Citation 7.1 CUTS out, do I need More Power?

You are better off not bridging if the 10Ts are of 4Ohm nominal. The amp ends up seeing half of that load in bridged mode. Stability is also an issue in bridged mode. That said, the Citation 7.1 is supposedly stable down to 2 ohm and can still deliver down to 1 ohm. It's available power retracts when the load is 1ohm and will probably shut down for less. Given all this, I'm curious to know at what SPL level this is happening, and how the SPL isn't affecting you.

P.S. How do you like the 7.1 compared to the rest of the amps that you tried? Also, I have some factory power specs for the 7.1 that I found on the digitaltheater forum. Let me know if you want it.

Wywhcan,

First, I would LOVE the factory power specs, please do send them!

As I mentioned, when I had this amp bridged, it stays in 8 ohms. After switching to BIAMP the speakers, the 7.1 runs 150 x 4 @8 ohms, and 210 x 4 @4ohms. This has made ALL the differences in the world. It was 11:30OPM last night when I made the switch and wasn't able to run very loud very long. The clipping/shut down happens ABOUT 100-112db. I am using the Radio Shack analog SPL meter and am just figuring out how to use it. The shut down happens around 100, give or take.

I don't sit around and listen to music (or Madonna for that matter) at these levels, but I am setting things up and like to push the limits, checking things like this at the same time.

I think running 4 channels of the 7.1 to the 10T's and 2 channels of the other 7.1 to the CC3B will be plenty of power, and good sonics as well. This leaves me 6 MORE channels (since I am using 3 7.1's) for surrounds, sides, and for the deck speakers.

Thanks for the input Wywhcan, and please do send me the specs!!

Dan

Dan,

I emailed you the spec. Hope it helps. By this spec, in bridged mode, the drivers of 10Ts will probably reach their mechanical limit/extension before your 7.1 runs out of gas.

Hey Dan - looks like you've received some pretty sound advice thus far - but I will go out on a limb here and ask if this problem occurs mostly during DTS playback?

Hi Brian,

No, actually in just straight stereo. I am about to push the biamp configuration now and see what the outcome is.........