First off I have to say that after speaking to several Best Buy Magnolia Reps I think that the local Best Buy is doing a horrible job training. They spoke as if I knew nothing and kept telling me that I do not need a nice receiver to drive my little Vienna speakers and that the expensive receivers are for multiple rooms or huge speakers! They also told me that by today's standards that the receiver I was trying to replace (Yamaha RX-V3000 rated at 100RMS@ .01 thd) is nothing compared to newer tech amps like what in the vsx-03 which I think is like 110@.09 They also showed me a receiver that wasn't rated to 4ohms and was driving Logan's and said look this is plannogrammed do you think corporate would do this if it wasn't ok! Yes, yes I do?
Anyways I secured a tiny little VSX-03 for $350 because they had an open one that they where blowing out. I figured I'd give it a try.
Now I'm worried about one thing... am I going to have to worry about damaging the Viennas? The fronts are Haydn's and are 6ohm (old model) and the center is the newer model Maestro (4ohm) The receiver is rated to go as low as 6ohm. I did switch it to 6ohm mode but am questioning as to if I should switch it back to 8ohm since I read that I shouldnt use those switches somewhere on this site.
I am only worried about the speakers really as I could care less about the receiver it has an extended warranty from best buy for only $50 so if it burns up its their fault for being idiots and telling me that it was fine.
At the first listen I have to say that it "sounds" better... but this could be because I never EQed or adjusted any delay or level settings on the yamaha... At a later time I can afford to buy a used 2 and then a used 1 ch amp since I eventually want to end up with 2 stats on a 2 ch amp anyways but money is not availible at this time. I guess I could also run the Yamaha as an amplifier but I'm not sure if that is a good idea or not, I do have a pair of 1m M series interconnects from back in the cd player days so I have all the stuff just that would take up a lot of room and look pretty stupid...
The purchase of the receiver is forced as I have a PS3, XBOX360 and FIOS which all run on HDMI and the HDMI switcher I bought from best buy $100 and doesnt work with the PS3 for some reason.
Any suggestions
my main questions out this would be
1) Are my Vienna safe so long as I don't hear audible clipping or bottoming out or are they going to be subjected to higher heat in the coil and cross over?
2) Should I use the 6ohm selector on the Pioneer or leave it on 8 ohms
3) Is there any benefit to running the yamaha as an amplifier and if there is should I just look into buying a surround pre-amp instead what is good in the sub $600 range if anything? Remember I bought the Pioneer for $350 plus tax!
Thanks
William
