Hello. I am thinking of buying a Epic 80-600 system with two Ep500s instead of an Ep600.

I need help picking out a receiver. I have e-mailed axiom a couple of times and told me my choices would not drive the m-80s.
I suggest the Yamaha 6190B and the Onkyo 806. They suggested
Denon, Harman Kardon, Nad, Rotel, B & K and Outlaw Audio, but didn't give me any specific models.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. When I e-mailed Aperion they suggested the Onkyo 806 for their speakers. I would rather buy Canadian but getting help from Axiom is like pulling teeth. I don't know how to tell if a receiver can drive the M-80 or not. This is the first time I have not bought a HTIB, so I don't know what to look for. The Onkyo 806 receiver specification page says Speaker Impedance: 4 ohms–16 ohms or 6 ohms–16 ohms, but axiom says it is not stable at 4 ohms.

Thanks for the help. Sorry if these are stupid questions.

All Denons, Rotels, Outlaws, NADs, and B&Ks will drive M80s. The higher end H/Ks should. Some people have had luck with certain Yamaha models (I can't remember which ones), and with certain high end Onkyos. All Sherwood Newcastles should be fine.

We will need to know what size room you intend to use them in, and how loud you will listen to them. If it's real big, and real loud, you're going to want an outboard power amp.

If I remember right, the Onkyo 806s are in use by a few forum members and worked fine. Onkyo is just not as consistent in their ability to drive the M80s, so Axiom doesn't give them the universal stamp of approval. Hopefully someone who has tested the 806 first hand will chime in before long. You might also try a search for that model number to see what comes up in recent posts.

Jason

Basically if a receiver is THX rated, it will drive the 4 ohm load of the M80s, as the THX rating means it can sustain a 3 ohm load. Denon has never put their avr's up for certification except the top end ones, but all of them run the same P/S and amp sections to the best of my knowledge and I have run less than 4 ohm loads easily on my older 1804 model. The biggest reason anyone has ever had shut down issues with a Denon is they were really trying to crank out the tunes from a distance, right Jason

Ten, welcome. My suggestion would be to disregard the advice of any amplifier or speaker manufacturer representative who suggests that certain amplifiers and speakers form an incompatible combination. Any amplifier can drive any speaker, regardless of what impedance rating happens to have been applied to that speaker. The question is how loudly it can be driven and/or for how long a period without shutting down. The Yamaha and Onkyo receivers that you mention have driven 4 ohm loads more difficult than the M80s(a speaker with slightly above average sensitivity which requires less power and current that some other speakers, including some rated at 8 ohms)quite satisfactorily. Real world listening often differs from extreme lab tests, and just about any amplifier can be forced to shut down if driven long and hard enough. Don't assume a problem which rarely develops.

Yes, ~105 dB in 7-channel stereo (i.e. all channels driven) for 30 minutes did bring the Denon 3808 to its knees.

It was an interesting experiment, but not a limit you will ever run into in almost any situation. (In my case, I was listening 3 rooms away while working out, I couldn't sustain that volume for more than about 5 seconds while in the room)

Jason

Hi ten41 and welcome,

Not stupid questions at all. Getting specific help from Axiom should not be like "pulling teeth." Please see my PM.

Regards,

Sure you could, you just wouldn't hear it

Then, nor likely ever again.

Ten, ask around at your local hifi's who carry Denon receivers....they have had some promos recently --- get a free Blue Ray with AVR purchase. As I mentioned on another thread, I got a 2809 with an 1800BD for $1111.00 Cnd or about $900.00ish US equivalent at current exch rate. (this was middle of December). Definetly worth checking out if you're in the mkt.