I heard the speakers playing a NAD 775 which is rated at 100x7 and it was way loud! Too loud. Therefore the the 80X6 of the 540 seems fine unless the NAD is higher current and more conservatively rated.
Yes, NAD does mention their power conservatively and truthfully. Please bear in mind that most AVR manufacturers play with words. For example they may say 80 watts into 6 channels with two channels driven. What this means is that with all channels driven, the power will drop dramatically. They may also say xx watts tested at xxxx frequency. What this means is that the same amp may not be able to deliver ample power at all frequencies.
Companies such as NAD seem to be more truthful. If they say 100 into 7 channels, they will usually deliver 100 watts into each and every channel even when you drive all channels.
Generally driving all channels may not be required as very few movies have sound that need high power in all channels. But when there are certain scenes that do, then the amp has to be able to deliver.
Also looked at the back of a few different receivers and noticed seperate preouts for each speaker....I was expecting one preout....
SO is it standard to connect each speaker seperately from the processor to the power AMP?
I think you are getting confused between analogue and digital connections. A digital connection can carry multiple channels of audio data. An analogue channel can carry only one. A pre-out is always analogue.
Most power amplifiers have very little or no processing capabilities. They just take the given input and amplify it. Thus all processing including pre-amplification and DAC have to be done by the sound processor. The data that goes to a power amplifier is always analogue. Thus you will have as many analogue pre-outs as you have channels. Remember, even the Point 1 in an AVR that goes to the sub is a kind of pre-out focussed on low frequencies.
Cheers
