I've recently become without a Power Amp and just have the AVR powering my speakers. While I'm here I thought I'd carry out a little listening test of just using the AVR against the AVR with additional power. The Receiver is a Marantz SR8012 and the Power Amp was a Emotiva XPA.
Once the power Amp was removed I didn't rerun the EQ but did check all the channel levels along with the Subs, just for good measure. The speaker config. wasn't changed and remained as 5.2.4. So just really simple, nothing technical, no measurements, no graphs, just me having a good old demo session. For this one, it's a movie session only, no music.
Up for listening and in no particular order is, Alita: Battle Angel, John Wick 2, Edge Of Tomorrow, Oblivion & Ready Player One. I chose two listening volumes, the first one at -15.0db and the second at -5.0db. I know even -15.0db could be considered loud or even too loud for a lot of people and -5.0db being totally out of the question. But they represent where I do my listening, typically around -10.0db give or take a few.
First up, Oblivion at -15.0db. At this volume level I didn't expect to encounter any particular issues, and I didn't. I don't consider it to be a particularly complex or dynamic track though.
At -5.0db. Even at this level it didn't sound like things were falling apart. It sounded reasonably controlled if slightly livelier which felt like it was presenting more detail. The AVR didn't sound like it was struggling, but it did have a slight edge to it though.
Next up, Alita: Battle Angel at -15.0db. Again at this volume there was no real problem. Plenty of detail and I could watch the complete movie at this level.
At -5.0db. Now this sounded completely nuts at this volume. The sound became harsh and harder on the ears, and it was more difficult to pick out detail amongst the action. No way could I watch the movie at this volume, it was far too bright and edgy.
Next, Ready Player One at -15.0db. I chose the race scene here, you know the one. This was another one that was still presenting the detail but had a slight edge that I'd heard previously. Like it's bordering on being too loud and marginally too uncomfortable for a whole movie.
At -5.0db. Oh my days, turn it down ! Similar to before, the detail becomes lost in the mayhem and it just gets very rowdy and unsustainable for even a short period of time, never mind the whole movie.
Next, John Wick 2 at -15.0db. You got to love those handgun shots. They come across with such frightening force that they almost hurt the viewer. The impact is astonishing and I think this would be plenty loud enough with the AVR on it's own.
At -5.0db. If you don't want a sore head, don't listen to this at -5.0db as those handgun shots will rip clean through your skull. The shotguns are crazy enough but the handguns are so intense that you could quite likely raise a couple of inches out of the seat, as I did. The scene was in the night club and JW is on the stage and he fires a shot before jumping off and venturing into the caverns. It's head splitting and totally uncomfortable but quite an experience. I warn you not do it !
Next, Ready Player One at -15.0db. OK, I didn't get to attempt this one after my experience with JW 2, I needed time to recover my senses. My head was still a little shell shocked, quite literally. But I dont think I would have experienced anything differently to what I'd heard previously, so it's probably not that much of a loss.
So after all that, I think around -15.0 db is probably the limit. And even then it really depends on what you are listening to and the quality of the mix etc. Jumping the volume from there and I know -5.0 is crazy loud but things to start to break up. It just sounds really loud, losing detail and control with the dynamics running wild and edgy. A bit like an Orchestra without their Conductor. With the Power Amp in play I didn't experience any of these things. I could raise the volume to -5.0db and still pick out detail without the edgy harshness. The sound remained a lot smoother and more sustainable over a period of time.
I haven't replaced the Power Amp yet and so could do another set of demo's now that i've recovered