Mixing 4 ohm and 8 ohm speakers in parallel
One source of confusion we frequently run across is the concept of speaker impedance. This confusion is also a likely cause of many blown power amplifiers. This article is intended to explain the meaning of speaker impedance and guide the reader in connecting multiple speakers to an amplifier. What are ohms, anyway?
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- Mix 8 & 16 ohm speakers in a cab?
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- How To Convert An 8 Ohm Speaker To 4 Ohms – Noisylabs
- 4,6,or 8 ohms running 4 to 8 ohms speakers in Parallel
- Can I Run 4 Ohm And 8 Ohm Speakers Together?
- 4 ohm system can I add 8 ohm speakers?
- Professional opinion: Can I run 4 ohm and 8 ohm speakers together?
- SERIES & PARALLEL SPEAKER WIRING
Mix 8 & 16 ohm speakers in a cab?
Jan Vigne. David Mitchell. Do I have to look for a certain feature or will the new reciever work just fine with my different Ohm speakers? Regards, Luka. Maybe buy online with a 30 day trial?
You're missing the point of a discrete channel amplifier such as the HK and the reasoning behind mixing speakers with varying impedance. Should you connect two speakers of varying impedance load to one channel of an amplifier you will unless you know how to do otherwise have a parallel load which will result in the total load on the amplifier being roughly one half of the lowest impedance of either speaker.
Therefore the warning concerning mixing speakers. You aren't using such a connection. The 7. Each channel of the original 5. To process such a source input the amplifier must utilize discrete or separate channels of amplification. In other words the HK employs seven separate channels of amplification plus the output for a powered subwoofer channel making for a 5.
As each channel sees only one speaker there is no concern about mixing impedance as there would be had you tried to connect various speakers in parallel to a single channel of amplification.
Each channel of amplification is only concerned about its own load and its own survival - to an extent as there is a sympathetic situation involved in multi-channel amplifiers. Do understand that a "four" Ohm speaker is not a consistent four Ohms across its frequency range and its total impedance curve will very likely take the load on the amplifier channel down beneath four Ohms.
Most modern HT receivers do not care for such abuse and when forced to play into such a disagreeable load at high volumes they will shut down hopefully the receiver will shut down temporarily before it shuts down permanently. Since the lowest impedance load is represented by your front main speakers you do need to be wary of any new receiver you might consider should that receiver carry a warning concerning low impedance loads.
A warning doesn't necessarily imply the receiver is incapable of driving your speakers but it means you should be cautious about such a pairing. There is only one main power supply in the receiver to feed all those channels and, should one speaker represent a disagreeable load, all channles will cease to operate as the main power supply protects itself. As a rule it is not advised any HT receiver be subjected to low impedance loads.
Seeing a review that implies a particular receiver delivered "X" amounts of watts into a four Ohm load is not sufficient evidence the power supply of that receiver will like what occurs in real life operation rather than a simple test bench hook up.
HK has traditionally been capable of driving low impedance loads and they would be a safe consideration for your next purchase. Once again be aware how a manufacturer built their product in past years is no true indication of how they build their product now or even that all products in their line are built to similar standards.
HT receivers exist in a world of gamesmanship and high power for low dollar often times wins the kitty. As a very general rule, buy the reciever with the least amount of watts for the dollar and the receiver that weighs the most for the stated number of watts available and you should be in the safest territory possible.
Such products typically represent better value for the dollar as they are upgradable when the processing power requires while not forcing you into a new power amplifier purchase. Consider a line such as Outlaw which has an excellent reputation for quality and durability.
Separates cost a bit more up front but typically save you money in the long run. As is, you are about to ditch a two year old receiver. Had you purchased separates in the first place, you wouldn't need to scrap the entire system for the sake of a single HDMI connector. Check out the lines I mentioned, since they are not found in your typical big box store like Best Buy they will require you also search out a better quality of dealer as well.
If your current HK receiver has provisions to connect another processor to the main amplifier pre amp outputs and power [main] amplifier inputs of the receiver, you could conceivably start with just a new processor. Use your HK reciever as a multi-channel power amplifier for the time being and have the flexibility to upgrade the single portion of the system that is in constant need of change - the inputs and processor. The unit lists at 33 lbs and 50W X 5.
The 6th and 7th are matrixed or passed as mono from the 3rd ad 4th. I would keep this receiver and invest in a prepro for now. It is proven. Gee, Nuck, why didn't I think of that? I'm an absolute novice on that area, so could you recommend me such a product? It's not that I am disappointed with the sound quality or that the maximum volume is too low, I really like the receiver. I was given the Mission speakers two years ago and I love how they sound.
I ditched my Bose Acoustimass System for them and am now using the Bose satellites as surround speakers and the Bose Bass Module as the subwoofer for the whole system. Best regards from Nuremberg, Luka. Like Braun Don't they produce shavers? Probably not good ones. They can look at the description of the back panel of the receiver and advise you regarding the best way to proceed. But, yes, I would think a new processor would be in your future. A good processor should cost about the same as a new, higher quality HT receiver.
Consider your total cost down the road and I think you'll find a new processor makes more sense than continually upgrading your entire receiver. As with HT receivers, the fewer the features and the less time the salesperson spends explaining all the geegaws on the remote, the better the chance you have a good sounding product rather than just another flashy pole dancer.
In other words, simple is better, buy what you need and you'll probably be spending on sound quality and not on buttons and knobs. Remember, most mass market disposable HT receivers are sold on how many features are on the remote and how many connectors and lights are on the front and back panel.
