ohms questions

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Automission

I think mine probably did, but the issue I had was the Onkyo had the handshake, hdmi board fault. Regardless of it being fixed, I've been told it occurs again. I've been put off buying another onkyo of a different model number, given the poor quality of the 606.

I wasn't suggesting that you go buy an Onkyo. I just brought that up because I found it odd that the US version wasn't rated for 4 Ohms, but the UK version was. I didn't know if that was common across different manufacturers for some reason. On a side note, Onkyo receivers seem to have gone downhill starting with the X06 series and later.

[Automission]

ahh okay sorry, thats my mistake. Thanks for the good info on the Onkyo's too, won't be buying them again. Just going to look for a 6 ohm receiver, rated around 110 watts per speaker, as to not over power some of the lower rated speakers. Some of them have a suggested limit of 100/120. Don't think 10 over would hurt, and 40 under the maximum of the 150 limit on the towers is surely not going to harm either.

Thanks again for the good information lads.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Automission

ahh okay sorry, thats my mistake. Thanks for the good info on the Onkyo's too, won't be buying them again. Just going to look for a 6 ohm receiver, rated around 110 watts per speaker, as to not over power some of the lower rated speakers. Some of them have a suggested limit of 100/120. Don't think 10 over would hurt, and 40 under the maximum of the 150 limit on the towers is surely not going to harm either.

Thanks again for the good information lads.

Correct. Less power will never hurt anything.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by fireman325

Correct. Less power will never hurt anything.

Not necessarily true. If you over drive an underpowered amp, the clipping distortion that will engender might result in blown tweeters. Within reason, more clean power is less likely to damage speakers than less power that clips.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by richteer

Not necessarily true. If you over drive an underpowered amp, the clipping distortion that will engender might result in blown tweeters. Within reason, more clean power is less likely to damage speakers than less power that clips.

I agree, and even said the same thing myself in my first post in this thread. My only point above was that pushing less power than the speaker is rated for is fine. I was assuming clean power, but should have specified more clearly.

[JasonR]

You should be fine with 6 ohm speakers on an 8 ohm receiver. I have been using my Yamaha, and my Sony before it with no issues. The only thing that you might lose out on is headroom, which an amp could remedy pretty easily if you felt the need to add it.

If a receiver has 4 ohm and 6 ohm settings, they are recommended not to be used anyway.

NOTE: Some Receivers have an impedance selector switch. DON'T USE THEM! The manufacturer puts them there for UL approvals as well as easing consumer concerns about driving low impedance loads. These switches step down voltage feed to the power sections which will limit dynamics and overall fidelity. Keep the switch set for 8 ohms regardless of the impedance of your speakers and ensure proper ventilation of the Receiver.

Connecting 4-ohm Speakers to an 8-ohm Receiver — Reviews and News from Audioholics

The only time I would have qualms with speakers, receivers, and impedence is if the speakers were rated four ohms and below. And even then, you are losing out on headroom to turn your speakers up.

You know what bad sounds like right? If your speakers start sounding like crap, turn them down.

[Automission]

Originally Posted by richteer

Not necessarily true. If you over drive an underpowered amp, the clipping distortion that will engender might result in blown tweeters. Within reason, more clean power is less likely to damage speakers than less power that clips.

but over powering the amp only occurs when the speakers impedance is greater than what the amp can provide right? It wouldn't happen when supplying 95 watts to a 150 watt speaker, surely?

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Automission

but over powering the amp only occurs when the speakers impedance is greater than what the amp can provide right? It wouldn't happen when supplying 95 watts to a 150 watt speaker, surely?

What he's getting at is running an amp at or too close to its maximum. This is when you start to get clipping and distortion. Think of it like driving your car as fast as it will go. You're likely to tear something up by doing so, especially if you do so for a long period of time. It's the same with your receiver/amp.

[BLUTRIG]

Originally Posted by JasonR

You should be fine with 6 ohm speakers on an 8 ohm receiver. I have been using my Yamaha, and my Sony before it with no issues. The only thing that you might lose out on is headroom, which an amp could remedy pretty easily if you felt the need to add it.

If a receiver has 4 ohm and 6 ohm settings, they are recommended not to be used anyway.



Connecting 4-ohm Speakers to an 8-ohm Receiver — Reviews and News from Audioholics

The only time I would have qualms with speakers, receivers, and impedence is if the speakers were rated four ohms and below. And even then, you are losing out on headroom to turn your speakers up.

You know what bad sounds like right? If your speakers start sounding like crap, turn them down.

My friend help me set up my HT and he said more watts in my A/V receiver than my speakers would be better for my speakers and A/V receiver by not pecking out my receiver and sending more clean power to my speakers, I have 10 channels at 140 watts each and I bi-amp all speakers so all speakers would receive up to 280 watts max or peak,I don't have the receiver to max but sometime I do turn it up max for music if like the song and my speakers don't have any distortion or clipping but I don't leave it on max very long.My A/V receiver is 140WX10 (20Hz-20kHz,.05% THD @8 ohms,all channels driven) and speakers are 8ohms maximum recommended power 240 watts and maximum short term peak power 400 watts,is my friend right about sending more power to the speakers would be cleaner power in the set up that I have. thanks TRIG

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by BLUTRIG

My friend help me set up my HT and he said more watts in my A/V receiver than my speakers would be better for my speakers and A/V receiver by not pecking out my receiver and sending more clean power to my speakers, I have 10 channels at 140 watts each and I bi-amp all speakers so all speakers would receive up to 280 watts max or peak,I don't have the receiver to max but sometime I do turn it up max for music if like the song and my speakers don't have any distortion or clipping but I don't leave it on max very long.My A/V receiver is 140WX10 (20Hz-20kHz,.05% THD @8 ohms,all channels driven) and speakers are 8ohms maximum recommended power 240 watts and maximum short term peak power 400 watts,is my friend right about sending more power to the speakers would be cleaner power in the set up that I have. thanks TRIG

Your friend is right. Kill is good. Overkill is better. I don't pay much attention to peak power ratings, but I try to make sure the speakers can handle at least 50 percent of RMS power, and then have a lot of power to push with.

