Confusion about Ohms

[GAWD]

I've got a Pioneer VSX1015 which supports both 6 Ohms and 8 Ohms. All my speakers are 6 ohms and I was looking to get a 8 ohms center channel. Will this cause any problems to my amp? I can switch between 6 and 8 ohms so I know the amp can handle 6ohms what I'm worried about and can't seem to find the correct answer is if I can run 6 oms and 8 ohm speakers together at the same time. It will work yes I know but am I harming my amp? And I'm getting less performance from my 8 ohm center?

how about vice versa if I were to run the majority of my speakers at 8 ohms and keep just my towers which are 6 ohm?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

If your receiver is set to match the speakers with the lowest impedance (6 Ohms in this case), the rest will be fine.

 

[3db]

I've got a Pioneer VSX1015 which supports both 6 Ohms and 8 Ohms. All my speakers are 6 ohms and I was looking to get a 8 ohms center channel. Will this cause any problems to my amp? I can switch between 6 and 8 ohms so I know the amp can handle 6ohms what I'm worried about and can't seem to find the correct answer is if I can run 6 oms and 8 ohm speakers together at the same time. It will work yes I know but am I harming my amp? And I'm getting less performance from my 8 ohm center?

how about vice versa if I were to run the majority of my speakers at 8 ohms and keep just my towers which are 6 ohm?

Your amp will do just fine. I have a 5 year old Technics thats rated to drive 8 ohm speakers only but I am driving a complete set of 6ohm PSBs with no problems at all. You can use either a 6ohm or 8 ohm speaker and it'll work just fine.

 

[Midcow2]

Leave the setting at 8 ohms.

Your Pioneer manual can be found at:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pio/pe/images/portal/cit_11221/218219130VSX1015TXOperatingInstructions.pdf

The speaker impedance is not constant and vaires accross the frequency spectrum.

The lower end Pioneer AVRs are overrated as far as power. yous is rated at 125 RMS per channel an should not have a problem running the 6 ohm speakers.

Page 71 in your manual talks about switching the speaker ohms, but it doesn't tell what is does really. It cuts back you output by running part of it accross an internal 2 Ohm bridge. So you have reduced your effective power by 25%.

normal = 8 ohm
6ohm = normal - 2 ohm internal

Good Luck.

 

[GAWD]

Thanks for all the help. Was always worried i'd be harming the amp in some way. One last que. Should I leave the amp set to 8 omhs or set it to 6 ohms? I'm not worried about overheating since the area is well ventilated.

 

[3db]

Thanks for all the help. Was always worried i'd be harming the amp in some way. One last que. Should I leave the amp set to 8 omhs or set it to 6 ohms? I'm not worried about overheating since the area is well ventilated.

What kind of speakers are they and what are their efficiency rating? My PSBs are around 90-91db efficient and are 6 ohms. It doesn't take much turning of the volume knob to reach deafening volumes. I don't have the luxury of a 6 to 8 ohm switch on my receiver.