4ohm speakers with receivers??

Just a myth, 4 ohm speakers are fine on almost any amp and any of it's outputs. Some HT in a box type amps are designed for 16ohm speakers but any run of the mill amp is fine.

IMO, you have to be a little careful powering 4 ohm speakers with an amp or receiver not rated for 4 ohms. You may be fine most of the time, but you may have problems, especially if you like to play the speakers very loud, depending on the specific amp and the specific speakers. I disagree with a blanket statement that you will never have a problem.

Instead of ditching the speakers, why not get an amp that can drive 4 ohm loads? If the Yamaha V6A manual says to not use 4 ohm speakers, I wouldn't do it.

Rex Anderson said:

Instead of ditching the speakers, why not get an amp that can drive 4 ohm loads? If the Yamaha V6A manual says to not use 4 ohm speakers, I wouldn't do it.

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Cheaper to try the current amp first.. If it works well it will save some $$ .. If not then it's time for a new receiver..

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BillP said:

IMO, you have to be a little careful powering 4 ohm speakers with an amp or receiver not rated for 4 ohms. You may be fine most of the time, but you may have problems, especially if you like to play the speakers very loud, depending on the specific amp and the specific speakers. I disagree with a blanket statement that you will never have a problem.

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KEF LS50s are rated at minimum 3.2 ohm (4 ohm speakers) and they play just fine with and 8ohm receiver. The 8ohm rating for receivers are mostly for regulation purposes. To have and 4 ohm rating the receiver would have to be able to put out a stable load at 4 ohm RMS. This is quite hard and requires a rather beefy power supply

Playing a 4 ohm speaker with an 8 ohm receiver will most of the times just work fine

As long as you're not a volume freak (listening way above the typical 60-75db volume range) you'll be fine. Get an SPL meter or download a free SPL Meter app to your phone to get a ballpark idea where your volume levels are.

This question comes up all the time regarding the (excellent) Emotiva speakers that carry a 4 ohm rating (mainly due to Emotiva wanting to sell more of their external amps where they make much fatter profits). Here are some reality checks:

I used the C1 with a 15 year old $230 Panasonic receiver rated only down to 6 ohms and had zero problems...it didn't even get warm. Might be a concern only if you habitually listen super loud, way above the usual 60-75db range.

Two other members' experience powering their T1+ with a basic AVR:

T1+ and C2+ powered by Denon S710 to 92db levels:

T2+ and C1+ powered by $400 Onkyo to 85db levels:

B1+ and C2+ powered by Denon x3600 and entry level 75 watt receiver:

Goughy said:

Just wondering if anyone has any advice?

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AVTimme said:

KEF LS50s are rated at minimum 3.2 ohm (4 ohm speakers) and they play just fine with and 8ohm receiver. The 8ohm rating for receivers are mostly for regulation purposes. To have and 4 ohm rating the receiver would have to be able to put out a stable load at 4 ohm RMS. This is quite hard and requires a rather beefy power supply

Playing a 4 ohm speaker with an 8 ohm receiver will most of the times just work fine

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If by "work" you mean sound will come out of the speaker, then I agree.

But if you are looking for the most (best sound) out of the speakers then you need a proper amp match for them. A cheapo 8ohm receiver won't show what a speaker like the LS50 will do. Pretty much every review of demanding speakers like that all say the same thing in terms of amp selection.

So will it work? Yeah, probably will. Will it sound its best? Probably not. Note that inexpensive Yamahas are plagued with somewhat inferior amp sections, hence the warning about 4 ohm speakers plus the 8/4 ohm switch on the back on some of them.

Reading this thread let's me know that way too many people aren't afraid of clipping. Can't you grab an inexpensive 4-ohm capable two-channel amp for your mains? That Yamaha supports pre-outs for the L/R.

_tk said:

If by "work" you mean sound will come out of the speaker, then I agree.

