Mixing 4-ohm and 8-ohm speakers in a multiple room set-up.

 

Flighter
Unregistered guest
When setting up a stereo speaker arrangement in multiple rooms of a house, is it easier on an amplifier or receiver to have all of the speakers of an 8-ohm type only, or is it OK to have a mix of 4-ohm and 8-ohm types, as long as a speaker selector switch is used with the protection circuit set to "on"? Which way puts the least stress on the system?
 

Silver Member
Username: Kegger

MICHIGAN

Post Number: 375
Registered: Dec-03
8 ohm puts less stress on the system.

if you haven't bought the speakers yet and are
looking at new ones yes an 8 ohm load is much easier
for the system to drive.

if you are going to run 4 ohm speakers make sure
the system is rated for 4 ohm not just periodicly
can go that low but can continuosly run their.
a lot of systems can not handle a constant 4 ohm load.
 

J. Vigne
Unregistered guest
Most "protection" systems in a switch box are little more than a 20 Ohm power resitor wired in series with the outputs. That would be the equivalent of you trying to push a '57 Buick Roadmaster up Pikes Peak. Don't do that to your amplifier.
 

swampcat
Unregistered guest
It would depend on your amp some high current amps like an adcom can easily power a 4ohm and 8 ohm speaker at same time while another will shut down. Look at your specs on your amp, will it drive 2ohm loads ? Would have a rating into 2 ohms. Most recievers cannot go below 4 ohms.

I have powered 4ohm and 8ohm speakers at same time with no problem. @ extremely high listening levels also. Using Adcom amps and also with an old Harmon Kardon Intigrated amp. I state old because HK is not the same anymore.
 

J. Vigne
Unregistered guest
Avoid the speaker selector if at all posible. Buy an amplifier with dedicated channels for the number of speakers you will be driving. It is cheaper with better sound in the long run.
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