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ufcrusher · 10-01-2001, 06:22 PM

OK - whoever told you that it was all salesperson jargon hasnt got a clue in the world. I dont care if they are a harvard trained lawyer or an engineer from MIT, they dont know the equipment. With recievers there are several things. First, you have what is known as a chip amplified receiver. There are two main types of receiversn which are either discrete amplified or chip amplified. Discrete amplified receivers have a separate amp for each channel. This provides for less strain on the unit, cleaner sound (lower THD), and a better all round machine. Chip amplified means that you have either 1 or 3 amps, which are split by a chip into different channels. Most chip amp are 1 split 5 ways. The slightly more expensive chip amps have 1 amp for each front channel and 1 amp for the center and rears. Either way, it is not something you want.

Next, you have Continuous vs. Peak rated - Peak rating is basically the manufacturer taking the machine and seeking what the receiver is capable of putting out in a lab, for a scientifically significant period. They are not listening to the machine, but rather watching its output on a machine. The receiver is generally shot and it would have been unlistenable to the human ear. (As in you wouldnt have wanted to hear it, not that you couldnt hear it.) They are looking for the highest sustained point. Compare this with a contiunous rated machine whereby they look at what the machine is constantly able to put out. Generally the difference in the rating is 20 - 40 watts. Thus, the reason why a 60 watt HK could beat a "100 watt" sony. I always told people to imagine a car. If you are going at a car at 100mph and step on the gas, you expect the car to keep on accelerating if you are told the car can go faster. Now imagine the dealer told you that this car is capable of hitting 100, but the closest you ever get is 60 (due to the engine, not your lack of trying) you would be kind of annoyed. Now compare that with a car where you are told 100 and you can hit 100 without breaking a sweat. The car actually still has some speed left should you need it. I also always had customers who said, we dont need that much power, we never listen to our stereo loud. The truth is that the more power you have, the cleaner it will sound at lower volumes. Imagine driving an automatic vs. a stick when trying to maintain 10 mph. ON the manual you have to constantly do leg work to maintain the speed. With the automatic, there is no such work. You dont have to push in the clutch and let it out to prevent from stalling. The receiver has an easier time and lets in less distortion when it has a bigger well to pull from.

Sony has three line ups. They have their ES series (STRV or STRDA - STRV are this years and last...before that was the strda) which are their top of the line receivers. These are discrete amplified and continuous power rated. Next, is the B series, STRDB - which are the intermediate lineup. SOny took some ES features such as the discrete amplification and slighlty larger heat sinks and coupled it with the cheaper chasis...thus it is a step up from the bottom, but not quite the best. Finally you have the STRDE line up, which includes your STRDE845 receiver. These are chip amplified peak rated machines.

As for timbre matching, the easiest way to think of it is...I am standing to your left talking in a very deep masculine voice...I walk infront of you and suddenly I have jumped an octave higher...I walk to your right and I am back down. YOu want the same sound quality across the spectrum. This means that the speakers need to have the same tweeter design, be made of the same material, and be designed to handle the full range.

Hope that helps

10-01-2001, 06:22 PM	#5
ufcrusher Admiral Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Boca Raton, FL: By way of: Poway, CA; Gainesville, Fl; Penn Valley, Pa. Posts: 5,680	OK - whoever told you that it was all salesperson jargon hasnt got a clue in the world. I dont care if they are a harvard trained lawyer or an engineer from MIT, they dont know the equipment. With recievers there are several things. First, you have what is known as a chip amplified receiver. There are two main types of receiversn which are either discrete amplified or chip amplified. Discrete amplified receivers have a separate amp for each channel. This provides for less strain on the unit, cleaner sound (lower THD), and a better all round machine. Chip amplified means that you have either 1 or 3 amps, which are split by a chip into different channels. Most chip amp are 1 split 5 ways. The slightly more expensive chip amps have 1 amp for each front channel and 1 amp for the center and rears. Either way, it is not something you want. Next, you have Continuous vs. Peak rated - Peak rating is basically the manufacturer taking the machine and seeking what the receiver is capable of putting out in a lab, for a scientifically significant period. They are not listening to the machine, but rather watching its output on a machine. The receiver is generally shot and it would have been unlistenable to the human ear. (As in you wouldnt have wanted to hear it, not that you couldnt hear it.) They are looking for the highest sustained point. Compare this with a contiunous rated machine whereby they look at what the machine is constantly able to put out. Generally the difference in the rating is 20 - 40 watts. Thus, the reason why a 60 watt HK could beat a "100 watt" sony. I always told people to imagine a car. If you are going at a car at 100mph and step on the gas, you expect the car to keep on accelerating if you are told the car can go faster. Now imagine the dealer told you that this car is capable of hitting 100, but the closest you ever get is 60 (due to the engine, not your lack of trying) you would be kind of annoyed. Now compare that with a car where you are told 100 and you can hit 100 without breaking a sweat. The car actually still has some speed left should you need it. I also always had customers who said, we dont need that much power, we never listen to our stereo loud. The truth is that the more power you have, the cleaner it will sound at lower volumes. Imagine driving an automatic vs. a stick when trying to maintain 10 mph. ON the manual you have to constantly do leg work to maintain the speed. With the automatic, there is no such work. You dont have to push in the clutch and let it out to prevent from stalling. The receiver has an easier time and lets in less distortion when it has a bigger well to pull from. Sony has three line ups. They have their ES series (STRV or STRDA - STRV are this years and last...before that was the strda) which are their top of the line receivers. These are discrete amplified and continuous power rated. Next, is the B series, STRDB - which are the intermediate lineup. SOny took some ES features such as the discrete amplification and slighlty larger heat sinks and coupled it with the cheaper chasis...thus it is a step up from the bottom, but not quite the best. Finally you have the STRDE line up, which includes your STRDE845 receiver. These are chip amplified peak rated machines. As for timbre matching, the easiest way to think of it is...I am standing to your left talking in a very deep masculine voice...I walk infront of you and suddenly I have jumped an octave higher...I walk to your right and I am back down. YOu want the same sound quality across the spectrum. This means that the speakers need to have the same tweeter design, be made of the same material, and be designed to handle the full range. Hope that helps __________________ Welcome my son, welcome to the machine...Where have you been? It's alright we know where you've been....