Watts what exactly is the sound quality difference?

[hershon]

Appreciate you making the attempt to anser this. If watts apparently is not going to make the difference in hearing the sound a classic CD on a home movie system, can somebody tell me what is? Any systems you'd recommend for under $600 with or without a DVD player/receiver? If so what will be the difference between what I'm hearing in this system then on my Koss C-220 200 watts system? Is the moral of this thread going to be, do not buy a system online or on EBAY without actually listening to it first? Thanks

[mtrycraft]

Appreciate you making the attempt to anser this. If watts apparently is not going to make the difference in hearing the sound a classic CD on a home movie system, can somebody tell me what is? Any systems you'd recommend for under $600 with or without a DVD player/receiver? If so what will be the difference between what I'm hearing in this system then on my Koss C-220 200 watts system? Is the moral of this thread going to be, do not buy a system online or on EBAY without actually listening to it first? Thanks

I am not sure if I can answere all your concerns.
Speakers, room acoustics and the recording itself it the most critical part of playback. If a speaker is sensitive, that is it playes loud with 1 watts of power as measured by standard protocol, you will need less power. If it is not sensitive, you will need much more. To double the perceived loudenss you need 10 times the power, a logarithmic scale.

What setup do you have now? What is it you dislike about it? If it is the speakers that you dislike, you need to actually listen to them, more the merrier

But remember, that listening room will sound different from yours at home. Your acoustic memory to remember one listeing room to another is very poor and unreliable. You may want to try to take one home that you are serious about.

[hershon]

My immediate concern on my Koss C-220 (200 watts home theater) is that about 80% of the reviews on Amazon are negative and they say the sound is tinny and the bass is subpar. It's Ok to me in that the DVD's sound OK in surround sound and their is good seperation and stereo sound when I play classic rock CD's, however, it doesn't sound as warm as the CD's I play in my bedroom on a simple two satellite 6 watts each , 1 22 watt subwoofer speaker system (Altec Lansing ACS- these are computer speakers but they sound better than any speakers I've ever had and use them as speakers for my regular stereo system) attached to a Technics SL-PD687 CD player (the subwoofer controls the volume and you don't need to EQ it). These speakers use to be $150 now you can get them on EBAY for $40 and if nothing else they're the best computer speakers I've ever heard, so good I use them as my main stereo speakers as well.

Anyway, I'm trying to see if its worth my while to upgrade my home theater system to something listing for $600 or less that will make my regular CD's sound even better than the stereo unit I have in my bedroom that's 44 watts total. Albeit I was in Best Buy and when I put on a Who CD on a Yamaha 600 watts system, the sound was not significantly better than my Koss C-220 200 watts system, albeit the room accoustics/ambience were different.

Any comments, recommendation would be appreciated as I'm always looking to improve myself if I can afford it.

I am not sure if I can answere all your concerns.
Speakers, room acoustics and the recording itself it the most critical part of playback. If a speaker is sensitive, that is it playes loud with 1 watts of power as measured by standard protocol, you will need less power. If it is not sensitive, you will need much more. To double the perceived loudenss you need 10 times the power, a logarithmic scale.

What setup do you have now? What is it you dislike about it? If it is the speakers that you dislike, you need to actually listen to them, more the merrier

But remember, that listening room will sound different from yours at home. Your acoustic memory to remember one listeing room to another is very poor and unreliable. You may want to try to take one home that you are serious about.

[mtrycraft]

My immediate concern on my Koss C-220 (200 watts home theater) is that about 80% of the reviews on Amazon are negative and they say the sound is tinny and the bass is subpar. It's Ok to me in that the DVD's sound OK in surround sound and their is good seperation and stereo sound when I play classic rock CD's, however, it doesn't sound as warm as the CD's I play in my bedroom on a simple two satellite 6 watts each , 1 22 watt subwoofer speaker system (Altec Lansing ACS- these are computer speakers but they sound better than any speakers I've ever had and use them as speakers for my regular stereo system) attached to a Technics SL-PD687 CD player (the subwoofer controls the volume and you don't need to EQ it). These speakers use to be $150 now you can get them on EBAY for $40 and if nothing else they're the best computer speakers I've ever heard, so good I use them as my main stereo speakers as well.

