G-6700 and AR3a

[centsless]

I have used the 6700 with AR3a's and it shuts it down fairly easy. Protect mode on 6700 just turns it off. Bass heavy music is what it can't handle at ten o'clock on dial. All original...so you have that.

I do play a 9090 with a pair of 3a's but in bedroom so mostly acoustic music but have turned it up with no problems. It is recapped though and is like a tank. I love that receiver...so I would use the 8080.

 

[Sansuiman]

The 8 ohm minimum warning on the G-6700 isn't a scare tactic. The amplifier circuit in the 6700 is of a different design than that used in the 8080, which is a few years older than the 6700 and is built more substantially. That said, 4 ohm speakers will work on the 6700 - until they don't - and triggering the protect circuit on the 6700 is much easier and more likely running into a difficult speaker load like the AR's at anything more than a modest listening level.

So, if running the AR's is not done with a certain amount of restraint they WILL put the 6700 into protection with some regularity, where the 8080 (assuming it is in proper working order) won't bat an eyelash at those speakers and will just keep thumping all day long.

And best to be certain the 6700 is in perfect working order for that matter. If the bias isn't dead on it may already be running unnecessarily hot. If the protect circuit isn't working right, you may find out the hard way that the minimum impedance warning wasn't to be so blithely ignored if the amp ends up damaged because the protection didn't kick in when it should have.

At this age, unless recently restored or at least properly checked over, there is no guarantee any part of the receiver is in original full working order. Blowing a channel - or both- by running speakers that are under the minimum impedance rating is a lousy way to score an "own goal" and will ruin your day when it happens. Downtime and cost of repairs on a valued piece of gear is a real bite in the butt, especially when incurred by one's own insistence on pushing the limits.

Just be careful, and keep a close eye on the temperature of the 6700 if using those AR's with it. Things can go south very quickly when you're operating outside of spec.

 

[yoho]

Thank you for the heads up.

 

[yoho]

I have used the 6700 with AR3a's and it shuts it down fairly easy. Protect mode on 6700 just turns it off. Bass heavy music is what it can't handle at ten o'clock on dial. All original...so you have that.

I do play a 9090 with a pair of 3a's but in bedroom so mostly acoustic music but have turned it up with no problems. It is recapped though and is like a tank. I love that receiver...so I would use the 8080.

Thank you, I will.

 

[kevzep]

Like I said right at the beginning, you'd get away with lower levels on the 6700.
However after having a look at the circuit diagrams for the two amplifiers, the 6700 uses a single pair of output transistors, but the 8080 uses a dual pair, so the current capabilities of the 8080 are going to be more.
That said, the single pair in the 6700 are rated for higher current than the 8080 output transistors, but since the 8080 uses a pair, it still has more capability than the 6700.
You wont damage the 6700 the current sensing transistor will shut it down so damage will not occur, but it does get a bit annoying.

 

[yoho]

Like I said right at the beginning, you'd get away with lower levels on the 6700.
However after having a look at the circuit diagrams for the two amplifiers, the 6700 uses a single pair of output transistors, but the 8080 uses a dual pair, so the current capabilities of the 8080 are going to be more.
That said, the single pair in the 6700 are rated for higher current than the 8080 output transistors, but since the 8080 uses a pair, it still has more capability than the 6700.
You wont damage the 6700 the current sensing transistor will shut it down so damage will not occur, but it does get a bit annoying.

Thank you. I’m going to use the 8080 with the AR3as with confidence and dream of something with even more amps. Any ideas?

 

[ghazzer]

"More amps" is not necessarily the answer. IMHO you should be looking for gear that is designed to work together.

Suggestion: Get an amp or receiver designed for 4Ω speakers, or use 8Ω speakers with your 8080 or G-6700.

 

[kevzep]

Thank you. I’m going to use the 8080 with the AR3as with confidence and dream of something with even more amps. Any ideas?

The problem with Sansui receivers, is none of them, including the G8000/9000/22000/33000 can really drive 4Ω loads in stock form.
In actual fact they can, but the design on the over-current protection circuit in this series of G receivers for example, will not allow the amplifier to deliver its full capabilities.
My G9000 and my G22000 both have the over-current protection disconnected. I would not recommend everyone go ahead and do this, as then the amplifier will then be able to drive to destruction. I have extensively tested my amps, so I know what they can do, and I know when to stop before I am pushing my luck.
Your best bet, if you have to use 4Ω speakers is to look into a pro-audio type power amp like a QSC Powerlight or a Crown, most if not all pro power amps can drive low impedance loads with ease.
The QSC is a good option as they have quite a range and the fans are noisy...