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6 Ohm Question

Transistors have a spec called the Safe Operating Area (SOA).

It is calculated by the amount of voltage and current you ask the transistor to switch.

Since a lower impedence speaker will draw more current the amp designers added a switch to lower the voltage fed to the transitors to protect them from damage.

A true high current design would use more transistors with larger heatsinks to accomadate low impedence loads that Pioneer in this case chose not to address because it would greatly increase the price.

Since I would expect your 6 ohm speakers to dip often down to 4 ohms you would be best to follow Pioneers suggestion.
 
Speaker power ratings are only good for those who believe them. They really have little bearing on anything.

Your best answer is to run the amp in Mode 2. That way you will be operating your amp within the manufacturer's recommendations.

The difference between the two modes is less than 3 dB, that is, less than twice the power difference (70w to 130). A sound difference of 3 dB is audible, but not by that much. If you were to run your amp at full rated capacity, there would be a difference. But no one runs their amp that way. If you listen to your music at very, very loud levels, depending upon the music, you may have some music peaks that would benefit from that extra 3 dB.
 
Gingybread said:
Let me give some background and then give you my question.

I have Pioneer VSX D1S. It has a switch in the back for how much “power”. I don’t know what to call it. Switch is labeled MODE 1 and MODE 2. It’s home theatre receiver, but I just use it for stereo

MODE 1:
Front Channel 130 WPC, Speaker Impedance 8~16 OHM

MODE 2: Front Channel 70 WPC, Speaker Impedance 4~16 OHM

QUESTION:
I would really like to get my hands on a pair of JBL Studio 530. They are 6 OHM. I’ve been told they need power to drive them. So I’m thinking with the Pioneer I’m good to go but they are 6 ohm and I only get the 130 WPC if I have it in mode 1. Is 70 WPC enough? Just don’t want hurt my receiver but I really want these speakers.
Click to expand...

Like what others are saying the difference between 70 and 130 watts per Channel isn't much I can verify this with two totally different receivers one rated at 70 Watts per channel & one rated 125 watts per channel. . Technics sa-600 and the Technics sa-800 sound almost identical when pounding out the High Watts
 
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