Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Denon AVR 3808 CI with Axiom M80? (impedance)

I recently bought the Denon AVR 3808CI and I am very pleased with its performance. I also own 4 Axiom QS8's which I really love, excellent sound field.
I would like to replace my Triangle Antal EX's with a set of Axiom M80's.
My question: the Denon gives 7 x 130Watt into 8 ohms or 7 x 150Watt into 6 ohms. The specs in the manual state that the impedance rates from 6 to 16 ohms. The Axioms M80 have an impedance of 4 ohms. So what will happen (can happen) with the Denon if I load front left en front right with 4 ohms? Is it wise to do this? Or will I be okay as long as I do not fully load my front speakers (so max at 75%?)
My setup is 5.1 for the living and 2.0 for the study
Thanks in advance for any serious advice

Lots of people around here run the M80s with 3808s. You'll be just fine.

Oh oh! he's been reading the forums. He knows...

The 3808 is the single most popular receiver of this community right now. Lots of people are using is with the M80s ('cept me 'cause I can't afford one )

Yeah, me either...

As a proud denon 3808 and m80 owner, I can say that the 3808 has absolutely no problem driving the m80's.

Terzaghi and others - thanks for all your respones.

Question to Terzagi - what do you have as center speaker?

rgds

Fanon from Brussels (Belgium)

i have vp 150, m80's, Qs8's and ep500.

I'm old school... 3806 here driving 1 VP150, 2 M80's, 4 QS8's and 2 EP500s (well, not really driving the subs below 80Hz).

Never had a problem.

My 2805 drives 80's fine, as would any Denon.

3808 here driving Epic 80 7.2 (M80s + VP150 in front). Does it gloriously. The 3808 can drive the speakers to ear-bleeding levels without a hint of distortion.

Jason

Hey guys, what about mixed ohms for example can you run the 4 Ohm fronts along with 8 Ohm center and backs or does that screw with the avr (in my case the Denon 3808)?

Not at all. The receiver doesn't care.

Yeah Bobby, the receiver has no idea what the individual impedances of the speakers which it drives are; its job is to supply enough total voltage and current for the power needed at a particular moment, regardless of what the impedances happen to be.

Hi Guys,

Reading all the feedback with greath interest. You got me nearly convinced to go for the M80's instead of the M60's

Before I throw my money at it I've got two subsequent questions:

1- My 3808 sits in a rack together with all my other stuff. It is open at all four sides, but the headroom between de top of the 3808 and the next shelf is approx 40 mm. Will that be enough, what do you guys have? (Rationel here is that driving 4 ohm speakers would increase the Denon's operating temp - no doubt, but to what extend.. or is it marginal ..?)

2 - Not a matter of money but merely space (footprint) - how big is the difference between the M80's and M60's in terms of performance and sound field. Is it really noticeble? I know it is subjective but still ..

Again, many thanks for any ser.... (yes I did read the forum .. )
Fanon

40mm does not sound like a lot since the majority of the vent slots are on the top of the 3808.

I can tell you that my denon 3808 does not get that hot, only slightly warm to the touch, when driving the m80's throughout a movie or a cd... but I have it on the top shelf that is open on all sides.

I would suggest following whatever instructions there are in the user manual for clearance regardless of what the impedance is of your speakers.

It doesn't really say other then "for proper heat dispersal, do not install this unit in a confined space, such as a bookcase or similar enclosure" No hint of measures. My audio rack is not exactly what you would call a closed space, but then again. Think I got too much audio stuff in my selfmade tower .. am a bit crushed for space
(can upload a jpeg here so I can show off ...uhm perhaps not a good idea after what I ve seen in terms of excellent HT setups at your side of the pond. European housing is a wee bit smaller, many folks on a sqare mile ..

To put a pic in this thread just use photobucket and then add the image into this thread using the insert image URL from the full reply screen.

If it is open on the sides then it might be ok. Maybe someone else can chime in here.

You could always purchase an extended warranty for your receiver through denon (surely they offer that) if you are worried about heat build up possibly reducing the life of the AVR.

Denon's don't seem to run too hot, but I would give any large piece of electronics more breathing room than you are describing.

Their warranty department has already probably intercepted this thread and made a note on your file. OK kidding..... I hope.

When I finally get mine, I plan on M80's in part because I don't want years of nagging doubt if I get something smaller.


Is your space really that constrained? The M80 is the same width as the M60, but 2" deeper. I've read a number of claims that the rear ports need to breath -- if you plan on backing them right up to a wall you may have suboptimal performance.

space constraints ? yes a bit though as the right front starts blocking the fire place ... yes yes get rid of the fire place, I hear it saying ..

Interesting remark you make about years of nagging doubt - rings a bell ..I had something similar - bought initial a Pioneer 43" plasma as the 50" was "too big ?! " took 13 months, now there hangs a 50" Kuro

Heck, I bought a 61" Samsung DLP in mid-2005 and now find myself wishing I'd gone with a 71" since it looks small in my new place -- sitting farther from it.

bought a 50" lcd rp a couple of years ago, been thinking I could use a 60-70" TV myself.

Does it ever end?

Nope. Sadly, if you are patient and willing to go used, I'm willing to bet there will be some very good deals out there in the coming months.

If heat buildup is a concern in your tight space, you could install one or two low speed fans to increase airflow and heat dissapation. There are fans out there that are not audible at distances greater than 1 meter.

Most of those are DC, though, last time I looked. I was trying to find something to fit into the wiring panel in my closet to keep my cable modem and switch cool.
Maybe it was that I just couldn't find anything small enough that was silent and AC to fit in there -- 80mm max where most I saw were 120mm.

So I bit the bullet bought myself a pair of M80's and a VP150. From what I saw on saturday - they are on their way.

I equally redid my HT cabinet, repositioned the 3808 and gave it the maximum available headroom (still only 6cm..), but I fitted - as suggested in this thread - a DC fan with a small psu fed by the aux vac output of the AVR. Works pretty good. The ambiant temp of the AVR at 1cm above the grill at the rear reaches a maximum of approx 40/41 degrees celsius after acouple of hours working. I suppose this is okay ?? If not let me know please. Perhaps I need to fit 2 add fans jsut to be sure (dim / piece is 6x6x2 cm - 12vdc but running on 7.5vdc to limit noise)

Now - the only temptation left perhaps is a matching sub ...... what do you guys recommend .... (I currently have a B&W PV1 sub)

thanks