Onkyo NR906 with 4 Ohm Speakers?

[AndrewLyles]

Has anyone had any luck with pairing an Onkyo 906 with 4 ohm speakers? My mains are variable from 4 to 8 ohms and I want to make sure the receiver will handle the load. (I'm cautious because I burned 1 receiver out already that couldn't.) I should mention my surrounds have an 8 ohm resistance.

I'd love to go separates but can't swing the expense so thought I'd shoot for something like this.

Thoughts, opinions?

 

[Davemcc]

The 906 is one of the few receivers I would suggest for 4 ohm speakers. Onkyo rates it to 3 ohms dynamic and it has a solid power supply with a torroidal transformer. Unless someone here has experience to suggest otherwise, I say you are good to go.

 

[Jeff R.]

I run an 805 with my MBQuarts which are really large towers rated at 4 ohm - 87 dB sensitivity. I have had no issues, it will run pretty warm but I have not had any issues. I doubt you will. I have been told by many to not run it in the 4 ohm selection to just keep in in the 6-8 ohm setting.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Very powerful amp section for an AVR (54 pounds).

No sweat. Plus you can bi-amp your front mains. Huge toroidal power transformer with THX Ultra 2 certification, with down to 3.2 ohm loads capability. (At least for your front mains). Fantastic AVR beast, all around top Performer with excellent Value.

Feel very confident about the 906,

________ Bob

 

[AndrewLyles]

No sweat. Plus you can bi-amp your front mains. Huge toroidal power transformer with THX Ultra 2 certification, with down to 3.2 ohm loads capability. (At least for your front mains). Fantastic AVR beast, all around top Performer with excellent Value.

Feel very confident about the 906,

________ Bob

Thanks everyone. I ordered the 906 today and should be here this week or early next week.

Regarding the bi-amping, I read that you shouldn't use the bi-amping feature on 4-ohm speakers, only on 8-ohm loads. Granted, I already have a dedicated external amp which powers the secondary voice coils on my main speakers so perhaps the thought of "tri-amping" would be overkill anyway!!!

I'm getting excited about it's arrival though, I've been using my old Pioneer Elite for nearly 8 years now. Talk about a good run, and in need of an upgrade!

 

[Lordoftherings]

Bridging, bi-amping and bi-wiring.

Thanks everyone. I ordered the 906 today and should be here this week or early next week.

Regarding the bi-amping, I read that you shouldn't use the bi-amping feature on 4-ohm speakers, only on 8-ohm loads. Granted, I already have a dedicated external amp which powers the secondary voice coils on my main speakers so perhaps the thought of "tri-amping" would be overkill anyway!!!

I'm getting excited about it's arrival though, I've been using my old Pioneer Elite for nearly 8 years now. Talk about a good run, and in need of an upgrade!

No sweat on bi-amping. What you have to look for is bridging.
If your speakers are 4ohms, the 906 will see 2ohms load.
Then bridging is not recommended for speakers below 8ohms.

But bi-amping is no problemo amigo. Your 906 will do just fine.
For more information on Bridging, Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring, check in the
Audioholics section of speakers impedances and matching amplifiers, also
in the section of dito terms.

Hope that clears the sky,

_____ Bob

 

[bandphan]

No sweat on bi-amping. What you have to look for is bridging.
If your speakers are 4ohms, the 906 will see 2ohms load.
Then bridging is not recommended for speakers below 8ohms.

But bi-amping is no problemo amigo. Your 906 will do just fine.
For more information on Bridging, Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring, check in the
Audioholics section of speakers impedances and matching amplifiers, also
in the section of dito terms.

Hope that clears the sky,

_____ Bob

bi amping would be in all likely hood, not benifical with and avr and without and external crossover.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Now we got an external x-over into the equation!

 

[AndrewLyles]

Much obliged!

I've actually been bi-amping my main speakers for a couple years now. My external amp was made from my speakers by Anthony Gallo acoustics and includes cross over and a host of other fun controls. I can tell you it makes a huge difference in the low end response of the system, even (or esepcially!) with my old receiver.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Bi-amping is beneficial.

Hi Andrew,

Totally agree with you, I've been doing the same for years and the difference
is obvious.

Cheers mate,

_______ Bob

 

[Seth=L]

Unless you plan to use an active x-over or higher grade fixed x-over when bi-amping there is no point to doing so on that receiver as it would yield no possible advantage. Each output channel on that receiver is capable of dynamics in access of 300 watts if benchtests of the lower model TX-SR805 are of any indication (which did over 300 with either 1 or 2 channels driven I believe). Since all power is derived from the same power supply you would not get anymore "power" so to speak. I would find it hard to believe if you ever ran out of steam on that receiver, I personally wouldn't hesitate to drive ESL panels with that receiver, and there are very few receivers that can do that.

Separate amplifiers w/ active x-overs would yield the most in performance if employed correctly.

