Thanks for the feedback. I will look into the alternate room suggestion, and in the interim remain cognizant of the fact that I shouldn't worry about filling up so much area with sound from this 5.1 system. I picked up the 805 in part based on the 4 ohm claim, so I'm going to call them tomorrow and see what they say. Based on reports I've read both here and at other places regarding Onkyo's past performance with 4 ohm loads, I'm inclined to believe maybe they haven't quite mastered things with the 805 as much as they claim. I have 6" clearance above the 805 with an open back 8" from a wall and, at this time, an open front. There's typically a glass door on the front, but I've left it off while working with all my new equipment. The 805 does run hotter than I personally like, but this observation is pervasive amongst 805 owners who frequent the AVS forums, few of which AFAIK have had a shutdown due to thermal issues. I haven't had a shut down thus far either.
Unless I have an epiphany or Onkyo lets me in on some magical setting, I am looking hard at separate amplifiers and will most likely use the 805 as a pre-pro. I've read almost universal praise for the price / value quotient that Rotel provides, and I've been looking on and off at Outlaw for years. The Odyssey Khartago is interesting as well. I've located a local Rotel dealer, so I am going to pay them a visit tomorrow.
My wire runs are all in-wall 16-2 Liberty cable. I estimate the left M80 run at 25 feet and the right M80 run at 35. I picked up some 12 gauge wire after going to see The Bourne Ultimatum today... a pretty good action film, but there was too much shaky camerawork throughout. I don't mind a bit of it to mimic the first person feel, but it was pervasive and unsettling in this film. But I digress... The cable was real cheap stuff and I plan to replace it with better wire soon, but I couldn't help but at least shorten the wire runs and use a lower gauge today to see if it had any effect. I wired up the M80's (and my VP150 while I was at it) but I think the damage has been done to all four tweeters. I began hearing crackles and snaps at 65db measured from my main listening position. I did try your suggestion in toggling between the 4 and 6 ohm impedance settings in my receiver's setup menu, but both produced roughly the same results at low volume levels.
The only remaining issue as it pertains to long wire runs with higher gauge wire is my QS8's. I have the same Liberty 16-2 cable run through the ceiling and walls to the QS8's, which I estimate at 40-50 feet per run. There is unfortunately not an easy way to get around using these runs without making my listening room a mess of wires all over. If I had the opportunity to do it all over again, I'd have insisted on 12 gauge wire runs, but I had many other things on the plate when I was building my house.
The QS8's have thus far sounded great with no hiccups. I'm possibly being over concerned due to the M80 issue, but I thought I would ask the experts here if I should contemplate some way of getting heavier gauge wire to the QS8's.
