Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater New Amp smaller speakers; keep amp bigger speakers

Hi:

I have an Kenwood KA770D integrated amp (14 yrs. old).
It has 80 watts per channel min rms, both channels with no more than .055% THD.
A dampening factor of 500 (50 hz into 8 ohms). Maximum continuous output 1khz at 4ohms is 120w.
Dynamic power of 190w per channel at 4ohms.
Total harmonic distortion at 8ohms of 93w + 93W. Power bandwidth of 10hz to 45hz at .09% THD into 8 ohms.
Signal to noise ratio of tuner/aux/tape at 108db.
It has 3 dat/tape hookups, phono, aux, tuner and cd.

Now, I want to know is it worth keeping this amp based on above specifications because it has been working well and buy the 60s or put money into a new integrated amp and but 22s?

Thanks

Hi intune,

Keep your Kenwood if it's still working well and get the M60's. You've got lots of power to drive them. Indeed, back in those days manufacturers were much more fastidious and honest about stating the true output power of amplifiers.

Nowadays, you almost never see specs like "power bandwidth" because output power is measured at a single frequency--1 kHz--(it results in bigger numbers) rather than over the full audible range. Even worse, many brands of home theater receivers advertise the output power with only one channel driven, which is very misleading.

If you haven't had trouble with the Kenwood so far, you can expect to likely get five or six more years use from it.

Regards,

Alan has some sound advice for you, as always, no pun intended.

If your amp is still pumping out good power, then I would keep it.
You would be surprised how loud a pair of larger Axiom speakers can go with a clean 8wpc into 8 ohms, or the M80's at 4 ohms.

Axiom speakers will give you way more bang for your buck than a new amp would.

Thank you both for quick responses. After I read them yesterday, I sent the Amp out to have the switches cleaned and it checked out overall. And I have decided with Alan that the 60s are the best choice.

As to the Amp, it was a gift from my brother who died of cancer almost 3 years ago. Thats why I still use the 'ole amp. (Buying and selling stereo equipment became his hobby after being diagnosed with cancer)

Now, as to a new amp someday, I have decide on either a NAD C350 or 370, Creek 4330SE or 5350 amps or an Onix 2150 preamp/3000 amp set.

Thanks