Good Amplifier for 6 ohm speakers

[FilmFiend]

Anyone have any recommendations for an amplifier to push a 7.1 setup, where all the speakers are rated 6 ohm nominal/4 ohm minimum? $500 - $1000 range.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by FilmFiend

Anyone have any recommendations for an amplifier to push a 7.1 setup, where all the speakers are rated 6 ohm nominal/4 ohm minimum? $500 - $1000 range.

You'll want an amp with a beefy power supply. When you say amplifier, do you mean just a power amp, or a receiver?

For receivers, Onkyo have good current capabilities (better as you go up in the range). Separate multichannel power amps are rare in the sub $1K region, but check out the offerings from Outlaw Audio and Emotiva (the latter seem to be particularly well received).

[FilmFiend]

thanks, I will take a look at them... i assume with a seperate amp I will still need to buy a receiver as the pre-amp... i'm not sure if this is within my budget though.

[MatrixS2000]

You might be lucky and find two used Adcom 5 channel amps in that price range, it will be at the top end of your budget or slightly over.

I use 2 Parasound HCA2205 amps, so I have 10 channels of amplification.

L - 6 ohm
R - 6 ohm
2 x C - 6 ohm each
SL- 6 ohm
SR- 6 ohm
SRR- 6 ohm
SRL- 6 ohm
2 x sub - 4 ohm each

The Parasounds have no problem with that impedance load and have a great grip on the speakers.

You can sometimes find used Parasounds for about $1200-1500 for a 5 channel amp but that will exceed your budget.

You will need a separate pre/pro if you intend to run separate amplifiers. This will definitely put you over your budget.

Your best bet may be a receiver unless you can increase your budget. If you can, I highly recommend the separate route. The difference is worth it imo.

[FilmFiend]

I'm looking at the PSB Images, since I live in T.O. and can get a good deal on them from 2001 A/V.

Here's the speaker info:

T45 Towers & C40 Center

Sensitivity

Anechoic Chamber 90 dB
Typical Listening Room 93 dB (92db C40)

Impedence
Nominal 6 Ohms
Minimum 4 Ohms

Input Power

Recommended 10-150 Watts
Program 100 Watts (T45), 120 Watts (C40)

B15 (2 pairs for surrounds, and back)

Sensitivity

Anechoic Chamber 89 dB
Typical Listening Room 91 dB

Impedence
Nominal 6 Ohms
Minimum 4 Ohms

Input Power

Recommended 10-80 Watts
Program 60 Watts

Would a $1000 AVR such as the Denon 2308ci (avr-988) do the job or do you think I should go the seperate route?

If seperates, anyone know of any 7.1 pre-amps that support multi-pcm or the new hd decoders for less than say $400?

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by FilmFiend

If seperates, anyone know of any 7.1 pre-amps that support multi-pcm or the new hd decoders for less than say $400?

Not going to find it, cheapest pre/pro is the Integra DTC 9.8 which is about $2,200 here in Toronto and about a 2 month wait time....

[FilmFiend]

Wow, I don't think i'll be able to afford that any time soon. I emailed PSB to see what they recommended to push them and they said their brother company was NAD and recommended the T785/T775/T65. But these are all above the $2000 range. I will probably go for a little more expensive amp since pre/pro is out of my range.... which amp do you think would push these speakers (handle the load at the lowest distortion) the best.

There's the Yamaha rxv1800, the Denon 2808CI, Pioneer VSX9210, H/K AVR-745? Onkyo's are not easily available in Canada (don't ask my why) any other suggestions ?

[kingofgrills]

At that price range, I don't think you'll find a separate amp/pre-amp combo that will suite your decoding needs. Following are some alternatives to consider though.

Given your budget and the speaker ratings you're looking at, I'd suggest checking out Yamaha's RX-V3800. It offers 140 watts x 7 full range, has all the newest HD audio decoding, and 1080p upscaling. The suggested retail price is $1699.

Also, you could check out Denon's new AVR-3808CI. It retails for $1,599, is rated at 130 watts X 7 channels full range, and has all the latest HD audio codecs built in. After that, the next step up in Denon's line is pretty steep. The AVR-4308-CI is $2,499 and offers 140 watts x 7 channels.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by FilmFiend

Wow, I don't think i'll be able to afford that any time soon. I emailed PSB to see what they recommended to push them and they said their brother company was NAD and recommended the T785/T775/T65. But these are all above the $2000 range. I will probably go for a little more expensive amp since pre/pro is out of my range.... which amp do you think would push these speakers (handle the load at the lowest distortion) the best.

There's the Yamaha rxv1800, the Denon 2808CI, Pioneer VSX9210, H/K AVR-745? Onkyo's are not easily available in Canada (don't ask my why) any other suggestions ?

Any of them should be fine with the 6 ohm load. Check the manufacturer's specs for 4 ohm loads and whether they can mixed mixed (some channels 6, others 4). Personally I would listen to them first, if this is mostly for movie watching, I would definitely pay particular attention to the audio steering. The H/K should have Logic 7, which if implemented like it is in a Lexicon, will be the best imo.

[FilmFiend]

Originally Posted by MatrixS2000

Any of them should be fine with the 6 ohm load. Check the manufacturer's specs for 4 ohm loads and whether they can mixed mixed (some channels 6, others 4). Personally I would listen to them first, if this is mostly for movie watching, I would definitely pay particular attention to the audio steering. The H/K should have Logic 7, which if implemented like it is in a Lexicon, will be the best imo.

It will mostly be for movies & games 80%, Music 20%. I've already listened to the speakers, they had them hooked up to a RXV-1800, but I don't think it was a clean setup. I will definitly check out the other amps as well. Probably have to go to BayBloor to listen to them with the PSB's.

I've never heard of the Logic 7, where is this listed in the specs?

[MatrixS2000]

Right on the display...

It's a sound field. The only manufacturers that have it are Lexicon and Harmon Kardon that I know of. It was created by Lexicon, then when HK bought them, they put it in the HK line.

[FilmFiend]

What does Logic 7 do?

[MatrixS2000]

http://www.harmankardon.com/technolo...ogic%207%C2%AE

Best surround field ever imo...

[FilmFiend]

Very cool.. i will definitly look into these amps.

[lnb]

The Sony STRDA3300ES retails for $1100 in Canada and has received very good reviews for sound. Here is a review .

http://www.hometheatermag.com/receivers/907sony3300/

[hagar852]

Originally Posted by lnb

The Sony STRDA3300ES retails for $1100 in Canada and has received very good reviews for sound. Here is a review .

http://www.hometheatermag.com/receivers/907sony3300/

You can get it elsewhere much much cheaper.. I did.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by FilmFiend

Very cool.. i will definitly look into these amps.

Just for the sake of being correct, that is not an amplifier, it is a receiver.

[FilmFiend]

Originally Posted by MatrixS2000

Just for the sake of being correct, that is not an amplifier, it is a receiver.

thank you for the correction but technically they do have amplifiers inside them

[David Craig]

I had PSB Image speakers including the 6 ohm bookshelf speakers. I had a Yamaha receiver that cost about $500. I think it was RXV 596 but not quite sure now. It worked well with the Image speakers.

I upgraded to the PSB Stratus speakers and the Yahama HTR 6190 to drive 4 ohm speakers. The 6190 usually sells for $1300-1500 at Future shop or Best Buy in the Toronto area. I picked it up one week when it dropped to $999. Lucky.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by FilmFiend

thank you for the correction but technically they do have amplifiers inside them

Yes...and it also has a tuner - so would you now call it a tuner?