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Conundrum

  • Thread starter Thread starter ivseenbetter
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ivseenbetter

ivseenbetter

Senior Audioholic
Jun 6, 2006
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I bought some new Swan 4.1 speakers that are rated 4 ohms. I was planning to get a Behringer A500 to drive them but didn't get around to purchasing before they got here. Now I hooked them up to a cheapy Sherwood RX-4105 and it seems to be driving them just fine (it is only rated at 8 ohms). The guy at the Audio Insider said that these speakers are rated at 4 ohms "nominal" and that really any 8 ohm receiver would be able to drive them. It appears that he was dead on.

Here is my conundrum: I have to get a new receiver anyway (I need a receiver that I can plug my HSU STF-2 into...thanks Seth=L :D). Should I just try and get a decent mid-grade receiver (I'm thinking Onkyo or Denon) or should I go ahead and get a refurbed Denon with preamp-outs paired with the Behringer A500 anyway? Will the extra juice be worth the extra 200 dollars? I don't want to buy something just to say I have it, I am hoping there will be some kind of significant improvement in overall sound if I get the A500 or will it be overkill?
 
I would say go with separate amplifier. It will give clean power and will sound better and full.
Remember if you give too little power than you are putting your speakers in anger of blowing tweeter, as far as I have read more power is better than less.
 
ivseenbetter said:
I bought some new Swan 4.1 speakers that are rated 4 ohms. I was planning to get a Behringer A500 to drive them but didn't get around to purchasing before they got here. Now I hooked them up to a cheapy Sherwood RX-4105 and it seems to be driving them just fine (it is only rated at 8 ohms). The guy at the Audio Insider said that these speakers are rated at 4 ohms "nominal" and that really any 8 ohm receiver would be able to drive them. It appears that he was dead on.

Here is my conundrum: I have to get a new receiver anyway (I need a receiver that I can plug my HSU STF-2 into...thanks Seth=L :D). Should I just try and get a decent mid-grade receiver (I'm thinking Onkyo or Denon) or should I go ahead and get a refurbed Denon with preamp-outs paired with the Behringer A500 anyway? Will the extra juice be worth the extra 200 dollars? I don't want to buy something just to say I have it, I am hoping there will be some kind of significant improvement in overall sound if I get the A500 or will it be overkill?
Click to expand...

I do not know what the impedance curve is on those speakers, so it is difficult to say. You see, impedance of a speaker varies with frequency. The "nominal" rating is what the manufacturer claims is what you can pretend the impedance is when matching with an amplifier. Sometimes they like to inflate the number in order to get you to think it is okay to use it with a wider range of amplifiers (I remember reading about some speakers years ago that were rated as 4 ohms nominally that had impedance dips below 1 ohm!, though that is not the norm). And with amplifiers, they may or may not be able to handle something a bit lower than their ratings suggest.

Generally speaking, you can get things to work, for a while, if they are mismatched. But using low impedance speakers on an amplifier puts additional stress on it, and generally causes it to run hotter. This may (or may not, depending upon all of the particulars) cause the amplifier to fail prematurely, sometimes very quickly. So, if you want to be safe, you will want an amplifier that is rated for 4 ohm speakers. You may not need it, but if you do and you don't buy a better amplifier, you run the risk of an early death for your receiver.

Sherwood, by the way, makes equipment for other brands, too, only they typically sell for more money that way. Typically, or at least in the past (I have not checked into this recently), Sherwood offered a good product for their price point. So it might not be worse at dealing with low impedance speakers than what you are planning on buying.
 
I think you should go with a power amp. It will make your swans sing. Tube amp?
 
Have you considered Yamaha? The Yamaha RX-V663 is about the best bang for buck right now and would work great as a pre/pro with the Behringer A500.:)

Just a few more days to verify that thing you sent me (March 20th) and I will be able to send that thing you wanted.:D
 
Seth=L said:
Have you considered Yamaha? The Yamaha RX-V663 is about the best bang for buck right now and would work great as a pre/pro with the Behringer A500.:)

Just a few more days to verify that thing you sent me (March 20th) and I will be able to send that thing you wanted.:D
Click to expand...

:cool: Looking forward to that thing :D
 
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You have all talked me into sticking with the Behringer. It just seems like a smart match with these speakers and I don't want to risk any clipping. Anyway, I was going to buy a Denon receiver from Dakmart to work as a pre pro for the amp and I haven't heard a response from them in three days. Looks like I will be looking elsewhere for a cheap processor. Probably ecost.
 
The RX-V661 would be a less expensive alternative. Less expensive still (without HDMI) would be the RX-V659.:)
 
Seth=L said:
The RX-V661 would be a less expensive alternative. Less expensive still (without HDMI) would be the RX-V659.:)
Click to expand...

Where at? I have been looking and a refurb Denon 1905 or 1906 for around 200 shipped is the best I could find on a deal. If you could point me to a cheap 661 or 659 from yamaha that would be great!

Oh, and HDMI isn't even a concern.
 
Last edited:
Seth=L said:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=Yamaha+RX-V659&category0=

It's surprisingly difficult to find one cheap. You could get a Pioneer VSX-816 for pretty cheap (it has preouts). However, if you entend for this to be your setup for a while I would strongly advise getting the Yamaha RX-V663 or at the least RX-V661. You might need those HDMI features in the near future.:)
Click to expand...

Thanks Seth. I will take a look at this link when I get home (work blocks ebay).
 
Seth=L said:
You can get around that easily enough. www.vtunnel.com :D
Click to expand...

My workplace is pretty good at blocking out all those type of options as well. :( They take security pretty seriously. I'm surprised I can still access this from work as well.
 
I just found the RX-V659 for less than what I would pay for the Behringer and a receiver combo. After reading Gene's review of this piece of equipment I can't see any reason not to go with this. I think it will definitely outperform my speakers! Thanks Seth for suggesting this piece. I don't know how I overlooked it...but that is why I posted this question to begin with to make sure I didn't pass something up.
 
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