Most high quality audio gear sells on how it sounds and how long it will be serviceable to you. I understand Germany has some very serious audiophiles and numerous shops that cater to them. Find a good shop and ignore the big box equivalents to the box pushers that we have far too many of over here. Take your time and discuss a long range plan for advancing your system beyond donated speakers and Bose-not-really-subwoofers.
The OMDs advertise a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. You may connect a pair of speakers with a nominal impedance between 4 and 8 ohms to all of the speaker terminals. That statement doesnt help me too much. My question is do you think I will cause any problems with my receiver mixing the 6 ohm nominal resistance of the two OMDs with the 8 ohm resistance of the three Infinity HTS10s?
Thank you, Tim. Impedance seems to be the issue of the month. Check out the other posts in this section and the "speaker" section of the forum which are asking similar questions regarding impedance and amplifiers.
More or fewer, for that matter "watts" is a function of changing the math by way of changing the amount of voltage or amperage or by changing the load value in the traditional Ohm's Law equation.
If voltage remains stable which it will in a consumer amplifier , higher current flows into a lower load impedance which results in higher overall "watts". Indeed this is the normal course of events for a modern amplifier working into a strict "resistive" load.
One issue for consumers would be no common consumer oriented speakers will be a strict 8, 6 or 4 Ohm resistive load as you would find on a test bench represented by a large load resistor. All speakers have an "impedance" which combines the elements of resistance, capacitance and inductance.
In addition virtually all speakers are motors which generate their own voltage and current back into the amplifier. This makes the "load" shown to the amplifier far more complicated than any one spec will indicate.
The Sony specs you've provided indicate the receiver will produce less power into a four Ohm load than into the higher, more stable eight Ohm load. This is counter-intuitive and indicates the Sony cannot produce sufficient current when loaded down to a four Ohm impedance.
This switch limits current to the speakers - which is exactly the opposite of what the speakers require - in an attempt to minimize heat and stress on the circuits.
All together this tells you Sony has provided a crap amplifier and wants you, the end user, to live with their decision by limiting the quality of sound you desire. In the end, what will do the Sony in is not the mixing of load values on individual channels but the overall lack of quality in the product. Hope that helps. It sounds like a new receiver and speakers may be in the cards. Upgrades don't happen frequently for me so I appreciated your detailed input.
Posted on Sunday, August 01, - GMT 8 ohm speakers are usually recommended here for any receiver. Go light on a receiver.
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How To Convert An 8 Ohm Speaker To 4 Ohms – Noisylabs
That speaker impedance rating on your towers and bookshelf speakers is held up as a mystery—something strange and mystic, yet dangerous. The bottom line is that people are confused about speaker impedance. I think the easiest way to define speaker impedance is to say that it is the resistance any speaker gives to the current and voltage being applied to it. In a nutshell, a loudspeaker is a big resister—a really cool one. Speaker impedance changes based on the frequency of the signal fed into it. Most bookshelf and tower speakers are rated either 6-ohms or 8-ohms. Any speaker impedance rating that is 4-ohms is typically going to be a high-end, audiophile product that wants an amplifier that can really put out some power. The loudspeaker manufacturer likely developed a 4-ohm speaker because he knows what kind of amplifier would be required or typically mated with it to get the desired sound. With a lower impedance range, it also opens up different design choices and opportunities.
4,6,or 8 ohms running 4 to 8 ohms speakers in Parallel
Speakers are devices that convert electrical signals amplified by the amplifier, into vibrations of air that can be heard by humans as sound. Speakers come in various shapes and sizes, types and models. There are two main types of speaker, based on where the signal is amplified. The characteristics of each type is described below. Speakers that only feature basic speaker functionality can be called "passive" speakers.
Can I Run 4 Ohm And 8 Ohm Speakers Together?
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4 ohm system can I add 8 ohm speakers?
The Comp Inch Subwoofer works best with a sealed or ported enclosure and watts of recommended power. See below for more details. While series wiring of multiple subs increases the total effective impedance, parallel wiring of multiple loads lowers the total effective impedance. With subwoofers rated at equal impedances, the system impedance is equal to the impedance of one sub voice coil divided by the number of subs. If you want bass at a moderate volume and in the best quality, then a 4 ohm subwoofer will be your best bet. Running an 8-ohm cab from a 4-ohm-rated head is just fine.
Professional opinion: Can I run 4 ohm and 8 ohm speakers together?
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SERIES & PARALLEL SPEAKER WIRING
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There are several ways to wire up Speakers, the most common methods are Series and Parallel which are discussed here. Wiring up Speakers correctly to provide the best possible sound, requires some knowledge of Loading, Phase, and Impedance, while understanding Ohms Law will help you to connect your speakers properly. This allows the Amplifier to run cooler and more efficiently. It is often assumed the Amplifier is producing less output, but it still produces the same output, because each Speaker only gets a percentage of the overall power. However, increasing the resistance to more than 4 ohms of speaker resistance by adding Speakers in Series, will split the amplified audio output from the Amplifier across all the Speakers in the circuit. Adding additional Speakers is as easy, however, adding Speakers in Parallel causes the overall resistance of the circuit to drop, as resistance drops, the current must increase according to Ohms Law. So, each time a Speaker with the same resistance is added to the parallel circuit, the current draw on the amp increases.
Jan Vigne. David Mitchell. Do I have to look for a certain feature or will the new reciever work just fine with my different Ohm speakers?
Not your business!