You don't want an amp to struggle; that is where clipping kicks in, and the amp poops out in the middle of a push, popping your drivers. Not good. That builds up heat, and heat eventually brings failure. Never overdrive your amp.

But music, and movies, benefit from a deep reserve of power for transient spikes - gunshots, cannon fire, blasts from the horn section, kick drums. Bring the beef, it can't hurt you.

You got a good friend, there.

[BLUTRIG]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Your friend is right. Kill is good. Overkill is better. I don't pay much attention to peak power ratings, but I try to make sure the speakers can handle at least 50 percent of RMS power, and then have a lot of power to push with.

You don't want an amp to struggle; that is where clipping kicks in, and the amp poops out in the middle of a push, popping your drivers. Not good. That builds up heat, and heat eventually brings failure. Never overdrive your amp.

But music, and movies, benefit from a deep reserve of power for transient spikes - gunshots, cannon fire, blasts from the horn section, kick drums. Bring the beef, it can't hurt you.

You got a good friend, there.

Thanks, do you think I need more power for my speakers (overkill)what does RMS mean

[Blu_balls]

Originally Posted by BLUTRIG

Thanks, do you think I need more power for my speakers (overkill)what does RMS mean

In actual terms, RMS means root mean square. Without getting into a whole mathematical explanation that won't make any sense, it's basically the power that an amplifier can supply constantly. If I remember my formulas correctly, RMS=0.707 x peak power

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by BLUTRIG

Thanks, do you think I need more power for my speakers (overkill)what does RMS mean

Read A Guide to Amplifiers. There is detailed explanation of RMS and much more.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by BLUTRIG

My friend help me set up my HT and he said more watts in my A/V receiver than my speakers would be better for my speakers and A/V receiver by not pecking out my receiver and sending more clean power to my speakers, I have 10 channels at 140 watts each and I bi-amp all speakers so all speakers would receive up to 280 watts max or peak,I don't have the receiver to max but sometime I do turn it up max for music if like the song and my speakers don't have any distortion or clipping but I don't leave it on max very long.My A/V receiver is 140WX10 (20Hz-20kHz,.05% THD @8 ohms,all channels driven) and speakers are 8ohms maximum recommended power 240 watts and maximum short term peak power 400 watts,is my friend right about sending more power to the speakers would be cleaner power in the set up that I have. thanks TRIG

I think you missed the point of my post. It wasn't in anyway to discredit better amplifiers, just to say people shouldn't chicken shit around hooking a 6 ohm speakers on an 8 ohm receiver.

[BLUTRIG]

Originally Posted by JasonR

I think you missed the point of my post. It wasn't in anyway to discredit better amplifiers, just to say people shouldn't chicken shit around hooking a 6 ohm speakers on an 8 ohm receiver.

Sorry JasonR,I didn't mean to post to you but to fireman325, I don't know about ohm and I think got lucky buying my receiver 3 years after my speakers that the ohm are the same 8 & 8 because I didn't look into that at time at time

[BLUTRIG]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Read A Guide to Amplifiers. There is detailed explanation of RMS and much more.

thanks for the link

[Steve]

Originally Posted by BLUTRIG

Sorry JasonR,I didn't mean to post to you but to fireman325, I don't know about ohm and I think got lucky buying my receiver 3 years after my speakers that the ohm are the same 8 & 8 because I didn't look into that at time at time

Just FYI, in the future if you ever decide to do a system overhaul (and I'm not suggesting you need one) IMO it's a good idea to pick your speakers out first. This way when you start looking at receivers or amps you should know if you have really power-hungry speakers or not and can select your equipment appropriately.

[BLUTRIG]

Originally Posted by fireman325

Just FYI, in the future if you ever decide to do a system overhaul (and I'm not suggesting you need one) IMO it's a good idea to pick your speakers out first. This way when you start looking at receivers or amps you should know if you have really power speakers or not and can select your equipment appropriately.

Thanks,not knowing what I'am doing over the last 4 years and not knowing about ohm,watts,RMS,but still like learn I piece my HT together from a tube TV (1 dvd player,5 Blu-ray player,3 subs,1 set LCR speakers,2 set of rears speakers,3 A/V receiver,2 panel TV) now I'am A/V poor and marriage,I can't do a overhaul but maybe replace a piece here and there

[jomari]

if it aint broke dont fix it, normally applies to everything. if it can be improved, by all means.

as others know about me, id rather work what what we have, instead of the typical responses that clamor you to 'buy a new AVR, or buy new speakers' or what not, when its not necessary. is it suggested? of course at times yes, but if we can make do with our current rigs, then so be it.

i guess my only suggestion would be investing in these newer components you plan to get as something you would see using for the next 5 years or so. buy em because you want to keep em, and not because they'd 'settle for now'... next thing you know you'd be replacing these components again and again, thus losing out money in the long run, instead of dropping that money from the start on to a good piece of equipment.

[Deelow537]

I have a Onkyo HT-RC180 which give me the option of 4 ohms or 6 ohms @ 110 watts per speaker... My JBL speakers are rated at 8ohms @ 100 watts per speaker! I also have a 300 watt sub woofer.... Which ohm setting would be better for me?