What speakers should I choose for an Onkyo TX-SR602?

Question

In terms of watts. Should I choose slightly less or slightly more (or exactly the same) as the 85 watts that the receivers feeds per channel? Also, I have some satellites that are 15W, 8 ohms. Do you think I can hook them up to the receiver without any damage to either? Thanks for your time.

Answer 1

The speakers should be rated for a higher wattage than the receiver.  This would eliminate strain on the receiver and the speakers since you cant overpower them.  The sound quality should also be better because there would be less distortion.  Distortion comes from turning up speakers close to the maximum power that they can handle.  If you dont ever approach the max capacity of the speakers they will always sound good.

Answer 2

Speaker power ratings are based on the power being fed to the speakers from the receiver. If you don't turn it up loud you aren't using the power. However, if you hook up 15w speakers to an 85w receiver and turn it up you WILL blow the speakers and possibly damage the receiver. I can also guess that 15 w speakers are going to sound less than good. While it is not necessary to exactly match speaker power to amp power it should be at least close. You can go as high as you want with speaker power even if your amp is just 85w.

In general power does not blow speakers, distortion does. However if you try to put 50w into a 15w speaker you're going to have trouble. It also depends on how loud you like to hear your music or sound. I would suggest speakers rated at least 50w and if you listen loud 100w speakers would be better and 200w speakers would be better yet but those would be expensive.

An 85w amp can easily reach peaks of 200w which is why you are better off having speakers that can handle more power rather than less.

BTW SVS speakers are very good, but so are any number of other brands though you do get a very good deal as far as sound per dollar with SVS. And their subs do rock.

Answer 3

I had polk audio, klipsh , bose and infinity next to each other in an audio store. An Onkyo tuner was used to test audio for these speakers. To my surprise, the Infinity Primus series blew all others away. No for the volume although plenty of power was available, but the lows were natural, the mid range was perfect and the highs were crisp, clear and extremely realistic.  It was matched with a Primus 12" active subwoofer which again thumped the floor the way it should even with the settings on the back only about 30%.

Answer 4

i use svs, they kick all kinds of ***.

they knock home theater speakers twice the price out of the park. especially their subs!  whoa mama! those babies shake the plates out of cupboards.