Digital DTS Receiver

[Guest SteveG]

What do all suggest for a digital DTS receiver that can handle 3a/11 type 4 Ohm speakers reasonably well. This is for going short of the multi amp configuration. As with others, I have main stereo speakers elsewhere with a bigger amp. but want to have moderate capacity and headroom to avoid clipping in a home theatre setting. Because I will not be looking at movies alone and other family members like a little less volume, 400 wats per chanel may not be necessary, Iand I don't want to pay for that anyway.

I have heard good things about some of the Pioneer VSX receivers with the 5 discrete amp mosfet models. These are in the VSX-D906, 908, 909, plus many of the pricier "Elite".

I have noticed some talking about Onkyo receivers but I infer these are older stereo units.

What is out there in a 5-change Dolby Digital DTS for $500, $400??

Any ideas?

Steve G

[Steve F]

>What do all suggest for a digital DTS receiver that can

>handle 3a/11 type 4 Ohm speakers reasonably well.

>

>I have heard good things about some of the Pioneer VSX

>receivers with the 5 discrete amp mosfet models. These are

>in the VSX-D906, 908, 909, plus many of the pricier "Elite".

>

>

>Any ideas?

>

>Steve G

The first thing to realize is that many of today's "8-ohm" speakers from well-known, well-respected companies are really quite a bit lower than that over much of their range. Since so few audio stores properly compensate for efficiency differences during A-B comparisons these days, manufacturers often give their speakers a lower impedance so they'll play "louder" in an uncompensated demo.

However, to avoid being "blacklisted" since many cheap receivers caution against 4-ohm speakers, speakers today are either rated at 8 ohms or given truly nebulous ratings like "4-8 ohms with receivers rated from 10-100 watts." Huh?

You'd be VERY surprised at the number of famous, top-selling speakers that purport to be 8 ohms that are really not even close.

The good news from this is that receivers have actually been driving 4 ohm loads all this time and they've been ok, as long as you didn't try to run A + B at the same time, or play bass-heavy music at lifelike volumes.

My own experience has been that when you get to the $500-700 price level and beyond, most units are pretty good. I've had good luck with Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo, HK, Marantz, Pioneer Elite, and Sony ES. Several receiver companies now actually rate their power into 4 ohms, according to FTC power spec requirements. Look for those receivers, and you'll most likely be fine.

Steve F.

[Guest Nigel]

I would go with the an Onkyo TX-SR600, for under $500 at Circuit City, and a TX-SR700 if you can push the budget, which gives you the ability bi-amp speakers.

Nigel