I need some help with sizing a new amp to my speakers. I read that it won't hurt my speakers if I want to exceed the max input power listed by the manufacturer as long as I don't turn the volume up to loud, but this is somewhat vague because how much is "to loud". with My current receiver I play most movies and music at a volume setting of
-15db to -8db (it's volume setting range is from -60db to +18db)and I am not sure if at these levels if I am near the max watts output of my receiver.

here is what I currently own:

* Onkyo TX-SV828THX Receiver

* Paradigm Studio/100's - 15-350 watts (210 watts max input power**)

* Paradigm Studio/CC - 15-175 Watts
(130 watts max input power**)

* Paradigm Studio/ADP - for channels 4&5 - 15-175 watts (130 watts max input power**)

* Paradigm 9SEMK3 - my old speakers for future channels 6 & 7 - 15 - 200 watts
(150 watts max input power**)

** With typical program source, provided the amp clips no more than 10% of the time (as stated in the paradigm spec's).

I want to replace my receiver with an Outlaw 950 Pre/Amp and an Outlaw 770 200 watt 7 Channel Amp when they become available. However I am concerned about exceeding the power range on my center and side speakers by about 15%. Paradigm says you need at least 200 watts to get the most from the Studio/100's and this is why I'm interested in the 770 amp. I know another option is to buy a 5 channel amp like the Outlaw 750 and a 2 channel Amp from someone like ATI, but this would cost more ane take up more space.

I don't want to ruin my new speakers but I sure would like to own to own a 7 channel 200 watt Amp. So any advice would be welcome from some of you experts out there.

Thanks

I've got a similar speaker setup (Studio/60's, Studio/CC, and Studio/ADP's) driven right now by a Model 750. I've shaken the windows in the living room, and I don't think I've gotten close to feeding all 165W to the CC and ADP's. (I'm not saying it can't be done, because all it takes is turning the knob a little farther :-). I can relate to your concern, have so far not been able to stand to get my setup loud enough to actually endanger the center and surrounds. And any time you are listening to music only (assuming you're doing two-channel listening), the CC and ADP's would be safe no matter how loud you cranked the 100's.

You should not have a problem with damaging your surrounds with the 770 unless you listen at very high levels for an extended period. I agree with gonk's views also. I have the 750 and I will be hooking up Paradigm Mini Monitors to them for center surrounds. I will use an ATI 1502 to power my fronts.

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I'm not sure about the 750 or 770, but the amp I use flashes LED's as it approaches clipping. From what I've read in the past, if it isn't clipping and it is a decent speaker, then you're 99% safe.

My feeling is that its better to have the headroom in the transformer section of the amplifier. If, say, you listened at 85dB most of the time and that correlated to 125W, then you are not taxing the transformer on those intermittent loud bangs and booms you get in movies or the large crescendos in musical material.

I wouldn't think twice about the combination, as your eardrums will likely give way first. If anybody can comment about whether or not the 750 or 770 will have some sort of clipping indicator or possibly adjustable gains on each channel, that could set your mind at ease as well. Those features may be present, but I do not know.

S.

I have the 750 and it has a protection device that gradually shuts down the amp if you tax it too much or if there is so electrical problem.

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