Jamo S 506 HCS 3 with YAMAHA HTR-4065

Power ratings/requirements for speakers are usually both flexible and fluid.

They are flexible because if they miss each other by 50% or more, usually no harm is done and good results are still obtained.

They are fluid because while there are standard ways to measure the power capabilities of speakers, nobody seems to admit which standard they use, if any.

The other thing to consider is the fact that the power rating of virtually every receiver as well as most of the stand-alone power amps used to allegedly extend them falls within a +- 3 dB range, and in the real world that is just about clearly audible. It takes 10 times the power to create the impression of "twice as loud".

Hi AV, one thing to look at is the receiver's watts per channel(WPC) and how that changes depending on the number of channels being driven at the same time. Another thing is the speakers ohms and sensitivity.

The Yamaha HTR-4065's actual watts are 115W per channel (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.9% THD, 1 ch driven). A key thing to notice is the "1 ch driven" part because you'll never use just one channel. When 2 channels are driven at the same time the watts drops to 80 WPC (80W per channel (8 ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.09% THD, 2 ch driven). I got this info from Yamaha's site under the specs tab: http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/av-receivers-amps/htr/htr-4065/?mode=model . They don't say how low the watts drop when all 5 channels are driven though. Also the 115 wpc with one channel driven was at 1kHz and not the full range of 20Hz -20kHz which sounds like the 115wpc is a marketing thing to make it sound more powerful than it actually is. Also the the 2 channels driven wpc was 80 wpc 20Hz -20kHz which is full range. I can't tell how it's rated driving 5 channels but it's probably lower than 80 wpc with 5 channels all at once.

As for the speakers they are 6 ohms with a sensitivity that ranges (depending on the speaker) from 86-89dB. With the sensitivity and being 6 ohms they will be harder to drive and I would look for a receiver in your price range with a better power rating since the Yamaha actually has 80 or less wpc with 5 channels driven. I would bet it has a good bit less than 80wpc with 5 channels driven since Yamaha only post the wpc with 1 and 2 channels driven.
Edited by Legairre - 2/11/13 at 6:26pm

AV, I'm sorry I also forgot to ask how loud do you intend to play your system? That plays a major role in choosing a receiver to power your speakers. The reason I ask is if you're playing it at modest levels you'll be fine, but if you're playing at extreme levels then you have to worry about clipping and blowing a tweeter.
Edited by Legairre - 2/12/13 at 9:42am

Thanks AV, based on that I would say get the Yamaha as long as it has a return policy. Try it out. crank it up a see if it meets your needs. That way you don't spend an extra 100 euros for a receiver that is way more than you'll ever use.