Can't really give you an answer on how loud that would be in dB's as ever room is different in size, speaker placement is different, receivers are different, listening habits are different. Also, some music has larger dynamic peaks that can jump 15-20dB's and put the receiver into clipping.

It really has more to do with the Yamaha circuitry and protection limiter. You will not hurt the Yammy or Axiom speakers. Just know that if it shuts down all the time it is either not compatible, or you have the speakers wire strands touching. Most likely you will be fine.

I'm not sure about your model, but you may want to check into the fan settings. For my yammy, there's an option to have the fan constantly on instead of it waiting for it to heat up and engage...


By the way, I think you mean RX-V3800

The level would depend on how loud of an average level that you use and how wide the dynamic level of the material being played is. Typically, a loud average level which wouldn't cause permanent hearing damage would be 80-85dB, which would use 1 watt or less with the M80s. Allowing for some classical and other material which has a very wide dynamic range, 20dB above the average level, i.e., 100-105dB, might occasionally be hit briefly, but would require less than 100 watts, even for the peak.

Apparently, I can set the speaker impedance under the Yamaha's advance setup menu. Excerpt from the manual:

■ Speaker impedance SPEAKER IMP.
Use this feature to set the speaker impedance of this unit
so that it matches that of your speakers.
Choices: 8ΩMIN, 6ΩMIN
• Select “8ΩMIN” to set the speaker impedance to 8 Ω .
• Select “6ΩMIN” to set the speaker impedance to 6 Ω

Speaker Imp........Speaker.......Impedance Level
8ΩMIN................Front..........The impedance of each speaker must be 8Ω or higher.
8ΩMIN................Centre........The impedance of each speaker must be 8Ω or higher.
8ΩMIN................Surround......The impedance of each speaker must be 8Ω or higher.
6ΩMIN................Front..........The impedance of each speaker must be 4Ω or higher.
6ΩMIN................Centre........The impedance of each speaker must be 6Ω or higher.
6ΩMIN................Surround......The impedance of each speaker must be 6Ω or higher.

So does that mean the receiver is capable of driving a 4Ω front speaker like M80?

You won't really know until you blow it up...erhhh...I mean try it .

Set it to 8 Ohms and unless you're like Wid , you should be able to live with the power from that receiver. It's a $1700 receiver capable of delivering 140 clean Watts so I really don't see a problem.

The 3800 can certainly drive 4ohm speakers, including the M80s, to a very high sound level, but that suggested setting in the manual should never be used. All that a lower impedance switch or menu setting does is to reduce the maximum voltage that the receiver can supply, and following Ohm's Law, when the maximum voltage is reduced so is the maximum current and power capability of the unit. This is a safety related feature required by UL overheating testing, but can cut the maximum power capability roughly in half. Disregard the suggestion in the manual.

Yep, just leave it on 8ohm and rock and roll.

Get a separate amp then there is no worries.

Thanks to all of you for helping out this newbie. I will leave the settings alone and go from there.

Mojo, now I am interested to find out what's up with Wid

Just checked the Purolator website, the speakers are on their way to my home

FYI ...

When I asked Axiom about the impedance issue, they said RXV3800 was not one of the models that they had tested and suggested me to ask Yamaha.

I emailed Yamaha and got this response from Paul of Yamaha: