help 4ohm or 8ohm?

[moves]

So I will be buying a Totem model 1 signature centre channel and they come in a 4ohm and an 8 ohm option.... http://totemacoustic.com/en/hi-fi/columns/forest/specifications/?surround=forest-model-1

The 8 ohm is non shielded and says that it plays louder than the 4 ohm.... I don't personally care about loudness because I am certain the 4 ohm will play plenty loud.

I have a Pioneer SC 27 AV receiver that is not rated to power 4 ohm speakers but I've asked people around here that they don't have a problem driving a 4 ohm centre channel with the type of receiver that I have.

So my 2 questions:

1. is which one is the better option for me? I am guessing the 8ohm because of my receiver. OR is the 4 ohm a better option?
2. The 8ohm is non shielded so how close can it be to the t.v. without it interfering with picture?

 

[ImcLoud]

I would get the center that matches your totem left and right fronts, are they 4 or 8? For ht with an avr I would lean towards 8...

 

[moves]

You would eh? I've got the Forests that are 8 ohms... I heard that most centers are rated at 4 ohms... I am wondering why Totem would give you 2 options... There must be a reason.

 

[markw]

I heard that most centers are rated at 4 ohms

You heard wrong.

 

[ImcLoud]

Get the 8 ohm center that timbre matches your left and right, I never heard that most centers were 4 ohms..

If you have forest 8 ohm towers get the model1 signature center in 8 ohm... A friend of mine has that center with the twins for the front and left and they sound good... although I think my 340se's sound better , although the totem finishes look very nice vs my 340se's

 

[moves]

Cool thanks for your opinion! What about the shielding? Do you think not having the magnetic shield makes a difference?

 

[ImcLoud]

Only to your tv, if its close to your tv get shielding if its not don't worry about it... if your tv is a type that is affected by magnets... all electronic devices are effected to some degree but will it cause damage, not to pllasma, rear pro, lcd, ect..

 

[moves]

I got a pana plasma and the speaker is about 1 ft below the screen

 

[ImcLoud]

Is shielded more money? if it is I would skip it personally...

 

[panteragstk]

Shielded is only for CRT TV's. No modern TV should have any issues (Plasma, LCD, DLP).

 

[fuzz092888]

I'm not seeing the two versions on the website, but I may have missed it. Shielding won't make a big difference and I would go with the 8 ohm version because the receiver will be happier with it. AFAIK, impedance doesn't affect timbre matching.

FWIW, I don't believe my Salk center is shielded, nor my custom center and both sit with 3-4 inches of a cable box and my panny plasma with no ill effects for anything.

 

[ImcLoud]

Fuzz 4 ohm may not make a difference in timbre, BUT it can play havok with balancing when you mix them in multi channel...... I have been there...

 

[fuzz092888]

Fuzz 4 phm may not make a difference in timbre, BUT it can play havok with balancing... I have been there...

That hasn't been my experience mixing speakers of different impedances. About 30 seconds and my SPL meter keeps things where they should be. I'm also using all external amps for everything, but I'm pretty sure you do as well so I'm not sure where the trouble would come in.

 

[ImcLoud]

It was with an avr, and the left and right were 4ohm with higher sens than the 8ohm center and with center turned +12 and left and right turned -12 the left and right were still could not get balanced... It wasn't my system I was just helping out...

 

[fuzz092888]

It was with an avr, and the left and right were 4ohm with higher sens than the 8ohm center and with center turned +12 and left and right turned -12 the left and right were still could not get balanced... It wasn't my system I was just helping out...

Sounds like the problem was with both. Speakers that were purchased that presented a significant issue to a receiver that could not properly compensate. A well designed and competent receiver/amplifier should be able to handle the majority (or all) of *true* 4 and 8 ohm loads.

 

[TheStalker]

Damping factor will be better with the 8 ohm speaker, therefore bass (even at 80Hz) will be better. The anemic receiver will also be happier and play with less distortion.

 

[fuzz092888]

Damping factor will be better with the 8 ohm speaker, therefore bass (even at 80Hz) will be better. The anemic receiver will also be happier and play with less distortion.

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/damptoole.htm

 

[TheStalker]

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/damptoole.htm

Not only is this a snarky and completely irrelevant response to what I've posted, but you have absolutely and completely failed to understand the article you have posted! Haven't you trolled these boards long enough?

 

[fuzz092888]

Not only is this a snarky and completely irrelevant response to what I've posted, but you have absolutely and completely failed to understand the article you have posted! Haven't you trolled these boards long enough?

Please elaborate.

 

[slipperybidness]

Shielded is only for CRT TV's. No modern TV should have any issues (Plasma, LCD, DLP).

Also, be careful if you have a computer (HTPC) in your stack, you don't want unshielded magnets near your computer.

But, yeah shielding is mostly not needed due to new TV designs.