Anyway, I'm trying to see if its worth my while to upgrade my home theater system to something listing for $600 or less that will make my regular CD's sound even better than the stereo unit I have in my bedroom that's 44 watts total. Albeit I was in Best Buy and when I put on a Who CD on a Yamaha 600 watts system, the sound was not significantly better than my Koss C-220 200 watts system, albeit the room accoustics/ambience were different.

Any comments, recommendation would be appreciated as I'm always looking to improve myself if I can afford it.

I wouldn't expect a difference in amps from what you have, that C220, and in store stuff.
You are trying to compare a 6 watt amp to the C220, on computer speakers? It is that 6 watt amp and the speaker combination.
I would not sell that C220 as it can be useful. Better speakers?

[jackz4000]

I sure don't mean to be a snotty audio kinda guy, 'cuz I'm not. I got no real idea of what you are lookin' for...exactly. Watts? Can't give you any raves about the Koss HT box set-up or about your Altec computer sound. They are probably..."cute". But, not much more than that. Moon and Townsend would have never listened to their tracks on that stuff.

You need some audio listening experience which you are not really gonna get---with what you got. Here m'boy we are talking HIGH FIDELITY and I got a feeling you ain't never really HEARD it. You will know it the second you hear it...it will knock your socks off. Probably it ain't at the big box stores, but it is out there.

Watts? There are watts and then there are watts. So many variables for the ear. If your Koss was upgraded to 600 watts, there would probably not be a huge difference. You could, for example compare audibly the 200 watts on your Koss HT to....say 200 watts from a Krell or a Levinson amp. A Koss HT watt and a Levinson watt are going to be quite different. One would infer that because of the very different and audible sound. Because we are talking QUALITY. They will definitely sound much different---like from a different planet. Speakers? They are going to make a big difference too.

Forget all about your watts questions....its not really answerable because of variables. Instead, start learning about all the really great equipment out there--- which ain't at Best Buy and Circuit City. Go out and find some audio stores near you or 200 miles away and go and listen. If you are looking for great sound, then you have alot to learn and ain't nothing wrong with learning new things. Tons of experienced and savy guys on this board. Takes a little time. First thing you gotta do---is listen to some high end gear and feel the music. Think high fidelity first and watts...second. Watts alone, are for the ignorant. Like old PT Barnum said, " For the suckers." Either start to learn or be a comfy potato with you box set. Best thing---go out and listen to some great equipment by manufacturers you may never have heard of. Feel the music. Cheerio.

[hershon]

Appreciate your comments but I don't have the time or patience to make 200 mile journeys, etc. To save some time, and I'm not being sarcastic here, are their any home theater or stereo setups listing under $600 that you would recommend so I could then "journey" to some local stores and check out their sound to see if I notice a difference and want to buy. If you say, that there is nothing in that price range you'd recommend, fine, I'm not going to spend $600 or over no matter what the improvement, its not worth it to me. But anyway, any recommendations would be welcome.

[N. Abstentia]

Please don't take offense to these comments, but this is how it is:

1) If you don't have the time and patience to do some intense listening tests, then you're not dedicated enough to hear a difference in a high quality setup and a crappy setup. As you said (and I quote) "It's not worth it to me." So don't worry about it.

2) If you ARE looking for the best sound quality, $600 won't do it. Lots of folks here have more than that invested just in cables!

3) To answer your question in plain English, watts has NOTHING to do with sound quality. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

Keep in mind that power ratings (watts) on equipment found at Walmart/BestBuy/CircuitCity are very misleading which is why I can take a good 50 watt amp bought from real store and blow a 600 watt amp from Walmart/Bestbuy/CircuitCity off the planet.

[Smokey]

3) To answer your question in plain English, watts has NOTHING to do with sound quality. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

Sorry, but that statement is not "politically" correct. If you don't have enough power to reproduced music peaks faithfully, then nothing else matter because distortion (mainly clipping) will be introduced into the system...which we can't get rid of.

