Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Mono blocks + m80

I was looking at a pair of Outlaw M2200

I suspect you'll get more enjoyment out of a pair of QS8s at this time.

Under the tree is a VP150 and QS8s. I just want to know if it would be a good purchase or not for the M2200's?

Alex, the answer to that question depends on whether you're playing your system at a loudness level that exceeds the capacity of your 2200 and you're getting distortion in a noticeable amount. If not, adding a more powerful amplifier won't be of benefit. There's no magic in a separate amplifier or an amplifier with a higher maximum output capacity if it isn't needed. Unused headroom is simply that: unused.

Sure its an upgrade amplification wise. Presumably you are getting 3 monos for the L/C/R and using the RX-V220 for surrounds. That will give you much more dynamic headroom with its attendant benefits. To optimize it further you might want to run balanced cables to the monos which would be behind each speaker and then short speaker wire from the monos to the speaker.

The best upgrade would be ditching the RX-V220 and the Outlaw monos and buying the A1400-8 if you really want to "electrify" your system.

By definition headroom is capacity on hand for when you need it. For HT it is very easy to clip a receiver amp and it happens often in every receiver based HT I have been in. John your position on this issue disregards the role that amp capacity and unused headroom has in cleanly reproducing peak audio signals. Its not worth debating this point.

Thanks for the answer John.

The best way to find out is the in-home trial. This topic is widely debated. Buy a pair and try them for your ears. Send them back if you don't like them. The return freight is worth the trial.

I have four of the M200s (the older model). They were on my 80s but now drive my surrounds and zone 2s. 3-channel amp now runs the fronts.

Alex,

When I turn up my 90W/channel amp "too much", the sound muddies because I end up getting too many reflections from my room's surfaces. By too much, I'm referring to about 15W/channel nominal in my 4,000 cubic foot space.

I keep wondering how much I'm going to have to spend on sound treatments if I want to take advantage of a few hundred watts in a new amp .

Or is it muddying because the 90W isn't enough headroom and the peaks are clipping just a touch? I know the extra 40W in the 3808 has allowed me to run it louder and cleaner than I thought possible with such a modest increase.