Building new home theatre - Need Advice

[smreed32]

Thanks for your comments BargainSeeker. One of the reasons I am questioning my components is that the Sony Receiver is 8 ohm (?) and the Vienna Acoustics are 6 ohm(?) The Sony is working...obviously, but I was told by an Audio salesperson that I reallly should be running the Haydn's with a component that can go to less than 8 ohm. Not sure what all this means, since they seem to sound pretty good now...

[bargainseeker]

Thanks for your comments BargainSeeker. One of the reasons I am questioning my components is that the Sony Receiver is 8 ohm (?) and the Vienna Acoustics are 6 ohm(?) The Sony is working...obviously, but I was told by an Audio salesperson that I reallly should be running the Haydn's with a component that can go to less than 8 ohm. Not sure what all this means, since they seem to sound pretty good now...

If you have had no problems with overheating or distortion so far, I wouldn't worry about it. Most mid- to high-end receivers rated for 8 ohm speakers will be able to drive 6 ohm speakers as well. Many speakers rated as 8 ohm have a dip to 6 ohms somewhere in their impedance curve anyway.

[woodman]

Thanks for your comments BargainSeeker. One of the reasons I am questioning my components is that the Sony Receiver is 8 ohm (?) and the Vienna Acoustics are 6 ohm(?) The Sony is working...obviously, but I was told by an Audio salesperson that I reallly should be running the Haydn's with a component that can go to less than 8 ohm. Not sure what all this means, since they seem to sound pretty good now...

The reply that I posted for "drgolfnut" is equally applicable to you. You're being misled by "an Audio salesperson" with an agenda. Which is, to sell you something that you don't really need under a totally false premise. The impedance figure that's quoted for loudspeakers is what's called a nominal impedance ... meaning that it's a constantly fluctuating quantity, and not "fixed" or "constant" in any sense. All speakers will present an impedance (load) that will vary all over the map with different frequencies, and go both above and below the nominal impedance figure that's quoted. Most amplifiers are fully capable of driving most speakers - even when their quoted impedances are different. It's only when a given speaker's impedance dips really low (to 2 ohms or less) that it can cause an amp to upchuck its lunch. Fortunately, this situation happens only very rarely. It's not anything for you to lose even a moment's sleep over.

My only other comment to you regarding your pending purchase would be that IMO, you're being "oversold" to the hilt - especially with the subwoofer. There are many subs available that will perform just as well as the REL for a fraction of the price. Also, the use of another pair of Haydns to serve as surrounds also falls under the heading of "overkill" - at least for movie watching. If you were going to be listening to a lot of multi-channel music from SACDs and/or DVD-As, then using Haydns for the surrounds might make a bit of sense. But for surround sound movie viewing, I don't think they would give you anything beneficial that you couldn't get from a different pair of surround speakers that would cost you FAR less.

Hope this helps you