Having ample power in a system is like having a good foundation for a house. You will need a solid foundation to build on, or the house will come crumbling down at the first sign of weather disaster a.k.a. music clipping

[gonefishin]

Appreciate your comments but I don't have the time or patience to make 200 mile journeys, etc. To save some time, and I'm not being sarcastic here, are their any home theater or stereo setups listing under $600 that you would recommend so I could then "journey" to some local stores and check out their sound to see if I notice a difference and want to buy. If you say, that there is nothing in that price range you'd recommend, fine, I'm not going to spend $600 or over no matter what the improvement, its not worth it to me. But anyway, any recommendations would be welcome.

I'm sure you'll get varying answers on this...but it really seems like a good way to get "into" this hobby. Buy a lower budget system so you can start enjoy music today, then...as time and money permits...explore what more expensive systems may sound like. If you like it...you may decide to get into this hobby a little more. But in the mean time...you spend a relatively low amount of money for an audio system. Great idea!

Sounds like this approach may suit you well.


What system should you get?

For $600.00 investment in an audio system...and after reading the approach you would like to have.


I would go to a couple stores in your area. If this is BestBuy, Circuit City, Tweeter and one mo and pop audio store...that would be great.

I would only go with two channel right now...to get the maximum out of your $600.00.

If you can, use a CD or DVD player you already own...this will allow you to get the maximum out of your $600.00

Do you have any current speaker wire or interconnects? If so, what awg (wire gauge) are they? If they're sufficient, use what you have...or buy some lower priced stuff for your new system. This will allow you to get the maximum out of you $600.00.

Now, go to the stores above and pick out an amp/speaker combo that you think sounds good. That's it! Don't worry about what others (me included) think you should or shouldn't buy. Get yourself a speaker/amp combo that you like. If it has bloated bass...who gives a hoot! If it's got a recessed midrange...who gives a hoot! Get a system that has the sound you like, and start enjoy your music and your system. As time progresses you can then decide if this hobby is for you. Then you can drive to different places listening to different systems...paying attention to what your preferences are shaping into. But do this as a progression...and you'll know that you have never made a bad move. Because every system you've bought was purchased because you enjoy it, even if the last system you buy is the first.

Also know that there may be several path you can take to achieve the same goal. Take advice from all of these posts and find a path that suits you and your needs. I doubt any one of us will have a totally correct answer for you. So use the bits ya like from each


most of all...have fun

[Geoffcin]

Appreciate your comments but I don't have the time or patience to make 200 mile journeys, etc. To save some time, and I'm not being sarcastic here, are their any home theater or stereo setups listing under $600 that you would recommend so I could then "journey" to some local stores and check out their sound to see if I notice a difference and want to buy. If you say, that there is nothing in that price range you'd recommend, fine, I'm not going to spend $600 or over no matter what the improvement, its not worth it to me. But anyway, any recommendations would be welcome.

OK, I got you; You want to spend on the order of $600 and want to know if it's going to sound better than what you have now. The anser is YES, and I can reccomend soemthing for you. Your going to have to take my word on it, as your not going to be aboe to listen to it in a store. My reccomendation is the Cambridge Soundworks Movieworks 5.1. While I don't have the sattilite speakers in this setup, I do have a CSW 12s sub, and it cranks out bass. Here's a link;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3090103749

If you like the sound of your computer speakers just wait till you here these!

[hershon]

Thanks for the link which I went to. A few questions for you. I play my system in an average size living room in an apartment complex, therefore it is imperative that I do not have a "booming" bass that causes vibrations and annoys neighbors- personally I do not like the bass to be prominent and/or overbearing, just prefer it being subtle so I can hear bass guitar notes blending in with the rest of the sound. They say in the link that this is "room shaking bass". Won't this then by innapropriate for listening in an apartment especially for someone like me who does not want to be overpowered by bass? Also, in regards to speakers, if my receiver plays 220 watts or so, and other speakers are say 100 watts each speaker, won't those speakers be innappropriate for a 220 watt reciever?