 

[BarfBag]

I've been running seven 4 ohm M&K speakers with the NR906 for several months.
Loud and at times near reference level. It sounds great and I've never had the receiver cut out or go to safe mode. Doesn't run any warmer than I would expect either (just placing my hand on the top).

 

[lsiberian]

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXNR905S/Onkyo/TX-NR905-THX-Ultra2-140w-x-7ch-HDMI-Receiver-SILVER-/1.html

If you can live with silver the 905 is a superior amp to the 906 IMO.

They downgraded the 06s a lot IMO.

Buy the receiver above and you will really be amazed.

 

[nibhaz]

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXNR905S/Onkyo/TX-NR905-THX-Ultra2-140w-x-7ch-HDMI-Receiver-SILVER-/1.html

If you can live with silver the 905 is a superior amp to the 906 IMO.

They downgraded the 06s a lot IMO.

Buy the receiver above and you will really be amazed.

Are you sure about that?

The 806 defiantly got a down grade from the 805, but I'm pretty sure the 905 and 906 have the same amp sections...which is one of the best at this price point IMO.

 

[Chopin_Guy]

The 876 and 906 where not effected by that awful downgrade that Onkyo did to the 705 and expecially the 805 going to the 806. As for the top two models 876 and 906 they still have the same technologies and components with the couple of added things like the ISF calibration and whatever else was added to the *06 line. Nonetheless it is such a shame to have seen that happen to the 805/806....

 

[lsiberian]

The 876 and 906 where not effected by that awful downgrade that Onkyo did to the 705 and expecially the 805 going to the 806. As for the top two models 876 and 906 they still have the same technologies and components with the couple of added things like the ISF calibration and whatever else was added to the *06 line. Nonetheless it is such a shame to have seen that happen to the 805/806....

But I think the 05s are a steal at 900 dollars.

personally I wouldn't buy a receiver that expensive. I would get a 500 dollar one and an external amp instead. But the audyssey on the 906 is suppposed to be amazing. and 1080p upconverting is nice.

 

[Chopin_Guy]

For $900 they are a steal...I think a member here was one of the ones that pick up the last black 905 that accessories4less had...as we recommended that to him in his AVR thread. Without a doubt it is a beast for $900....

 

[AndrewLyles]

Well I ended up getting a 906 in silver...I actually prefer that color since most of my components are silver already. I installed it the other day and have everything working finally. I ran through the MultiEQ XT setup and things sound good. I'm not going to say that there is a night and day difference from my Pioneer Elite, I won't even say that it's honestly that much louder. What is nice is not having to use an external HDMI switcher anymore and knowing that the receiver won't burn out from a 4 ohm load anytime soon. Granted, I'm still running with the 8 ohm mode selected since that was the recommendation here and in so many other places around the net. I'm guessing that since the wattage output of this amp is double my previous one, I should have a bit extra head room, so time will tell if there's much difference.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me out with this call in such a short time. I'm quite grateful!

 

[lsiberian]

Well I ended up getting a 906 in silver...I actually prefer that color since most of my components are silver already. I installed it the other day and have everything working finally. I ran through the MultiEQ XT setup and things sound good. I'm not going to say that there is a night and day difference from my Pioneer Elite, I won't even say that it's honestly that much louder. What is nice is not having to use an external HDMI switcher anymore and knowing that the receiver won't burn out from a 4 ohm load anytime soon. Granted, I'm still running with the 8 ohm mode selected since that was the recommendation here and in so many other places around the net. I'm guessing that since the wattage output of this amp is double my previous one, I should have a bit extra head room, so time will tell if there's much difference.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me out with this call in such a short time. I'm quite grateful!

Thanks for the feedback. The audyssey really matter in movies IMO.

 

[jostenmeat]

Well I ended up getting a 906 in silver...I actually prefer that color since most of my components are silver already. I installed it the other day and have everything working finally. I ran through the MultiEQ XT setup and things sound good. I'm not going to say that there is a night and day difference from my Pioneer Elite, I won't even say that it's honestly that much louder. What is nice is not having to use an external HDMI switcher anymore and knowing that the receiver won't burn out from a 4 ohm load anytime soon. Granted, I'm still running with the 8 ohm mode selected since that was the recommendation here and in so many other places around the net. I'm guessing that since the wattage output of this amp is double my previous one, I should have a bit extra head room, so time will tell if there's much difference.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me out with this call in such a short time. I'm quite grateful!

Congrats to you Andrew. Will you please post here every once in a while with your impressions? I am particularly curious about what you might think of the Onkyo's VP with your JVC. I own a Rs1 myself, and don't really have any VP, but maybe you are like me and only watch native hi def, 100% of the time. But, really, I'm curious about any of the video applications, the ISF stuff, etc.

I'm pretty sure the 906 also can do vertical stretch for anamorphic setups.