Insight 240? or 260? or 440?

gregmav · « **Reply #20 on:** 7 Mar 2010, 10:02 pm »

Quote from: vintagebob on 7 Mar 2010, 07:53 pm

My bad. You asked, "If you opt for the "double" version, do the specs change significantly, and if so which ones?". That is why I pointed you to that thread with Frank's explanation.

My Double 240/3 works great with my Salk HT2-TLs which are rated @ 87db/4 ohms.

http://www.salksound.com/speakers_veracity_ht2-tl_specs.shtml

No problem. Thanks for the info. By the way, I see the 240's are rated at 120 wpc. Do you know what your power output is now, per channel?

vintagebob · « **Reply #21 on:** 8 Mar 2010, 12:17 am »

Quote from: gregmav on 7 Mar 2010, 10:02 pm

No problem. Thanks for the info. By the way, I see the 240's are rated at 120 wpc. Do you know what your power output is now, per channel?

I don't really know but I imagine around 130 wpc @ 8 ohms? I'm sure that Frank would tell you if you just contacted him.

There are watts and then there are Frank's "muscled" watts. ; )

floresjc · « **Reply #22 on:** 8 Mar 2010, 12:38 am »

Gregmav -

I have a double 240 in a compact chassis. It drives the front L/R of my home theater, which are Salk SongTowers (dome version). Its quite the piece of gear, compact compared to the regular chassis. It gets quite warm, I wouldn't set anything on top of it, but it works great. I don't know what the final specs are for this, but it delivers plenty of power.

mathgeek97 · « **Reply #23 on:** 8 Mar 2010, 01:59 am »

Quote from: vintagebob on 7 Mar 2010, 07:53 pm

My Double 240/3 works great with my Salk HT2-TLs which are rated @ 87db/4 ohms.

Bob, are you playing them crossed over to your sub? or full range?

vintagebob · « **Reply #24 on:** 8 Mar 2010, 02:41 am »

Quote from: mathgeek97 on 8 Mar 2010, 01:59 am

Bob, are you playing them crossed over to your sub? or full range?

Full range. I CAN add in the sub but it doesn't really integrate easily. I find it only adds a "tad" to the bottom end anyway.

avahifi_lj · « **Reply #25 on:** 8 Mar 2010, 03:08 pm »

The Insight 260 and 440 come in the big chassis. The nice thing about the big chassis is that the heatsinks are bigger than the heatsinks used in the compact 240; therefore, the standard (non H version) 260 and 440 have four output devices verses the two devices in the compact chassis. The big chassis heatsinks can support up to six individual devices (single or double die) and have the external surface area to dissipate heat. The Insight 260 and 440 also have a beefier power supply to drive the additional output devices.

I think the most cost effective amps are the Insight 260 and 440 with the double die outputs.

Larry

mathgeek97 · « **Reply #26 on:** 8 Mar 2010, 03:11 pm »

Quote from: avahifi_lj on 8 Mar 2010, 03:08 pm

I think the most cost effective amps are the Insight 260 and 440 with the double die outputs.

Larry

Thanks, Larry. Hopefully I'll make a decision and give you all a call in a few weeks.

turkey · « **Reply #27 on:** 8 Mar 2010, 07:10 pm »

I think you'd be quite happy with a plain Insight 240. I suppose going for the double version doesn't add too much to the cost, so it's probably worth it.

turkey · « **Reply #28 on:** 8 Mar 2010, 09:18 pm »

Quote from: avahifi_lj on 8 Mar 2010, 03:08 pm

The Insight 260 and 440 come in the big chassis. The nice thing about the big chassis is that the heatsinks are bigger than the heatsinks used in the compact 240; therefore, the standard (non H version) 260 and 440 have four output devices verses the two devices in the compact chassis. The big chassis heatsinks can support up to six individual devices (single or double die) and have the external surface area to dissipate heat. The Insight 260 and 440 also have a beefier power supply to drive the additional output devices.

So you no longer get a choice of chassis when you order a 240? The web site needs to be updated in that case.

avahifi_lj · « **Reply #29 on:** 8 Mar 2010, 09:38 pm »

Quote from: turkey on 8 Mar 2010, 09:18 pm

So you no longer get a choice of chassis when you order a 240? The web site needs to be updated in that case.

You can still get the Insight 240 in the big chassis or small chassis.

In the big chassis the Insight 240 is still has the two output device per channel limit. The big chassis heatsinks, however, are more efficient at heat dissipation due to their size, and because they are external to the chassis.

