my receiver doesn't officially "support" 4 ohm speakers... but I'm considering some anyway. I figure the manufacturers main concern is heat. I'm using an Onkyo TX-SR608. The manual states these specs:
• 100 Watts/Channel @ 8 ohms (FTC)
• 160 Watts/Channel @ 6 ohms (IEC)
• 175 Watts/Channel @ 6 ohms (JEITA)
I've read elsewhere that in a perfect world, an amp that supplies 100 watts to 8 ohms will supply 200 watts to 4 ohms. The Onkyo's specs seem to support those claims.
Anyway, I'm looking at some speakers that are 4 ohms with a continuous power handling of 150 watts (89 dB @ 1W, 1 m). On paper, it appears that the amps are capable of 200 watts to 4 ohms, though they are not adequately equipped to handle the thermal load. I know the resistance actually jumps all over the place depending on the speakers characteristics (enclosure, frequency, etc.).
However, since the speakers are rated for 150 watts continuous, I figure I probably wont run into any major issues... may actually end up with a bit of head room..
If heat is the main issue, couldn't I just improve the cooling in my amplifier?
I really just don't want to waste my money & am wondering what input you may have on the matter.
are there any measurements I can do on the amplifier to help me figure this out, like with a multimeter?