Amp wattage question

Video Asylum

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I need some clarification on amp power please. I keep seeing web sites refer to doubling of amp power to gain a 3dB increase in loudness. If that is the case, then going from a 100 watt amp to a 200 watt shouldn't be that much of a difference, right? So any amp around 125 watts or 150 watts isn't really all that different from a "lowly" 100 watt amp?
I'm trying to figure out why I would spend money on a new amplifier in the 200 watt range, when something around 125 watts "theoretically" is close the same. Is there another reason? Bigger amps are a lot heavier and a lot costlier which I want to avoid. At what point is it enough?
BTW, I bring this up because I have a 100 watt A/V receiver with 7 channels. I know from reading other forums that it is not near that with all channels driven. I'll be purchasing some new speakers of which are a lowly 85dB sensitive and about 4-6 Ohm. I know most receivers have an issue with this, hence my desire to bump it up a little with a separate amp. But would I need to get a 200 watt amp? Or just a better a 100 watt amp to handle the less sensitive speakers?
Robert

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Topic - Amp wattage question - Valnar 13:32:56 06/10/04 (7)

Re: Amp wattage question - Hornlover 08:36:26 06/11/04 (2)

Almost - Kal Rubinson 15:38:27 06/15/04 (1)

Re: Almost - Hornlover 09:08:03 06/17/04 (0)

3dB increase is twice as loud. - Joe Murphy Jr 19:26:58 06/10/04 (3)

Ooops! - Joe Murphy Jr 18:45:01 06/11/04 (1)

While listening to... - thoriated_tiger 13:16:41 06/15/04 (0)

Not quite.. - thoriated_tiger 13:29:04 06/11/04 (0)

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