rta-12bs

tms331

I have a few questions about some rta-12b's that were given to me last week. the speakers work great love the sound but I am curious about hooking them up. I have a 200 watt onkio receiver that can be set at 6 ohm or 8 ohm. the polk speakers are 4 ohm and I also want to hook up some jbl bookshelf speakers that are 8 ohm. am I better off chaining them and using the 6 ohm setting. or hooking the polks up to a and the jbls up to b. would also like to hook up my outdoor speakers. so the chain method would have benefits leaving b open for them. I am also curious if this is where I might find a new cover for the top. previous owner is still looking for missing one.

pitdogg2

leave the ohm setting at 8. If that receiver is not 4ohm compatible then proceed with caution with the volume or you may let the audiophile smoke out. Sounds like you are trying to get too much out of that receiver with the amount of speakers you're trying to drive. Do not try and run all at once or you will let the smoke out

Geoff4rfc

pitdogg2 wrote: »

leave the ohm setting at 8. If that receiver is not 4ohm compatible then proceed with caution with the volume or you may let the audiophile smoke out. Sounds like you are trying to get too much out of that receiver with the amount of speakers you're trying to drive. Do not try and run all at once or you will let the smoke out:smile:

Please......not the magic blue smoke. I have witnessed the escaping of the smoke once. If you've ever watched it come out of your gear, it feels like it's coming out of your gut. Not a pretty sight :eek:

tms331

thanks, the manual for my receiver say I can use speakers ranging from 4 to 16 ohms. mentions 4 or 6 ohm speakers to set at 6 ohms. I had read if I hooked up 8 ohms to a 4 ohms I would end up with 6 ohms. sounds like I should not chain them together. I think I will just go without the outdoor speakers till next summer and maybe by then I can upgrade my system. just could not pass on free rta-12b's . thanks for the info

tonyb

When a receiver, most anyway, says they can handle 4 ohm speakers it's a little deceiving. What it does is LIMIT the current to your speakers so the receiver doesn't overheat. What do 4 ohm speakers thrive on ? Current. So actually your starving them of power. If you keep the volume at a decent level you may be OK, but don't push them with just the receiver or you may toast either or.

Don't chain speakers together either. When you go shopping, look for a receiver with preouts so you can add an amplifier for those puppies. You'll be glad you did.

dscheer

Agree with all the above. Ok to run your RTA12bs with the receiver. As mentioned no other add on speakers.
And be carefull when turning the volume up, Ok at loud levels But! not REAL Loud. Those RTA12bs love High current amps.
When you can invest in a New/Used High current amp.....You WILL Hear the Difference, and not just at Loud levels.
Have Fun with the Polks.
Regards: Don scheer

tms331

thanks, I will keep that in mind. I don't think I will turn them up more than 40% max 20 to 25% typical. I am more interested in the fullness of the sound not driving my block crazy. would I be ok with a 7 channel home theater with 125 watts per channel so I can power my outdoor speakers. or any I better off going with a amp / per amp set up. I still hope to use my 8 ohm speakers.

dscheer

Think OHMs when it comes to harming your Amp or reciever's amp. When ever an amp's channel is wired to more than one speaker system (On the same Channel) Example: Outdoor bookshilf size 8 ohm speaker and inside an 8 ohm speaker system (1 channel now driving 2 speakers)
the resulting nominal ohms is halved. so now the amp channel is driving a 4 ohm load even though both speakers are rated a nominal 8 ohm load.
If both of the speakers were 4 ohm each, then the amp's channel would be driving a 2 ohm load..and that's when the amp can do that smoke thing or the amp may clip and fry the speaker(s) voice coil(s).
Not trying to complicate things here, But! it's about current Load (OHMs) not so much watts.
Regards: Don

tms331

thanks for the info. will definitely have to research this more before I upgrade. I am new to high end audio. looks like these free speaker will lead me to build a system around them. as for the ohms issue. that is why I was thinking if I chained the 4 ohms with a 8 ohms I would end up with a 6 ohm load which my receiver has a setting for. but it sound like the speakers hooked together need to have the same ohms rating.

tonyb

I don't think your grasping the whole thing my friend. That 6 ohm setting on the receiver will limit the current to your speakers. You want the opposite to happen.

Bottomline, your receiver is not equipped to drive 4 ohm speakers, period. Trying to daisy chain speakers with mixed OHM ratings is only going to make your sound worse and put undue stress on the receiver.

Right tool for the right job

tms331

yeah I don't quite get it. but they do sound better not chained and I believe what your saying. it make sense. I have looked at some info on some amps and receivers that mention the total watt output is higher for 4ohm than 8 ohm. but they are equipped to handle 4 ohms. like I said I am new to high end audio. thankfully my budget restraints will give me time to get schooled. thanks again for all the help.

rmaiers

Congratulations on getting a pair of RTA 12Bs. They were/are my first Polk speakers. Still have them and plan on keeping them, along with a pair of SDA 2Bs I've since acquired.

tms331

thanks they are my first Polk speakers and I really like them.I hope to enjoy them for years to come. now I just need to build my system around them. even with my subpar receiver I fell like I am in a whole new world of sound. I am really looking forward to hearing them with the power to drive them.