Need HT Receiver Advice

George Grand
George Grand Posts: 12,258
edited March 2005 in Electronics
Anybody who responds, PLEASE know what you're talking about. My rep is on the line with this, and I can only dispense advice to others if you KNOW what you're talking about, not if you THINK you know what you're talking about.

One of the pilots approached me today. He bought a Yamaha HT speaker package from BB or someplace like it. Wanted to know if I had anything that would drive it. I asked him if all the speakers were 8 ohms. "Yes, they are" was his answer. I told him that I did have a mint Kenwood VR-505 HT receiver at home that he could have for cheap. This receiver is clearly marked at all speaker outputs, 8-16 ohms. He e-mails me later to say that he checked his owners manny, and the speakers are all 6 ohms, and "Would the Kenwood amp drive them, and if not, can you recommend something that will?"

Anybody have any experience with Kenwood VR-505? Will it do it?

Pilots are the cheapest suckers on the earth okay? I know that Onkyo's least expensive HT receiver will probably drive 6 ohms, 20-20,000. I WOULD however, love to unload this Kenwood. I can't sell something that will fail to do the job, and risk my rep.

I also have a feeling this guy bought the speaker PART of a complete HT package. I think maybe BB or whatever put something over on him. Possibly in the form of a HT package receiver that failed as a demo model, and tried to salvage something from the box.

Anybody care to offer some words?

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)
Post edited by George Grand on
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Comments

  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,793
    edited March 2005
    Man if its those lil HTIB type deals...

    Anything can drive them....

    You know those lil shelf systems? They have 4 ohm speakers...

    Should drive it fine, IMO
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited March 2005
    If I ever meet you, I'm going to stab you.

    Does anybody have experience with Kenwood VR-505 and low impedance speakers? Not opinions please. Or "you think" it might work. Hard experience needed.

    Sid, before I stick you, I think you should be told that those "lil 4 ohm shelf speakers, come with lil amps" specifically designed to drive them.

    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,793
    edited March 2005
    Yes I'm aware of that...

    But you also gotta understand that HT package speakers are designed for the common joe, the kind of people that plug them up to about anything because its cool.

    Yeah sure, its 6 ohm nominal, but I'm pretty sure any receiver can drive them.

    Yamaha receivers are pretty much 8 ohm receivers, and they sell those receivers with their package all the time...

    Yeah, sure they have 4 ohm switches ont he back, but it dosnt really handle 4 ohms, it just cuts the current in half so the receiver dosnt blow up...

    The receiver will push it fine...

    Dont forget, they sell sharp objects here too...

    And not to mention, if he lives near you, let him borrow it, try it out for a few days...thats the hardest fact your going to get...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited March 2005
    I don't have a clue as to what the speakers are other than his description of them as a Yamaha HT speaker package. He was positive they were 8 ohms. This was face to face in my office. Then he e-mailed me from home to say he just read the manual and he was now positive they were 6 ohms. Powered sub? Who knows?

    This is the same guy that about 10 years ago wanted to buy about $150 worth of receiver, speakers and cassette deck off me. He's earning about $100k annually, living at home with mom and dad. When I tell him I can do just what he asks for $150, he asks me if I have an "easy payment" plan. Yes, I do. I give you the stuff, you give me the cash. Very easy. I ended up telling him I didn't want anything to do with ANYONE earning $100k, living with mom and dad, and can't put $150 together all at one time. NEXT!

    I'm just going to wait and see just what this fool has for speakers. Actually I already told him to take the **** back to BB and buy speakers off me.

    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)
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  • jcaut
    jcaut Posts: 1,849
    edited March 2005
    take the **** back to BB and buy speakers off me.

    I don't know anything about the Kenwood, but I know enough to know that the above suggestion would be the best advice.

    Jason
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited March 2005
    I found the VR-505 owner's manual online.

    ftp://docs.kenwoodusa.com/manuals/OM-VR-506-2001-KUSA.pdf

    On page 16 the print states to only use speakers with a matching impedance of what is on the back of the receiver. Using speakers with an impedance other than what is on the back panel of the receiver may lead to malfunction or damage to the speakers and / or receiver.

    Personally, if your reputation is on the line I wouldn't risk it because based on what the manual says you wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
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  • fireshoes
    fireshoes Posts: 3,167
    edited March 2005
    It seems to me that is was a Kenwood VR505 that was part of an HTiB we used to sell about 3 or 4 years ago. Does that time frame sound right George? I am about 80% the speakers in the package were 4 ohm. As far as the speakers go, BB sells sets of Yamaha speakers seperately that are also packaged in their HTiB's. That is probably what he got. They are probably tiny little speakers with a 2½" driver. I wouldn't have any worries running those speakers off of anything. If you have a spare toaster around, it would probably do just fine.
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    My brother was running a kenwood from a few years back (I don't know the exact model, but think 1999-2001 model) with 6 ohm speakers... it got plenty warm but it did fine. You have to remember that speaker load is on a log scale, so 6 isn't halfway between 4 and 8 ohm- the halfway point is closer to 5.5ohm. Meaning that the amp really has to suck not to be able to push 6ohm.

    However, I gotta agree with jcaut- it the guy is a little **** like you say, you probably have already answered your own question.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited March 2005
    George:

    Not a tremendous amount of help, but my Kenwood VR7070 had very little issues pushing 6 LSi7's. Granted the 7070 is a couple steps up from the 505, but I'd imagine that running the 7's full range at 4Ohm was a tougher drive as well. That's my experience with Kenwood recievers and low ohm speakers. I wouldn't suggest driving them to stupid loud levels though.

    As for pilots being cheap, I have three uncle's that were/are pilots, one flying BUFF's, one in a Jolly Green, and the third for United. The only cheap **** is the non-military. :D

    So like all things, YMMV
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited March 2005
    run Sid, run.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited March 2005
    THANK YOU pjdami. This is EXACTLY the type response I was hoping for, because I DON'T have the owners manual, and for sure the guy will look it up on the internet. THANK YOOUUUU! I will recommend to him the least expensive Onkyo at CompUsa as someone else suggested.

    George
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,793
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by danger boy
    run Sid, run.

    Cant...George cut off my feet...

    ouch
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by George Grand
    If I ever meet you, I'm going to stab you.

    Does anybody have experience with Kenwood VR-505 and low impedance speakers? Not opinions please. Or "you think" it might work. Hard experience needed.

    Sid, before I stick you, I think you should be told that those "lil 4 ohm shelf speakers, come with lil amps" specifically designed to drive them.

    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

    ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

    LOOK OUT SID!!!:D :) :eek:
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited March 2005
    I feel like I just read a temper tantrum.
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • stam4p5
    stam4p5 Posts: 22
    edited March 2005
    Maybe i am stupid, but i had an old kenwood prologic that stated "8 ohm only" on the back panel. i ran 4 ohm speakers on it for years and years, never had a problem. at 2 ohms, it would work fine, but the protection would kick in close to clipping. keep in mind i was maybe 12 or 13 at the time, didn't know what the hell i was doing. the damn thing still works, got it around here somewhere....
    HT: Yamaha HTR-5660, Front-RTi38, Center-CSi40, Rear-RT15i, Rear Center-RT15i, Subs-2x Polk DX12 in custom enclosures, Sub Amp-Harman/Kardon Citation Sixteen
    PC: H/K AVR 65, some DIY bookshelves
    The truck: Pioneer premier head, MTX amps, XM radio, 2 pair 6.5" DX Components, 1 DB 12" sub (the old one)
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