quarlo

Unimpeded impedance guidance

Sorry, super noob question - need advice ...

I've lived in the ancient past, electronically at least, for ... ever ... and have an antique (but beautiful to my ears) pair of ADS L620s that I would like to at least continue using as I upgrade my components for the first time since dinosaurs walked the earth. I am starting out with 2.1 and will add/upgrade to 5.1 or 7.1 as budget allows. I know, I know - spend the $$$$ on speakers first and foremost, but my ancient Marantz receiver has gone to the great electronic graveyard in the sky and that is where I must begin. That decision has been made for me by the electron gods, so ...

Planning ahead for things to come, I have been looking at Denon 4308CI, Pio Elite 94TXH and similar $1.5-$3K A/V receivers and wondered if there might be any problem driving these "6 Ohm typical, 4 Ohm minimum" ADS speakers? The impedance ratings on the receivers I've looked at are generally in the range of 6-16 Ohms. Any idea(s) whether the ADSs would cause too great a load on these newer AVRs? Thank you sincerely for any advice.

chuckg

Re: Unimpeded impedance guidance

Speaker impedance is a function of frequency, so the published specs are just a number picked to represent the whole thing.

I would say you'd be just fine with 6-ohms-or-so speakers on a six-ohms-or-more receiver.

If you never turn the volume up way high, there is little chance of trouble. If you do turn it up way high, I would hope that the receiver's protection circuitry would just quietly shut the thing down.

--ignore the man behind the curtain

quarlo

Re: Unimpeded impedance guidance

Thanks so much for the reassurance. I guess I hoped as much, but I've been waaayyy outta the loop for a very long time and I really don't want to guess anymore than I have to. I was disappointed to lose my old electronic friend, but excited to embark on assembling a more up-to-date A/V-HT setup. Thanks again - much appreciated!

Leo Kerr

Re: Unimpeded impedance guidance

I know a number of the Yamaha RX-V-type receivers, my old DSP-A1, and some of their other "big guys" at least used to have a selector switch on the back to compensate the final amplifier stages for "high" or "normal" impedance speakers or "low" impedance speakers - usually marked 8-ohm and 4-ohm respectively. Not that the DSP-A1 ever cared which side it was on for my 6-ohm NHT speakers.

I imagine other manufacturers have something like that on at least some of their models.

Leo

SethH

Re: Unimpeded impedance guidance

Another option in your price range would be some of the lower-end separates (pre/pro and amp). The amps in separates would typically not have any trouble driving a 6 or 4 ohm load.

For instance, for under $2k you could get the Outlaw Audio 990 pre/pro and the Outlaw 7125 amp. That amp puts out 125w/channel at 8 ohms and 190w/channel at 4 ohms.

quarlo

Re: Unimpeded impedance guidance

Thanks for the info and suggestions! I did check the 4308ci and it states "low impedance drive capability". I'd definitely call Denon before spending $2.5K, but I am sure you are right about the circuit protection. Probably a bit more elegant than the fuses in my dearly departed old (old, old, ..., old) 4270, heh heh. Dunno how long it'll be before I get to the speaker upgrade(s), but I've pretty much proven that I don't move too fast so best to cover my arse.

I really had equated separates with budgets well beyond mine, but I have already confessed to having been under a rock as regards audio (well, as regards lots of things, but that's another story! ). I just figured when my receiver died I'd get a new ... receiver. Prompted by the suggestion, I've read some very good stuff about the Outlaw line and it does give me another option. Decisions, decisions ...

Thanks again for everyone's kind assistance!