Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions 3808 clipping

searched a bit on the forum, didn't find anything relative right away, created account now posting.

My setup: denon 3808, m80s, 150 center, qs8 rears, 2x ep500. i have the m80s bi amped according to seetings on the 3808.
Problem: receiver clips when listening to music in 5 ch after about 10-15 minutes at 0.0 to +5.0 db volume level...wtf, my assumption is even more power is required...the receiver is set alone to get adequate cooling, but still seems like it heats up at those volumes then shuts down.

Erik, welcome. The first point is that the 3808 can't actually bi-amp speakers, despite the suggestion in the manual. There's only one power supply section, and doing the so-called "bi-amp" procedure can't increase the power available in any amount.

Although you use the term "clipping", it appears that you're instead talking about overheating and shutting down. The volume setting that you mention seems to be a bit high for average use. Do you have an SPL meter to measure the actual sound levels when this is going on? It may simply be that you're listening at too loud a level, which the overheats and endangers the receiver, and much more importantly endangers your hearing.

One additional thought is that sometimes a loose strand of speaker wire can be vibrated into contact at loud levels and cause a shutdown even if overheating hasn't occurred. Very carefully reconnect all the speaker wiring, even if it appears to be okay.

Welcome to the Axiom forum erikskiguy.

How big of a room are you trying to fill? +5 on the Denon is very high volume setting.

Yeah that is pretty high... I don't think I ever turn my 3808 up that loud. However, my room is small to medium size (2250 cf)

thanks for the replies. I agree, +5 on the 3808 is very loud and I probably should not turn it up that high anymore. I do not have an SPL to verify sound levels, but Denon most likely does not suggest listening this loud. My room size is roughly 2500 cubic feet, so not too big.

Another question on the bi-amping advertised by Denon. Is the only benefit I am getting out of this a pure and seperate signal to the woofers and tweeters? The manual also states if I hook up in bi-amp mode like I am now I cannot hook up 7 channels. With the new 7.1 MA formats I would like to go to 7 channels. Would my best bet be to disconnect the proclaimed bi-amping or add in another amp to power back speakers?

you can use the rear channels even if your not listening to MA movies. Using Dobly PLIIx makes use of the rear channels, I used that mode all the time. It could be your problem stems from the way you have the 80's hooked up. I think you should try the good ole fashion way of using the standard l/r front channel jacks, and use the rears for rears. Also, you have not said, but if you have removed the gold bar between the speaker terminals, place it back. This is not true bi-amping.

Erik, there's no extra "pure and separate signal" benefit either. The woofers and tweeters always get separate signals because of the division in the crossover. What particular set of output transistors they happen to be connected to doesn't make any difference. So sure, obviously if you want the output transistors for the back surround channels to be doing something that's actually meaningful, connect them to back surround speakers.

Thanks, I read the article on bi-amping from your webpage. Makes a lot more sense now. I will replace the gold bar on the m80s and remove the extra wire, then most likely get another set of qs8's to set up as rear speakers.