Larry

festuss · « **Reply #30 on:** 9 Mar 2010, 05:38 am »

More WATTS the

better. CONTROL, CONTROL, SLAM IMPACT. You damage speakers easier with not enough, when it clips from underpowered. Anything less than 5,200 or so is not enough for realisms. Always get the biggest one ya can. It ain't about the loud, it's about control and clarity, stress free ease, more watts sound better, and AVA watts are better than others.

turkey · « **Reply #31 on:** 9 Mar 2010, 05:47 pm »

Quote from: festuss on 9 Mar 2010, 05:38 am

More WATTS the better. CONTROL, CONTROL, SLAM IMPACT. You damage speakers easier with not enough, when it clips from underpowered. Anything less than 5,200 or so is not enough for realisms. Always get the biggest one ya can. It ain't about the loud, it's about control and clarity, stress free ease, more watts sound better, and AVA watts are better than others.

More watts isn't always better. For instance, people with speakers with high sensitivity may not need huge amps.

The difference between a 100W amp and a 200W or 300W one may not be that great when it comes to handling peaks, since peaks can actually require thousands of watts for very brief periods.

People also often observe that amps like the UltraValve drive speakers as well as other amps with much higher rated power output. So bigger isn't always better.

And I really hope that festuss isn't that CE person.

martyo · « **Reply #32 on:** 9 Mar 2010, 06:00 pm »

Hey festuss, what speakers do you plan on driving with your amp?

mathgeek97 · « **Reply #33 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 05:48 pm »

I've made a final decision!
After getting a decision helping e-mail from Frank, it looks like i will do
Vision EC DAC -> T8+ -> Insight Double 260.
The Double 440 really is overkill in my room with my speakers. If I ever do upgrade to ineffecient speakers in the not so near future, I'll probably be ready to change my gear, too.

However, as my grandmother used to say, "Man plans, God laughs."
Thirty minutes after getting Franks e-mail and itching for a break at work so I could order already, my wife called to tell me our house was on fire. Two gutted out bathrooms and a lot of water damage later it looks like I might be out of my house for 90 days. Ugh! Fortunately, nobody was hurt, the fire was contained (and yes, the HT2-TLs are fine), and I'll just have to learn a little patience.

ArthurDent · « **Reply #34 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 07:07 pm »

Sorry to hear about the fire, never a nice thing outside it's 'place'

. Glad to hear no one hurt. Here's wishing you the best on finding a good (& quick) contractor if you don't already know one, and no problems with the insurance folks. Do your homework and don't simply trust the insurance co's recommendations, they aren't always in your interest.

Wheww ! Hide those HT2-TLs away under lock & key since they're safe. Don't think you'll be sorry with your line-up choice. Let us know when the dust settles and things are rockin'.

vintagebob · « **Reply #35 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 07:55 pm »

Yikes! I'm glad no one got hurt. Don't let the post fire crooks get your Salks!!

turkey · « **Reply #36 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 08:18 pm »

Yikes is the word for it all right.

Sorry to hear about this.

oneinthepipe · « **Reply #37 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 03:49 am »

Very sorry to hear about the damage and disruption to your family. Happy to hear that no one was injured.

When the electricians are working on the house, maybe they could install a couple of dedicated circuits, if you don't already have those.

You are going to have a terrific system, BTW. Great choices.

mathgeek97 · « **Reply #38 on:** 21 Mar 2010, 03:16 am »

Quote from: oneinthepipe on 20 Mar 2010, 03:49 am

When the electricians are working on the house, maybe they could install a couple of dedicated circuits, if you don't already have those.

I hadn't thought about that...
I was in there today. I can see the attic quite well from several rooms. First thing that came to mind was running cat5 cable.
What would I want on a dedicated circuit? Just the amp?
I probably won't actually be adding dedicated circuits, not really enough damage, fortunately. I was assuming they'd just fix the wiring above the burned area upstairs, which is the opposite end of the house, a floor up from my listening/living room.

Oh, I already have a buyer for my receiver who's waiting for me to order from Frank. And the wife says "your giant speakers and your big TV" are not coming with us to the rental house. Geez, if it really takes 90 days to fix my house, I'm going to flip. I used to think I had plenty of patience. Oh how wrong I was...

Thanks for all of the well wishes guys. I know it will all work out just fine and I will have a very musical summer!

mathgeek97 · « **Reply #39 on:** 23 May 2010, 12:49 am »

Quote from: mathgeek97 on 18 Mar 2010, 05:48 pm

I've made a final decision!
After getting a decision helping e-mail from Frank, it looks like i will do
Vision EC DAC -> T8+ -> Insight Double 260.

The crazy, long wait is over! Home repairs are almost complete, so I just placed my order! The final setup looks like:
Oppo BDP83, Apple Airport Express, and maybe the digital out on the cable box fed to the AVA combo of Vision EC DAC -> T8+ w/remote -> Insight+ Double 260!
Frank's suggestion for interconnects was to go Radio Shack or Home Depot. I'm planning to get some cables from Blue Jeans since I like the whole small company Internet direct thing.
Btw, This better sound amazingly better than my Denon receiver or I'm in trouble with my better half. I'm not too worried.