was about 50wpc into 8ohm - single speaker terminals.

Now the amp sounded good. I mentioned biwiring to the assistant who very nicely ran a 2nd run of cable from the amp to these speakers, turned the amp on and it started cutting out.

Swapped the amp, samething - never bought the amp, I like to biwire.

The amp lacked real juice.

I understand if a speaker requires 'power' to shift its cones you need an amp with power that can deliver continuously.

Which is why you'll see me querying the logic of some of the LS50's with (insert low powered amp) on here.

Read the link, it makes good sense. But these speakers are not out of this amps range.

Is all I'm saying.

Here is an article about amps and Ohms:

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/spkramp.html

I agree with Vlad, there have been a couple of posts about Marantz 6004 amps cutting out with 4 Ohm speakers, presumably they dip below 4 Ohms and after a while the amp packs in. One replaced the amp with something more powereful and did not have any more problems. However I did read an article about amps that can drive low Ohm speakers compromise on sound quality?

 

[Thompsonuxb]

What speakers were the Marantz 6004 owners trying to drive.

Some of those marantz owners are crazy......lol

 

[Vladimir]

I mentioned that these Focals are easy to drive speakers in my first OP reply. However, his listening preferences and room size come into play where the amp should be at least 4 ohms rated with good PSU to drive these speakers loud with lots of watt sucking bass. If he said the choice of music was pop, rock and jazz, the Yamaha would do just fine.

Just google A-S500 user reviews and you will finds lots of people complaining for lack of bass. If the OP uses an active sub like he sugests he might, then the Yamaha will be good enough IMO. Actually in that 2.1 setup any amp will do.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Missed this.....

And your point?

My ax-620 is driving speakers that are 200watt @6ohm with 89db sensitivity no problem.

It has a 8 to 4ohm switch which is set to 8ohm.
It also as 2 sets of front speaker outs, both being used to biwire the speakers.

Proves you don't know what you're talking about Vlad.

Maybe you'd need to hear it to understand how little your understanding is of the figures you love.

Probably shame your Roksan in a blind test too......lol.

Lol......don't be like that.

These are 8ohm speakers by the way this theoretical 4ohm dip is not the norm , the spec sheet go's down to a 2ohm value.

That said 'budget' is a strange term in that it does not mean rubbish.

The amp has had great reviews - and compare well to the 700pound amps I listened to a while back.

It won't hurt to audition was all I was saying.

Oh dear. Your Yamaha DSP-AX620 also has no 4 ohms rating. *mosking*

 

[Vladimir]

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Also not sure were you got your reviews from Vlad.

But check out Amazon.co.uk customer reviews for the As500.