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Recommendation for Class D Amplifier for Polk LSI speakers

post #1 of 2
2/3/10 at 9:17pm
Thread Starter 
Hi

This is my first setup so I don't have any benchmarks to compare audio quality with and w/o an amplifier so that hasn't been a factor.

I have been driving my 5 channel Polk LSI (LSI-9/C/FX) + Outlaw Sub setup with a Marantz SR-8001. The LSI's are 4 ohm and I've been warned that despite the high rating I might blow my receiver and should get an amplifier. Is this true?

If so I have limited space to put the amplifier and didn't want it overheating so was thinking of getting a class D amplifier.

The ones I found from looking around the forum and the web were above my price range (1-2k). I was looking more for something around the price range of the Emotiva ones (500ish - @ emotiva not making any Class D's)

I also read that it may be worthwhile to just get a stereo amp and drive the front speakers through that and leave the rest tied to the receiver.

Also someone on craigslist is selling a Muse 100 stereo amp in the price range I was looking at - I couldn't find any information on that either.

Any recommendations and tips greatly appreciated
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post #2 of 2
2/4/10 at 8:25am
Some receivers (Harman Kardon, NAD, Sherwood Newcastle, et al) are fine to use with 4 ohm speakers, keeping in mind that the impedance rating by the manufacturer is a nominal number and actually varies by frequency. Some manufacturers even fudge on the impedance number for marketing purposes since 4 ohm (or lower) is associated with higher end speakers. Other factors are the size of your room and your preferred listening levels. IMO a separate amp is always better than any receiver amps, but if your receiver is not shutting down or misbehaving, and sounds okay now, then you are probably not hurting anything. If you are experiencing these issues then a separate amp is a good idea. OTOH, many lower price Class D amps themselves are not all that great with 4 ohm speakers either, so if you can't afford the better Class D amps, then I would stick with the standard AB class and make room as needed.
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