Very new to AV world, need some help with 4 ohms question...

[Fofochinho]

Just some background...

I got married recently and went to buy a washer/dryer off Craigslist. The man selling it to me was a definite audiophile, but since he was moving into an RV he couldn't take all of his equipment he had acquired over many years. He offered me a set of 70's Vintage Wharfedale Opal 100's. They look like new still and sound incredible. He gave them to me for 50 bucks and explained to me they are 4 ohm so be careful with whatever receiver I hook them up to. I have always been a fan of good sound but can't consider myself an audiophile due to lack of knowledge and experience on the subject.

With that in mind, I am living in a one bedroom apt and want to get these speakers hooked up to my hdtv as soon as possible. I have been scouring the net looking for the right receiver for 300 or less, but it appears that 4 ohm is a thing of the past. They also say they take 200WTs so that presents another dilemma.

Does anyone know of a decent entry-mid level AV receiver that could produce the power needed for my new vintage gems? The guy at best buy told me any of the new Onkyo's were ok for 4 ohms but I can't find that anywhere on the specs.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Just some background...

I got married recently and went to buy a washer/dryer off Craigslist. The man selling it to me was a definite audiophile, but since he was moving into an RV he couldn't take all of his equipment he had acquired over many years. He offered me a set of 70's Vintage Wharfedale Opal 100's. They look like new still and sound incredible. He gave them to me for 50 bucks and explained to me they are 4 ohm so be careful with whatever receiver I hook them up to. I have always been a fan of good sound but can't consider myself an audiophile due to lack of knowledge and experience on the subject.

With that in mind, I am living in a one bedroom apt and want to get these speakers hooked up to my hdtv as soon as possible. I have been scouring the net looking for the right receiver for 300 or less, but it appears that 4 ohm is a thing of the past. They also say they take 200WTs so that presents another dilemma.

Does anyone know of a decent entry-mid level AV receiver that could produce the power needed for my new vintage gems? The guy at best buy told me any of the new Onkyo's were ok for 4 ohms but I can't find that anywhere on the specs.

Any help is appreciated!

Welcome

Here are a few considerations. Yes, a 4 Ohm load is hard on a receiver but, always a but, I don't foresee you driving your neighbors crazy with your listening loudness so most receivers should be OK under low to to normal listening levels.
That 200 Watt rating is the max rating only. Under sane conditions the speakers will be asking for about a watt or two in that 1 room apartment.

 

[bikemig]

Stereo receiver

Since you have only two speakers, you may just want to get a stereo receiver as that might make it easier to find a 4 ohm stable unit that fits your price range. The HK 3490 comes to mind but it has gone up in price recently (lately I've seen it at around $400) so it might be out of your price range. The onkyo is going for around $300 on Amazon and it is 4 ohm capable, http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=TX-8050&class=Receiver&p=f. Plus it has a number of digital (as well as analog) inputs so it will work with a number of different devices.

 

[Fofochinho]

Thank you!

Thanks for the quick reply. We will mainly be watching movies and listening to music. My main concern is sound quality and not hurting any of the equipment. Any specific receivers you could recommend? I was looking at this years lower end Onkyos.

Any recommendations to steer me in the right direction are great. Thanks!

 

[TLS Guy]

Just some background...

I got married recently and went to buy a washer/dryer off Craigslist. The man selling it to me was a definite audiophile, but since he was moving into an RV he couldn't take all of his equipment he had acquired over many years. He offered me a set of 70's Vintage Wharfedale Opal 100's. They look like new still and sound incredible. He gave them to me for 50 bucks and explained to me they are 4 ohm so be careful with whatever receiver I hook them up to. I have always been a fan of good sound but can't consider myself an audiophile due to lack of knowledge and experience on the subject.

With that in mind, I am living in a one bedroom apt and want to get these speakers hooked up to my hdtv as soon as possible. I have been scouring the net looking for the right receiver for 300 or less, but it appears that 4 ohm is a thing of the past. They also say they take 200WTs so that presents another dilemma.

Does anyone know of a decent entry-mid level AV receiver that could produce the power needed for my new vintage gems? The guy at best buy told me any of the new Onkyo's were ok for 4 ohms but I can't find that anywhere on the specs.

Any help is appreciated!

Four ohm speakers are not a thing of the past. Most speakers are four ohms, the manufacturers just mislead with vague statements, like 8 ohm nominal.

If you don't play them loud you will be fine with a receiver. However those speakers have a lot of drivers, so I would suspect the owners advice was correct to take care about what you power them with.

 

[Fofochinho]

Thanks again for the replies y'all!

I failed to mention that I do have two Bose surround speakers (the small, 2 cubes that twist ones) and one Energy center speaker. Ideally I would like to set them all up, even if the rear ones are underpowered, as long as it sounds good. My biggest concern is the vintage Opal's, I've heard what they can do and I would like to harness as much of it as I can on a budget. I have been looking at the Onkyos and it looks like if I want HDMI and 4 Ohm capability I have to jump up to the TX-NR709.

Like I said, I am looking to watch movies/TV and listen to music off my iPod/DVD's. I am not looking for super loud, definitely no more than in a movie theatre. Am I best to stick with Onkyo? Costco has a Pioneer 7.1 Channel Elite for $300 or a Sony 7.1 for $280. Thanks for the suggestions, as always, any help is appreciated.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks again for the replies y'all!

I failed to mention that I do have two Bose surround speakers (the small, 2 cubes that twist ones) and one Energy center speaker. Ideally I would like to set them all up, even if the rear ones are underpowered, as long as it sounds good. My biggest concern is the vintage Opal's, I've heard what they can do and I would like to harness as much of it as I can on a budget. I have been looking at the Onkyos and it looks like if I want HDMI and 4 Ohm capability I have to jump up to the TX-NR709.

Like I said, I am looking to watch movies/TV and listen to music off my iPod/DVD's. I am not looking for super loud, definitely no more than in a movie theatre. Am I best to stick with Onkyo? Costco has a Pioneer 7.1 Channel Elite for $300 or a Sony 7.1 for $280. Thanks for the suggestions, as always, any help is appreciated.

I would get a four ohm capable receiver. You can not use Bose cubes with other systems, you will blow them up. Bose is incompatible with everything else. The cubes have to be crossed over at 180 Hz and no receiver will do that. Bose systems are entirely proprietary and that's the best that can be said about them.