Onkyo RC160 / 4 ohm speakers

[daverimer]

Greetings,
Getting my first HT together. I am planning on purchasing the Onkyo RC160 receiver shortly. I was lucky (I think) enough to have a family member with some speakers available for my use:

(2) MB Quart 500's, see pic I took of back: i46.tinypic.com/ivjwco.jpg. They are rated at 4 ohms / 80-130w. Hopefully I can use these with the RC160. I'd hope to use them as my front right/left speakers on a 5.1 set up. My understanding from searching on the web is that the RC160 should be able to handle these speakers.

Reviewer on amazon said, "I am using this with a couple of Thiel CS 1.5's and a Yamaha center. The Thiels are 4 ohms, and while the Onkyo is rated for 6 ohms or higher, it handles the Thiels with no problems and no clipping."
See link: amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR607-7-2-Channel-Surround-Receiver/dp/B001VEI2KO

Also this Audioholics has a nice education article regarding hooking up 4 ohm speakers: audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/connecting-4-ohm-speakers-to-an-8-ohm-receiver-or-amplifier

Now to my hopefully simple questions for those that can help with previous experience.

1) Can anybody confirm if the Onkyo RC160 is a good match with these speakers?
2) Any special considerations for my center and rear speakers - 8 ohms?
3) Any other comments, or suggestions?
4) I don't know anything about these speakers, but I believe they are good and worth keeping. Can anybody confirm?

Thanks in advance. I love this website.

-Dave

 

[TLS Guy]

Greetings,
Getting my first HT together. I am planning on purchasing the Onkyo RC160 receiver shortly. I was lucky (I think) enough to have a family member with some speakers available for my use:

(2) MB Quart 500's, see pic I took of back: i46.tinypic.com/ivjwco.jpg. They are rated at 4 ohms / 80-130w. Hopefully I can use these with the RC160. I'd hope to use them as my front right/left speakers on a 5.1 set up. My understanding from searching on the web is that the RC160 should be able to handle these speakers.

Reviewer on amazon said, "I am using this with a couple of Thiel CS 1.5's and a Yamaha center. The Thiels are 4 ohms, and while the Onkyo is rated for 6 ohms or higher, it handles the Thiels with no problems and no clipping."
See link: amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR607-7-2-Channel-Surround-Receiver/dp/B001VEI2KO

Also this Audioholics has a nice education article regarding hooking up 4 ohm speakers: audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/connecting-4-ohm-speakers-to-an-8-ohm-receiver-or-amplifier

Now to my hopefully simple questions for those that can help with previous experience.

1) Can anybody confirm if the Onkyo RC160 is a good match with these speakers?
2) Any special considerations for my center and rear speakers - 8 ohms?
3) Any other comments, or suggestions?
4) I don't know anything about these speakers, but I believe they are good and worth keeping. Can anybody confirm?

Thanks in advance. I love this website.

-Dave

That receiver is not THX certified, and therefore may well blow with a four ohm load.

Now practically all speakers are in effect four ohm loads. However there is a lot more involved other than impedance when determining whether a speaker is a difficult load.

I can not find information on your speakers, However MB Quart speakers have a reputation of being difficult loads.

I would get a THX certified receiver, this means at least it will not blow up driving four ohm speakers. I would also get a receiver with pre outs so you can use an external amp if you need more power. Low end receivers, even if they are stable into four ohm loads, actually only deliver around 35 watts in today's typical speaker loads as opposed to a resistor on the test bench.

Onkyo specifically state that your receiver is not certified to drive four ohm loads. That means if you blow it driving those speakers your warranty is void.

You have to get into the higher priced receivers to get more competent amp stages, and it is a better bet to use a receiver with preout and an external amp.

If any amp section can not at least be certified to drive a four ohm load, it is basically junk.

Basically if you are starting to build up a system you need to avoid units like that, or you will always be spending money on replacements not upgrades.

 

[lsiberian]

That receiver is not THX certified, and therefore may well blow with a four ohm load.

Now practically all speakers are in effect four ohm loads. However there is a lot more involved other than impedance when determining whether a speaker is a difficult load.

I can not find information on your speakers, However MB Quart speakers have a reputation of being difficult loads.

I would get a THX certified receiver, this means at least it will not blow up driving four ohm speakers. I would also get a receiver with pre outs so you can use an external amp if you need more power. Low end receivers, even if they are stable into four ohm loads, actually only deliver around 35 watts in today's typical speaker loads as opposed to a resistor on the test bench.

Onkyo specifically state that your receiver is not certified to drive four ohm loads. That means if you blow it driving those speakers your warranty is void.

You have to get into the higher priced receivers to get more competent amp stages, and it is a better bet to use a receiver with preout and an external amp.

If any amp section can not at least be certified to drive a four ohm load, it is basically junk.

Basically if you are starting to build up a system you need to avoid units like that, or you will always be spending money on replacements not upgrades.

Agreed. Though not all companies pay for THX certification. I'd suggest the OP get the 706 which is actually similarly priced and THX certified. It's got the pre-outs and a full feature set. The 706 will pop up again on accessories4less at some point. They come and go at that place. But it is the best place to get an Onkyo receiver.

 

[daverimer]

Thanks for the input. I'll need to think about what to do. Building a high end theater is not a priority as I spend the majority of my electronic attention on computers. A room-mate with all the A/V equipment is moving out so it was time to buy EVERYTHING (tv, bluray, A/V receiver and surround sound).

I'd like to be able to use the MB Quart speakers I already have but it's not crucial.

Thanks again for the input on this thread.

 

[lsiberian]

Thanks for the input. I'll need to think about what to do. Building a high end theater is not a priority as I spend the majority of my electronic attention on computers. A room-mate with all the A/V equipment is moving out so it was time to buy EVERYTHING (tv, bluray, A/V receiver and surround sound).

I'd like to be able to use the MB Quart speakers I already have but it's not crucial.

Thanks again for the input on this thread.

Well I wouldn't want you jacking up your receiver, but you might look at HK receivers. I know they do a good job with hard loads. Not exactly great interfaces, but good enough.

 

[daverimer]

Thanks again to all who responded. I'll be giving the speakers back to my faja.

I am looking at getting 4 of these bad boys: Berhringer B2030P
http://www.behringer.de/EN/Products/B2030P.aspx

I understand that they are 100w speakers. The Onkyo RC160 is rated at:

Front L/R
80 W + 80 W (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz 0.08%, 2 channels driven, FTC)
90 W + 90 W (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.7%, 2 channels driven, FTC)

Surround Back L/R
80 W + 80 W (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08%, 2 channels driven, FTC)
90 W + 90 W (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.7%, 2 channels driven, FTC)

Would this be another 'over-powering' situation?