But if you are looking for the most (best sound) out of the speakers then you need a proper amp match for them. A cheapo 8ohm receiver won't show what a speaker like the LS50 will do. Pretty much every review of demanding speakers like that all say the same thing in terms of amp selection.

So will it work? Yeah, probably will. Will it sound its best? Probably not. Note that inexpensive Yamahas are plagued with somewhat inferior amp sections, hence the warning about 4 ohm speakers plus the 8/4 ohm switch on the back on some of them.

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yes a cheap receiver will not do them any justice at all but a better receiver yet with 8ohm rating will work great. Marantz sr7012 (my receiver) drive LS50 without a problem at all and they sound great even at high volume

I have 13 4ohm Martin Logan speakers in my theater. Never had a problem even at reference levels - or louder. But I do have a Denon X8500H, and they sound better after I added a Parasound A52+ amp. So I have plenty of power. Plus, add a fan like an Aircom AC Infinity T10 to keep the receiver cool. Like others have said, it will depend on how loud you play stuff, and also how large a room etc. If you use subwoofers, that will help too.

AVTimme said:

KEF LS50s are rated at minimum 3.2 ohm (4 ohm speakers) and they play just fine with and 8ohm receiver. The 8ohm rating for receivers are mostly for regulation purposes. To have and 4 ohm rating the receiver would have to be able to put out a stable load at 4 ohm RMS. This is quite hard and requires a rather beefy power supply

Playing a 4 ohm speaker with an 8 ohm receiver will most of the times just work fine

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The LS50s are rated at a nominal impedance of 8ohm. If it spent any notable amount of time in the 3-4ohm range, they would have indicated a 4ohm nominal impedance in the specs.

My Onkyo technically has a 4-ohm rating, but I’m sure it’s worse than a comparably priced Denon. I am pushing a full set of 4-ohm speakers at 90-100db levels with zero issues. I do have two 12 inch powered subs though.

_tk said:

If by "work" you mean sound will come out of the speaker, then I agree.

But if you are looking for the most (best sound) out of the speakers then you need a proper amp match for them. A cheapo 8ohm receiver won't show what a speaker like the LS50 will do. Pretty much every review of demanding speakers like that all say the same thing in terms of amp selection.

So will it work? Yeah, probably will. Will it sound its best? Probably not. Note that inexpensive Yamahas are plagued with somewhat inferior amp sections, hence the warning about 4 ohm speakers plus the 8/4 ohm switch on the back on some of them.

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I tryed my LS50/Metas with my cheap Sony STR 1080 receiver, and yes it works, but the sound is far from a dedicated 2 channel amp!, in fact my old Kef 3005 sattelite egg speakers sound just as good if not better

He said in the OP that they are LG home-theater-in-a-box speakers. I am certain that any home theater receiver will not have a problem driving these.

Thanks everyone for the discussion. If I am able to purchase an amp, at best it will be a V6A equavilent, or maybe only the V4A or 485. That's at the best.
Personally I'd like to be using my bookshelf speakers, but my wife finds them ugly so form wins. I may consider wraping them in some 4mm ply and having my mate polish them to match the cabinet and coffee table. That could win her over.

Goughy said:

Thanks everyone for the discussion. If I am able to purchase an amp, at best it will be a V6A equavilent, or maybe only the V4A or 485. That's at the best.
Personally I'd like to be using my bookshelf speakers, but my wife finds them ugly so form wins. I may consider wraping them in some 4mm ply and having my mate polish them to match the cabinet and coffee table. That could win her over.

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I'd ignore the doomsayers and just try the 4 ohm speakers with your receiver to find out FOR YOURSELF whether it's a go or not.

If you turn them up to your regular listening volumes and don't hear any distortion and don't notice the receiver getting unusually warm, you'll know all that handwringing was for absolutely nothing.

I'm not going to get in a debate, but the idea amps have huge sound quality differences within their output capabilities is, well ,b.s.... If your current amp does what you want use it , if not... Get a better amp..