Vintage gear usable Power Output

Posted by sony6060 (A) on May 15, 2021 at 10:23:00

Amps and receivers are rated RMS power output. But, what can you use without clipping issues at higher volumes? I figured this out with listening to a few receivers. My 40 watt Onkyo TX-2500 starts to clip around 25 watts output and the 50 watt Pioneer SX-1000TW at about 35 watts. It is clearly heard on power demanding bass and I do not have the bass turned up. I do not have a power meter, so it is an estimate. I suspect is close. I am using the standard 87dB sensitive speakers.

This brings up a point you may want more power output than estimated. A Marantz 2216 or other receivers up to 30 watts RMS output per channel would be useless to me on my speakers unless used as a background music system. However, if you have sensitive speakers in the 92dB range you would be ok with a 30 watt per channel RMS receiver.

Using 87dB sensitive speakers, you may want to only consider 50 watts RMS per channel or higher power receivers. I find a direct correlation with used 'Golden Age' (1970 to 1980 year) receiver prices and power output on eBay. Starting about $400 and higher is required for a 50 watts RMS per channel receiver on eBay.

80dB SLP listening volume with Speaker sensitivity and power requirement chart including power reduction provision for clipping. The watts column is the receiver or amplifier RMS power requirement:

104db 8 feet 80db 15db 1.5 watt
101db 8 feet 80db 15db 3 watts
98db 8 feet 80db 15db 4.5 watts
95db 8 feet 80db 15db 9 watts
92db 8 feet 80db 15db 18 watts
89db 8 feet 80db 15db 36 watts
88dB 8 feet 80db 15db 48 watts
87dB 8 feet 88db 15db 60 warrs
86db 8 feet 80db 15db 72 watts
83db 8 feet 80db 15db 144 watts
80db 8 feet 80db 15db 288 watts
77db 8 feet 80db 15db 573 watts

SPL Loudness Reference

Jet aircraft, 50 meters away 140 SPL
Threshold of pain 130 SPL
Threshold of discomfort 120 SPL
Chainsaw, 1 meter distance 110 SPL
Disco, 1 meter from speaker 100 SPL
Diesel truck, 10 meters away 90 SPL
Cerbside of busy road, 5 meter 80 SPL
Vacuum cleaner, 1 meter away 70 SPL
Conversational speech, 1 meter 60 SPL
Average home 50 SPL
Quiet library 40 SPL
Quiet bedroom at night 30 SPL

Note: the estimated power without clipping is based up average bass level or with loudness switch on still should be ok. If you turn up the bass 3/4 to maximum, the driver will use more power. In this case, I would estimate 1/2 the watts RMS output of an amplifier or receiver to have enough reserve power with the maximum bass setting.

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Topic - Vintage gear usable Power Output - sony6060 10:23:00 05/15/21 (31)

RE: Vintage gear usable Power Output - JURB 10:28:44 05/18/21 (3)

RE: Vintage gear usable Power Output - sony6060 11:14:47 05/18/21 (2)

RE: Vintage gear usable Power Output - JURB 16:58:43 05/18/21 (1)

RE: Vintage gear usable Power Output - sony6060 17:40:54 05/18/21 (0)

RE: Vintage gear usable Power Output - Scholl 06:33:01 05/17/21 (0)

Oh my, where are we headed with this thread? - kff 14:36:00 05/16/21 (0)

87 db speakers are Not standard - bare 08:58:23 05/16/21 (23)

RE: 87 db speakers are Not standard - sony6060 10:13:00 05/16/21 (22)

87 db is Low Sensitivity - Triode_Kingdom 14:20:20 05/16/21 (19)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - sony6060 14:36:27 05/16/21 (18)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Triode_Kingdom 08:40:48 05/17/21 (17)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Tre' 09:19:10 05/17/21 (14)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Triode_Kingdom 11:57:11 05/17/21 (5)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Tre' 15:28:41 05/17/21 (0)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Tre' 15:24:52 05/17/21 (3)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Triode_Kingdom 18:05:20 05/17/21 (2)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Story 07:11:28 05/18/21 (0)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Tre' 18:22:05 05/17/21 (0)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - JURB 09:48:54 05/17/21 (7)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Tre' 10:13:22 05/17/21 (1)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - sony6060 10:19:33 05/17/21 (0)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - sony6060 10:07:51 05/17/21 (4)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Triode_Kingdom 11:59:52 05/17/21 (3)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - sony6060 12:14:26 05/17/21 (2)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - Triode_Kingdom 18:07:23 05/17/21 (1)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - sony6060 18:10:44 05/17/21 (0)

RE: 87 db is Low Sensitivity - sony6060 08:48:51 05/17/21 (1)

Those prices are high - kff 02:20:01 05/18/21 (0)

RE: 87 db speakers are Not standard - mark.korda@myfairpoint.net 10:33:04 05/16/21 (1)

RE: 87 db speakers are Not standard - sony6060 11:17:07 05/16/21 (0)

RE: Vintage gear usable Power Output - Palustris 07:34:44 05/16/21 (0)

Vintage gear usable Power Output

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