Pioneer Elite TXH21 and Martin Logan Loudspeakers-4 OHM question

[nhjrmonarchs7]

Hey all,

I have recently purchased one of the Pioneer Elite TXH21 receivers, 2 martin logan preface's and 3 of the encore TF loud speakers. My question is in regards to speaker impedance. This receiver states it only supports 6-8ohm+ speakers and these ML speakers are rated at 4ohm. Will this receiver be able to power 5 speakers at 4ohms? I noticed the Onkyo sr707 clearly states it can supply the power for 4ohm. Should I swap this sucker out for the Onkyo?


Thanks a bunch ladies and gents.


-Ryan

 

[Tungsten06GT]

Totally unrelated to your question, but where did you purchase the 21txh? I was checking amazon the past couple days and it appears the price has gone up do to people snatchin them up at the lower prices!

 

[njedpx3]

Consider external Amp to drive Martin Logans

With 4 ohm Martin Logans you might want to consider connecting an external amplifier: Emotiva or Behringer, to the front speaker pre-outs. It takes twice the current and therfore power to drive 4 ohm as opposed to 8 ohm. This doubles the amperage (current) and can potentially trip the Pioneer "PROTECT" circuitry at higher volumes even though the TXH21 is rated at 110 watts per channel.

Good Luck!

Forest Man

 

[nhjrmonarchs7]

If i do not get an external amp, which receiver would be best do you think? Also, is it possible to harm the equipment? An external amp may be something I can purchase down the road.


Thanks again.

-Ryan

 

[bandphan]

If i do not get an external amp, which receiver would be best do you think? Also, is it possible to harm the equipment? An external amp may be something I can purchase down the road.


Thanks again.

-Ryan

IMO the external would be the way to go and not a avr for the powersince all 5 are 4 ohm nominal.

 

[nhjrmonarchs7]

Which model would you recommend? Do all of the speakers get power from the external at that point? Thank you for the help, I have limited knowledge about using an external amp.

-Ryan

 

[njedpx3]

I agree with Bandphan about the external amp. But if the choice is only between the Onkyo TX-SR707 and Pioneer VSX-21TXH, I would defintely get the Onkyo!

Here is a good external amp Behringher EP2500 as low as $269.
600 watts per channel into 4 ohm speakers
http://www.audiolines.com/Pro-Audio/Amplifiers/Professional-Amps/Behringer-EP-2500

Forest Man

 

[bandphan]

@799 this one would work..
http://emotiva.com/xpa5.shtm

 

[nhjrmonarchs7]

Damn! So that would connect to the pioneer elite, and the speakers go to the external amp? If I do not buy this right away will it harm the amp or speakers to run without it for a bit?

 

[nhjrmonarchs7]

I mean if I am going to spend 650 on the receiver and another 800 on an amp..is there a receiver with a built in amp that is sufficient for less?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

That's why you buy the Behringer which is about 3x the amp of the EMO....

I mean if I am going to spend 650 on the receiver and another 800 on an amp..is there a receiver with a built in amp that is sufficient for less?

 

[64met]

Totally unrelated to your question, but where did you purchase the 21txh? I was checking amazon the past couple days and it appears the price has gone up do to people snatchin them up at the lower prices!

I bought mine from videogon; check it out kinda like a high end ebay with people who love this hobby as well. www.videogon.com

Great prices

 

[nhjrmonarchs7]

64Met, how do you like it?

 

[njedpx3]

Since you have already purchased Pioneer VSX-21TXH ...

.. Instead of taking it back, hook it up and see how it works. The Pioneer VSX-21TXH, as all Pioneers are very,very protective of the AVR. You won't hurt anything with the Martin Logans but if they draw too much current then it will trip the protective circuitry of the 21TXH and will power itoff. If that never happens or only happens when you play the audio loud the are two solutions that you can then implement:

(1) Only play the audio at lower volumes
(2) Buy an external AMP. One person mentioned the Emotiva EPA-5 which in most cases you wouldn't need. It provides external amps for 5 channels and you really only need to provide for the front 2 channels, not the rears, center and surrounds.

Good Luck!

Forest Man

 

[M Code]

Hey all,

I have recently purchased one of the Pioneer Elite TXH21 receivers, 2 martin logan preface's and 3 of the encore TF loud speakers. My question is in regards to speaker impedance. This receiver states it only supports 6-8ohm+ speakers and these ML speakers are rated at 4ohm. Will this receiver be able to power 5 speakers at 4ohms? I noticed the Onkyo sr707 clearly states it can supply the power for 4ohm. Should I swap this sucker out for the Onkyo?


Thanks a bunch ladies and gents.


-Ryan

A couple of suggestions...
1. Set the Pioneer's speaker mode to 8 Ohms..
2. The Prefaces are quite efficient and should be OK with the built-in Pioneer amplifier circuits.

You should try it, all will likely be fine. How much power you need really depends upon room size, volume level and source material. If you do run short of power then consider adding a separate component power amplifier, why worry about that now take it a step at a time...

Just my $0.01...

 

[nhjrmonarchs7]

Thank you for the help guys, I will try it out.

 

[CraigV]

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/srch_fs.pl?searchstring=emotiva

I’m using an XPA-5 being driven by a vsx-21thx as a pre/pro. Click the link above, any of the XPA series amps will deliver the juice to your front speakers they crave, then just let the receivers internal amps do the surrounds (unless you’re really into SACD, then you should consider the XPA-5)