Using a 4 Ohm Center with a VSX-21TXH

Obsession18

I'm considering using a 4 ohm center channel speaker with my Pioneer VSX-21TXH avr and am wondering if this may kill my avr? The avr also powers two 8 Ohm surround speakers (nothing else), my 4 Ohm fronts are run off a separate Parasound amp.

When watching TV I keep the volume around -28db and use -20 to 15db for movies - I don't consider this excessive volume so I'm hoping I won't overheat the amp.

Parts Express has a SWEET deal on the following speaker I want to use as a center channel:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=301-972L

If I am forced to I will purchase an Outlaw 2200 monoblock to power the center.

mantis

Why aren't you using a Tyler center channel? No don't run 4 ohms off the 21.

deronb1

If the 21 is like the 23, then you have the option to change the ohm setting for the amp(s). The settings on the 23 are either 6 or 8 ohms, no option for 4 ohms.

I wouldn't try it either, just to be safe.

tonyb

Bottomline is,that receiver isn't built to run a 4 ohm load, so the risk is in your hands.

JimAckley

Well-put Tony.

To make a small counterpoint: lots of people looked at me like I was a mad man for powering 5 LSi's with a cheap Yamaha, but the catch is that I had it crossed at 100Hz, had the receiver set to 6-ohm mode, and the system was in a 12'x14' room, so I never had to crank it up much to get high volumes, thus never put near enough strain on the receiver to induce a failure.

From what I can tell, where you run into problems is having your receiver try to drive those speakers full-range, or at least crossed at lower frequencies. So, it can be done, but you're not going to be able to pull the full potential out of your speakers.

To be safe, I'd snag a 1- or 3-channel amp to power the center or the center+surrounds, but you'll probably be okay as long as you're not trying to drive it full-range and not trying to push high volumes. I wouldn't crank your receiver up any higher than you are right now.

If you do crank it and do run them full-range or crossed at a low frequency, there's a much greater potential for a one-time light show from your receiver and the magic smoke will escape, and they don't run after the magic smoke escapes

angelsfann02

tonyb wrote: »

Bottomline is,that receiver isn't built to run a 4 ohm load, so the risk is in your hands.

+1
I was running a Pioneer vsx-23 when I first got my polk lsi 15's (4ohm). I had to buy external amplification. This receiver is rated for 8ohms, 6ohm max I believe. No way I was risking damaging anything