Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    21

    Subwoofer wattage has to be same as a/v reciever?

    I have a 770watt reciever (110x7)and I am running 7 speaker surround, and I am looking to get a subwoofer. I see everything from 100watt to 400 watt subwoofers. Do I have to use a subwoofer that is same wattage as the speaker channels (110w) Or can I get something like the 400watt?
    Last edited by someguy03; 08-20-2006 at 03:58 PM.

  2. #2
    Super Moderator Site Moderator JohnMichael's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Central Ohio
    Posts
    6,307
    Quote Originally Posted by someguy03
    I have a 110watt reciever and I am running 7 speaker surround, and I am looking to get a subwoofer. I see everything from 100watt to 400 watt subwoofers. Do I have to use a subwoofer that is same wattage as my reciever (110)? Or can I get something like the 400watt?

    Your sub can have a higher powered amp and there are many reasons you would want a bigger amp. The powered sub will have controls to balance it's output with your main speakers.
    JohnMichael
    Vinyl Rega Planar 2, Incognito rewire, Deepgroove subplatter, ceramic bearing, Michell Technoweight, Rega 24V motor, TTPSU, FunkFirm Achroplat platter, Michael Lim top and bottom braces, 2 Rega feet and one RDC cones. Grado Sonata, Moon 110 LP phono.
    Digital
    Sony SCD-XA5400ES SACD/cd SID mat, Marantz SA 8001
    Int. Amp Krell S-300i
    Speaker
    Monitor Audio RS6
    Cables
    AQ SPKR and AQ XLR and IC

  3. #3
    BooBs are elitist jerks shokhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Cal
    Posts
    1,994
    Quote Originally Posted by someguy03
    I have a 110watt reciever and I am running 7 speaker surround, and I am looking to get a subwoofer. I see everything from 100watt to 400 watt subwoofers. Do I have to use a subwoofer that is same wattage as my reciever (110)? Or can I get something like the 400watt?
    15 per ch or 110 per ch? Worry about the sub and forget what watts your receiver is. BTW,get the 400wt sub,lol.
    Look & Listen

  4. #4
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    21
    Quote Originally Posted by shokhead
    15 per ch or 110 per ch? Worry about the sub and forget what watts your receiver is. BTW,get the 400wt sub,lol.

    Its 110x7

    Its 770 watts total

  5. #5
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    23
    ARE YOU KIDDING...your sub, (should be powerd) has nothing to do with your recievers output....the amp in your reciever powers everything as far as your mains and surrounds......your sub, a POWERD SUB....has its own amp....just chosse wisely
    Yamaha RX-V2600
    Adcom GFA555 x 2(both in mono)
    Yamaha CD685 cd changer
    Yamaha Dvd c950 dvd changer
    Polk RTi12 mains
    Polk CSi3 center
    Polk psw303
    Polk RTi6 (surround and surround back)
    Acoustic Research 12in 200 watt sub(8 years old and still hits hard)
    WindyWillys cooling fan (works great)
    Mitsubishi 52in big screen

  6. #6
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    23
    Quote Originally Posted by someguy03
    I have a 770watt reciever (110x7)and I am running 7 speaker surround, and I am looking to get a subwoofer. I see everything from 100watt to 400 watt subwoofers. Do I have to use a subwoofer that is same wattage as the speaker channels (110w) Or can I get something like the 400watt?
    truth is....your 110 watts per channel recievr is really putting out about 60 to 65 watts real power.....but your sub is not going to affect any thing your reciever does being it is powered by its own amp
    Yamaha RX-V2600
    Adcom GFA555 x 2(both in mono)
    Yamaha CD685 cd changer
    Yamaha Dvd c950 dvd changer
    Polk RTi12 mains
    Polk CSi3 center
    Polk psw303
    Polk RTi6 (surround and surround back)
    Acoustic Research 12in 200 watt sub(8 years old and still hits hard)
    WindyWillys cooling fan (works great)
    Mitsubishi 52in big screen

  7. #7
    Forum Regular N. Abstentia's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Posts
    2,671
    Yeah your receiver will never come close to doing 110 watts per channel (add a good 50 wpc component amp and you'd be surprised how much louder and better it will sound!), and generally a subwoofer will require at least twice as much power as your recevier. The more the better for a subwoofer, since it has to work 2 to 3 times harder than your other speakers.

    Welcome to the world of 'real watts' vs. 'marketing'

    Just be careful that the '400 watt' subwoofer you're looking at is not just blowing marketing hype for the power rating.

    To be honest, the best thing to do is list what you're looking at and let everyone here tell you which ones are real and which are junk.

  8. #8
    Loving This kexodusc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Department of Heuristics and Research on Material Applications
    Posts
    9,025
    Don't worry about wattage too much...you have to double the wattage to acheive a 3 dB increase in loudness, which is very small - most of the time you are probably using less than 1 watt to drive your speakers to loud volumes.

    Subwoofers have lower impedance than most speakers, and because of that they suck electrical current like there's no tomorrow. So you see subs matched with high powered amps. Even subs don't need it all most of the time, but its nice to have because an underpowered sub sounds like a big fart.

    Usually subs require more power than speakers because they are much less efficient - so a sub might need double, quadruple and even 8 times the power a speaker needs to play as loud as that speaker. Power is usually cheaper to buy than a high efficiency woofer so most companies take that approach.

  9. #9
    golden ear
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    laguna, philippines
    Posts
    234
    for ht use, your subs power has to be a lot higher than the amps. but if you are going to use them for stereo music listening, same power as the amps would do just fine.

  10. #10
    Forum Regular filecat13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    492

    Smile

    Regardless of the power per channel of your receiver, the subwoofer has to have enough power to drive it to satisfying levels. A powered sub with an abundance of power can be dialed back; a powered sub with insufficient power can only be driven to distortion.

    At a minimum, N. Absentia's rule of thumb of at least twice the power is a good starting point. Due to the relatively low output (all channels driven) of your receiver, I'd say 250W is the starting point for you in looking for a powered sub, and really a good 12", 14", or 15" powered sub with 400W or more would be better.

    Yes, you can buy some good quality subs from reputable manufacturers that are 8" or 10" with 150–250W amps, but save your money. They will disappoint over time, especially if you do a lot of HT, and you'll be yearning for a bigger, more powerful unit to give you the oomph at the bottom that you're really longing for.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •