Receiver recommendations for QA's

[pteholiz]

This is my first post, although I have been reading the others with interest. Anyway, I recently acquired a pair of QA's at the local thrift (in pretty decent shape, although there is a small tear in one of the woofers). I was going to run them off of a spare Onkyo TX-S600 that I happen to have, but the Onkyo manual specifically recommends against using it for 4 ohm speakers (which I understand the QA's are). Given that I only paid $15 for the speaker pair, and I don't have lots of money to spend on new/old equipment, what recommendations do people have for a CHEAP receiver to use with these speakers? Or would the Onkyo be OK, notwithstanding the manual?

[OldSchoolCool]

Welcome to the forum.
First, use good, at least 14 AWG wire and Oxy free copper is the minimum, I believe, for intimate connection of speaker and amplifier. The less stable the amp, the more important the weak links become, so, for me, the $20 for decent wires makes good sense. Also, something I discovered on E-Bay, the sell 14AWG copper for car hi fi allot cheaper than vendors get for home wire. You OINK-E-o will still sound anemic. :thumbsdn:
Find yourself a good vintage harman kardon 330. :thmbsp: They make a AVR 330 that is new, this is a VINTAGE, 330c. Great current delivery, sonicly outstanding...made in the same era as the Infinity... so the designers knew the need for higher end current delivery nedded for the early ( and good ) Infinitys. For $50 used price, that will be a very nice system. Trust me, a good CD, it will sound as good as any $1000 system.
Here is a pic of the HK 330c. ( or find a 430 all the way up to a 930... but the 330 is common.) I got of the web.

Good Luck.
Steve
Reference Standard 1
Reference Standard 2b
Reference Standard 2.5

[OldSchoolCool]

Let's try again for the pic... the vintage one is the best sounding by far!
Steve

[pteholiz]

Thanks for the recommendation, Steve. I'll keep my eye out for the HK.

[Kencat]

pteholiz,

Do some searching on the Vintage Solid State forum, using keywords 4 Ohm (without and without " " marks).

Also there is a sticky at the top of the forum called " Why 4 Ohm Loads Stress Your Amplifier" which you should read if you haven't already.

A general post similar to this one, on that forum, may yield more answers for you, after you have done some initial research into the topic. The 4 Ohm impedence speakers can be a potential landmine for receivers and speakers alike. Especially the Infinities with those Emit tweeters. Read every single post on this forum and you'll know what I mean.

OH, and welcome to AK. If you can't get answers here, they don't exist (well maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm a fan....what can you say :D ).

[Vitopanch]

Welcome pteholiz,
Chiming in with the other good advice that has been given here, as stated you really do not have to spend a lot of money to find a good match for the QA's. Not being familiar with the receiver that you mentioned, I looked it up and do agree that it probably will not be a good match.

The challenge with the 4 ohms is that the power amp section will be doing extra duty to get the desired volume of of the QA's, which will create more heat and the need for extracurricular ventilation. additionally, not sure about the receiver that you mentioned, most receivers do not have meters that allow for you to see what the power amp section is up to, so guessing usually ends up with a person clipping the amp to get the volume up.

The HK that was mentioned is a good bet for sure, however, if you do not locate one in your price range, just look for any vintage receiver or preferably and integrated amplifier with meters and you will be pleased with the sound that you get from your Infinities. They are easily found on EBAy and elsewhere for reasonable prices. Do that and the usual precautions about heat and adequate ventilation and it should work out for you. They are realitely efficent, 89 DB, so it should work out. Great price on those by the way.
Vito