Yamaha RX-V1400 and LSi7 4 ohm Speakers?

[RobXant]

Hey All- anyone care to opine on the use of this fine 120w reciever with a set of Polk LSi7 (4ohm) bookshelf speakers? I am wondering if I am going to burn out the amp in my Yamaha trying to drive them with the rest of my surround sound system ((Polk RT4/CSi3) 8ohm stuff). I am about to get a set to replace the RT4s and just want to make sure I have enough power to run them well, and that I am not going to burn anything out.
Thanks for any insight-
Rob

[F1nut]

Check your owners manual to see if the receiver is rated to drive 4 ohm loads. If it isn't, then you don't want to drive the LSi's with it.

[hamzahsh]

I've the Yamaha RX-V1400 and it doesn't support 4OHM load according to the manual. The interesting thing is I've read some posts where 1 user wrote, he is running 1400 with SNELL 4 OHM Speakers without any problems at all.

No problemo! Yamaha 1400 will do it for you. If you want to!

Personally, If I were you I'll buy the AMP.
Even though I use 8 OHM speakers I'm still running the AMPs. Amps do make the sound better.


:)

[Mazeroth]

A thread on here a few months ago had a review of the LSi7s and an ohm test that concluded it is almost a nominal 8ohm load with the LSi7s. I wouldn't worry about it. You'll be fine; seriously. I had a set of LSi7s running off a $140 Sherwood 5.1 receiver that I got from Circuit City for my computer rig. Never got excessively warm.

[RobXant]

OK- I see there are a few diferent views on this. I wonder if I am going to hear a real difference using these to replace a set of RT4s as front surrounds. Or, at least enough of one to justify running my reciever hard enough to drive them?
thanks for all your help!
Rob

[Mjr7531]

Originally posted by hamzahsh

No problemo!
Sorry, this is off topic, but, it's "Ningún Problema."

Edited: Oops, I forgot the sign of good intention... :)

[sowen010599]

120watts? Would that be the RX-V2400??

A little known fact about THX certification...

"THX Select certification ensures that it can hit a 105-decibel sound level in a room of up to 2,000 cubic feet when used with THX Select–certified speakers and remain stable when driving loads with impedances down to 3.2 ohms."

So, yeah, 4 ohms is a non-issue with that model. In fact, the literature shows ratings all the way down to 2 ohms. You won't find it in the manual though. I read something somewhere about UL requiring there to be a switch on the unit to select 4 ohm. To satisfy that requirement, not having said switch, they only rate it to 6 ohm in the manual. Damn UL! And another thing, Gene DellaSala at Audioholics says to run the unit at the 8 ohm setting even with a 4 ohm load. Doing otherwise "steps down voltage feed to the power sections which can limit dynamics and overall fidelity."

They show dynamic (no idea what RMS is other that the 8 ohm 120 watts) power ratings in the literature....

8 ohms 155 watts
6 ohms 195 watts
4 ohms 260 watts
2 ohms 330 watts

I called Yamaha asking about this (I have the 2400). They said the unit will run stable all the way down to 2 ohms all day long with good ventilation. WOW! I about fell out of my chair.

[F1nut]

Hmmmmm......and all this time I thought THX was a new word for sucker.

[amulford]

What do you mean by good ventilation? I'd be careful, in any case. If the Yammy is still under warranty, give it a go. If it ain't, tread lightly...

[Sami]

Any receiver that gets fried by running 4ohm loads is badly designed. It may shut itself down but it shouldn't fry.