ERA D4 series speakers with Denon AV-788, Marantz SR5002, or Onkyo TX-SR605

[JK_Livin22]

I am putting together a system for a family member and will be using ERA D4 series http://www.signalpathint.com/index.php/Design-4-Series/ speakers for the front and center channel in what will eventually be a 5.1 or 7.1 channel surround system with a Blu-ray player as the primary source component. Initially I had been strongly considering the Onkyo TX-SR605 as it has received excellent reviews from just about every source imaginable. However, the listening preferences of the eventual owner of the system are probably going to be something like 30% multi-channel music, 30% 2-channel music, 40% movies. Given that, I think there may be other receivers out there in the same price range (btw, probably going to be purchasing a refurbished unit from an authorized dealer @ $450 or less) that are perhaps more geared toward music than movies. A couple of the units I’m considering are the Denon AVR-788, and the Marantz 5002. I believe that the Cambridge Audio and NAD units that are comparable are going to be quite a bit more expensive; but if anyone knows of a particular model from either of these manufacturers (as well as any others, i.e Yamaha, etc.) they think I should consider, please let me know. The ERA D-4 series speakers are rated at 4 ohms, but I’ve been told that they are really closer to 5 ohms. Would any of the units mentioned thus far have trouble pushing these speakers?

Bottom line, I’m trying to find an AV receiver that is good with movies but great with music (for mid-fi equipment that is), with at least 2 HDMI inputs (preferably for audio as well as video). Unfortunately I am currently living in a rural area and it is difficult for me to audition these (although I intend to do so before I make a final decision) and the ERA dealer does not carry any of these brands, only higher end equipment from Rotel, etc. Before I start traveling around to audition anything, I would love to get some opinions from anyone who has listen to and compared any of the units mentioned, especially regarding their performance with music, both stereo and multi-channel.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Davemcc]

I think the D4 are one of the finest sounding speakers on the market. Good choice, but they do have their issues in tems of power demands. The receivers you mentioned will work but to get the best out of the D4 you should give serious consideration to your powers supply.

The Era D4 satellites are 6 ohm minimum, but the center is 4 ohm minimum. The real issue with them is the sensitivity, 84db for the sats, 87db for the center. So they are power hungry little buggers complicated by the impedence in trying to give it a stable power supply. http://www.signalpathint.com/index.php/Comparative/Specifications-Chart.html

In general, most consumer receivers will work, but are going to have trouble driving them properly at higher volume. You mentioned NAD, which would be a good choice from what I've heard simply for their ability to drive low impedence loads properly. Or you could run them off the Denon or Marantz with the expectation that you might have to add an external amp down the road. I ran my D5 with a Denon 2307 and I did have an improvement in sound quality with the addition of a Rotel 5 channel amp, particularly in the center channel.