AaylaSecura
New Member
Greetings! I want to buy a pair of passive floor-standing speakers (currently hesitating between Pioneer SP-FS52, Yamaha NS-50 and Wharfedale Atlantic AT-400). I need an amplifier for them, but I am confused about a few things:
1) Important: I read here that continuous and program (same as RMS) power level are two different things and that continuous < program. I also read that I should run the speakers at a level that's in between those two (so definitely below program or RMS). I'm confused... everywhere else I've read, they say continuous and program are the same (and I should have an amp that can give more than that). when reading specs about passive speakers they all say "recommended amp. power, e.g. 20-150W", so is 150W the maximum program or continuous power? should I use an amplifier that's around 180-200W for these to avoid clipping or around 100-120W to avoid burning the speakers?
2) Apart from power (and impedance) is there anything else I need to consider? I read somewhere that with passive speakers the "phase matching" may affect sound quality or dynamics, but I'm not sure what this refers to.
3) I also read that some speakers lack a crossover, so would need a different amplifier input for each driver, so I would need an amplifier that is bi- or tri-amp. How can I tell from the specs of the speakers--some of the ones I looked at list crossover frequencies, so these definitely need a single input, but what about speakers that don't list anything related to crossover?
4) Important: If I later want to add a passive subwoofer (and I have a stereo amplifier), can I do that? Just to check if I understand the connections correctly: can I in principle connect both speakers in parallel on the same channel (adjusting the "volume" so they don't get too much power) and connect the subwoofer to the other channel? That would of course mean I lose one of the channels and would need to mix any content to mono on my OS before sending it out to the amp.
Finally, I really do not want to (cannot) spend a lot of money on the amplifier as well, so could I get a few suggestions on amps that will work reliably but are cheap (on the AU eBay)? Note, I am connecting a PC sound card to the amp, so (if my understanding is correct), I don't need a DAC/pre-amp or an integrated amplifier, just a simple power amplifier, correct?
P.S. And, umh..., a dumb question but (I've never used an amplifier, so) I'm guessing I adjust the power sent to the speakers (and thus the volume level) from the amplifier (possibly with a remote), correct? Will the amplifier display the power output in Watts, so I know if it's safe (and don't have to rely on my judging, I don't know how overpowered speakers sound)? Also, is it better to keep the amp at a set power and adjust the audio from the OS (the sound card output I'll be using is analog, I guess not many amps out there with an optical input), or vice versa?
1) Important: I read here that continuous and program (same as RMS) power level are two different things and that continuous < program. I also read that I should run the speakers at a level that's in between those two (so definitely below program or RMS). I'm confused... everywhere else I've read, they say continuous and program are the same (and I should have an amp that can give more than that). when reading specs about passive speakers they all say "recommended amp. power, e.g. 20-150W", so is 150W the maximum program or continuous power? should I use an amplifier that's around 180-200W for these to avoid clipping or around 100-120W to avoid burning the speakers?
2) Apart from power (and impedance) is there anything else I need to consider? I read somewhere that with passive speakers the "phase matching" may affect sound quality or dynamics, but I'm not sure what this refers to.
3) I also read that some speakers lack a crossover, so would need a different amplifier input for each driver, so I would need an amplifier that is bi- or tri-amp. How can I tell from the specs of the speakers--some of the ones I looked at list crossover frequencies, so these definitely need a single input, but what about speakers that don't list anything related to crossover?
4) Important: If I later want to add a passive subwoofer (and I have a stereo amplifier), can I do that? Just to check if I understand the connections correctly: can I in principle connect both speakers in parallel on the same channel (adjusting the "volume" so they don't get too much power) and connect the subwoofer to the other channel? That would of course mean I lose one of the channels and would need to mix any content to mono on my OS before sending it out to the amp.
Finally, I really do not want to (cannot) spend a lot of money on the amplifier as well, so could I get a few suggestions on amps that will work reliably but are cheap (on the AU eBay)? Note, I am connecting a PC sound card to the amp, so (if my understanding is correct), I don't need a DAC/pre-amp or an integrated amplifier, just a simple power amplifier, correct?
P.S. And, umh..., a dumb question but (I've never used an amplifier, so) I'm guessing I adjust the power sent to the speakers (and thus the volume level) from the amplifier (possibly with a remote), correct? Will the amplifier display the power output in Watts, so I know if it's safe (and don't have to rely on my judging, I don't know how overpowered speakers sound)? Also, is it better to keep the amp at a set power and adjust the audio from the OS (the sound card output I'll be using is analog, I guess not many amps out there with an optical input), or vice versa?