SOOOooo many questions.

[Crackerjackshot]

Ok guys, so I'm already going to thank whoever responds off the bat. I have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to these things. Quite honestly it baffles me that the world or sound is so indepth. Where to start....

I had a Sony DAV-DZ170 home theater system. The center channel and sub stopped working one day. I finally got around to purchasing a Yamaha RX-375 receiver to replace it, thinking that I already had the speakers. Two problems arise. 1, I only have a passive sub and not a powered one. 2, All of my speakers from the Sony system are 3 Ohms. The receiver is set up for 6 and 8 ohms. There ARE two front speakers that I have that just came mounted in the house that are 4-6 ohm which I figure is quite a bit better than 3.
SO, what I am trying to figure out is the cheapest way to remedy this situation. I need a new powered sub(preferrably 100w) and at the very least I need a new center and two rear surrounds. Would it be cheaper just to find an entry level speaker package? I already paid 180 for the receiver and really wasn't planning on any more money being spent so cutting cost is pretty important at this point. What do ya'll think?

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

Here's my two cents - the Yamaha that you bought will be able to handle those Sony speakers. I know they are rated for 3 Ohms, but if that Sony receiver could run them, then that Yamaha can. The Yamaha has a protection circuit that will shut it down, so if the 3-Ohm load of those speakers actually is a problem, then the Yamaha should shut down before any damage is done. I wouldn't crank them really loud as the first thing that you do , but it should be fine.

As for the sub, hmmm. Do you have any other receivers/amps around the house?

 

[Crackerjackshot]

Thank you. I think I've decided to get the Sub issue fixed first since it's most important. Then after a while just keep my eyes open for good deals to start chipping away at the other speakers. That was actually a question I've really wanted answered. If low impedance is harder to drive, then why is it that so many lesser grade out of the box systems have them? My logic would say that the less quality systems would have even a harder time driving them. Especially while pushing passive subs. Am I thinking about this all wrong?

 

[JustAnOldVCR]

I actually have the opposite issue. I have this unit from way back (I would not recommend it). But I wanted to know if I could use the Sony Receiver to power 2x8 ohm bookshelf speakers. Don't care if I blow up the receiver...just don't want to hurt the speakers.

 

[rojo]

Thank you. I think I've decided to get the Sub issue fixed first since it's most important. Then after a while just keep my eyes open for good deals to start chipping away at the other speakers. That was actually a question I've really wanted answered. If low impedance is harder to drive, then why is it that so many lesser grade out of the box systems have them? My logic would say that the less quality systems would have even a harder time driving them. Especially while pushing passive subs. Am I thinking about this all wrong?

Speakers aren't consistently the same impedance from bottom to top. The impedance of speakers usually has peaks and dips. That 3 ohm rating is probably nominal, meaning no lower than 3 (or 3.2 or something), and probably only occurs in a very small range of frequencies.

I wouldn't even call that sub a sub, but more of a passive woofer. This is a sub. How big is the room you're setting all this up in, and where do you live? Would you consider something used from Craigslist or similar?

I actually have the opposite issue. I have this unit from way back (I would not recommend it). But I wanted to know if I could use the Sony Receiver to power 2x8 ohm bookshelf speakers. Don't care if I blow up the receiver...just don't want to hurt the speakers.

Searching the Sony DAV-DZ170 manual for "crossover" and "filter" yields 0 results. I guess it's got a high pass filter keeping you from pushing bass to the tweets, but I couldn't say for certain. Just listen at reasonable levels and I'd say it should be fine.

 

[zieglj01]

I actually have the opposite issue. I have this unit from way back (I would not recommend it). But I wanted to know if I could use the Sony Receiver to power 2x8 ohm bookshelf speakers. Don't care if I blow up the receiver...just don't want to hurt the speakers.

It will not play as loud

Cheapy HTIB systems, that have 3 ohm speakers - the receiver is made to
drive the 3 ohm speakers.

 

[JustAnOldVCR]

Many thanks to zieglj01 and rojo.

 

[MrAcoustat]

Welcome to the forum!

Here's my two cents - the Yamaha that you bought will be able to handle those Sony speakers. I know they are rated for 3 Ohms, but if that Sony receiver could run them, then that Yamaha can. The Yamaha has a protection circuit that will shut it down, so if the 3-Ohm load of those speakers actually is a problem, then the Yamaha should shut down before any damage is done. I wouldn't crank them really loud as the first thing that you do , but it should be fine.

As for the sub, hmmm. Do you have any other receivers/amps around the house?

Hi Adam trying to find why i have no access to my personalised avatar do you need a certain amount of posts ????? Thank You.