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Thiel speakers--can you power them with reciever?

Or do they really need a separate amp?

I am getting the bug to make a speaker change(for my front L/R speakers), and from what I read, it seems like a used set of Thiels may be up my alley in terms of sound characteristics.

But, looking at their rated specs, they are rated at 4 ohms, with a minimum of 3 ohms, and have fairly low sensitivity at 87Db.

I'm also looking at used Vandersteen, Eggleston, Merlin. It seems like most of these have similar ratings to the Thiels.

Any thoughts? I am currently running my 5.1 system off a 130wpc receiver, but I do have a 5 channel power amp I could use. The receiver is not known for having much output into 4 ohm loads.
mtrot
elevick
2,636 posts
 
A good B&K or higher end Denon may be able to push them. Thiels will kill a cheaper yamaha or similar. Keep in mind that all Thiels are not equal. A pair of 1.5's will be easier to push than an older pair of 2 or 3's.
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t
1,609 posts
 
The Thiels will bring your receiver to its knees and make it cry for its mamma. You need a separate amplifier with sufficient testicular fortitude to drive the Thiels.
ryder
1,687 posts
 
My Sony 5-channel amp rated at 140wpc sounds substantially less punchy and flat in comparison to other good 60-100W audiophile grade amps. Power ratings on AV amps and receivers are often over-rated with higher-end units an exception.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
knownothing
1,571 posts
 
Any of the high end receivers rated as THX Ultra or Ultra 2 can handle 4 ohm speakers. I would also strongly suggest a receiver with a large toroidal power supply. At 130 watts, I am going to guess that your receiver is rated as THX Select and does not have a toroidal PS, which can technically handle nominal 4 ohm loads, but probably not with much aplomb.

Even a THX Utlra 2 rated receiver with a toroidal transformer will not drive the Thiels with the same ease as a dedicated 2 channel high current integrated or separate power amp of the same wattage rating. In order to fit all those electronics in the same chassis, corners have to be cut somewhere, not to mention noise introduced by having DACs in the box.
hifitime
715 posts
 
Here are test results on Ultra 2 receivers.Anything over two channels kills the power.7 time 4ohms will probably kill the receiver.Denon AVR4308 140 watts.Drops to 111 watts X7 at 8ohms@1khz.Not 20-20,000,might not be possible.Test link below.Yamaha RX-Z9 175 watts.test out at 138 watts X7 @1khz.Not 20-20,000 either.Typical SELECT2 acording to S&V.
I can't think of any receiver that will give a full bandwith
power with all channels driven at 4 ohms!

Denon test link>>>[http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/receivers/2676/test-bench-denon-avr-4308ci-av-receiver.html]Yamaha RXZ9 test link>>>[http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/assets/download/yamaharx-z9inthelab.pdf]
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