Jingles wrote:

I'm building myself a 2.1 stereo system. I have chosen most of the parts: a pair of Sonus Faber Venere 1.5 speakers and a SVS PB1000 Sub.

Both AMPs are essentially the same, the main difference between the two besides the price (locally the C 368 is $1,499, and $2,299 for the C 388) is that the C 388 offers more power (150W) than the C C68 (80W).

Right now I'm thinking I'd be better off to go with the C 368 and spend the money I save on the MDC BluOS module. I don't understand what benefit is to be had by spending an extra $800 on an additional 70W of power.

I understand that the power needs to double to increase the volume by 1db so the extra power as I understand wouldn't do anything for volume. I also understand that more power isn't always better and that the extra 70W would provide extra head room in regards to brief bursts of high volume.

So I'm wondering what, if any, additional benefits are to be had by choosing the C 388. Can someone else more experienced enlighten me as to whether there are any other benefits of choosing the C388 (over the C 368), and the extra power that it offers to justify dropping the extra money on it? Is there anything that I have overlooked?

The key thing is the very low sensitivity of your speakers; only 85 db/watt/meter. That requires a great deal of power.

This means that 10 watts will give you a SPL of 95db 1 meter in front of your speakers, and 100 watts will give you an SPL of 105 db. 105 db is quite loud, but thatis one meter in front of the speaker. At normal listening distance, it will be considerably less.

Based on those facts, I would say that the 80 watt amplifier would be inadequate for those speakers. The 150 watt amplifier would be barely adequate.

If I were shopping for an amp for those speakers, I would want something rated for at least 200 watts per channel. The 150 watt amp may be sufficient, but I certainly would NOT want the lower-powered amp.

By the way; doubling power is a 3db increase (not 1 db).

3db = 10 to the power 0.3 = 2

10 db = 10 to the power 1.0 = 10

I recommend the Musical Fidelity M6si, which is a much better-sounding amp which has considerably more power.

It would be far more appropriate for those excellent speakers than the NAD, both in terms of power and also superior sound quality.

I would agree with commsysman. It technically depends on listening levels, room size and how far your listening position is from the speakers but the 85dB on those speakers is quite low. I doubt 80w would be enough. I have a speaker that is rated at 85dB (Raidho X-1) and am delivering 150w into 6 ohms and it is adequate for normal listening but I am in a small-medium room sitting 8' from the speakers. In a larger room or if I was sitting slightly further from the speakers I would need more power. The 150w amp might be adequate but 80w won't be.

Besides the Musical Fidelity M6si integrated, which is really an awesome unit, you might also want to consider the following integrated amps :
* Rotel RA-1592 ($2500).
* Parasound Halo Integrated ($2500).
* NAD M32 ($4k).
* Classe Sigma 2200i stereo integrated amp ($5500).
* Hegel integrated.
* Some McIntosh integrated amps.

I forgot to include the Peachtree Audio Nova 300 integrated amp ($2500) and the Rega Elicit-R integrated amp.
The Rega does not have DAC. it is strictly analog integrated amp.