Wire speakers in parallel or serial.

[tnc]

What ohm load will I get if I wire an 8 ohm and a 4 ohm in serial.

What ohm load will I get if I wire an 8 ohm and a 4 ohm in parallel

I understand that if I wire speakrs in parallel, I will increase the efficiency to 3db. If I do it in serial, will I still get the same efficiency boot. I am trying hard to get my speakers more efficient as my amp is only 2 watts.

[kingjames]

Don't you think you need a bigger amp?:yes: What kind of amp do you have?

[johnaec]

8+4 serial = 12 ohms
8+4 parallel = (8*4)/(8+4) = 2.67 ohms

'Not sure how the efficiency scopes out...

John

[hjames]

Speakers in series adds resistance
Speakers in parallel divides resistance

Except - when you have multiple identical drivers playing simultaneously the sound can get all jumbled up in the air. Its not recommended to put multiple speakers on the same line.

Better idea - get a bigger amp. You can get a T-amps for about $30 ($20 more for AC power supply), are 15w/ch and sound real good.
see - http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-952



What ohm load will I get if I wire an 8 ohm and a 4 ohm in serial.

What ohm load will I get if I wire an 8 ohm and a 4 ohm in parallel

I understand that if I wire speakrs in parallel, I will increase the efficiency to 3db. If I do it in serial, will I still get the same efficiency boot. I am trying hard to get my speakers more efficient as my amp is only 2 watts.

[scott fitlin]

Yeah, but, usually, you dont wire a 4 ohm and 8 ohm speaker together.

Now, what you do get, wiring in parallel is more power out of the amp, lower impedance, unless you have transformer coupled outputs that produce the same amount of power whatever the load. Wiring in series, gives you a higher impedance, thus the amp will produce less power = lower volume.

Can your amp handle a 3 ohm load? Many amps are not rated to be run below 4 ohms per channel, and if your amp cant handle this, it will thermal and go into its protection mode, ( turn off ) till it cools down.

[tnc]

Thank you all for your help and recommendation. Though my ears is set on my single ended triode 45 amp.

[tnc]

OK - what about this. I will wire two 8ohm speakers together to get a 4ohm load - but would it ever dip way below that - say 2~3 ohm load. My little tube amp can handle 4 ohm load but I just worry that it will be overloaded at 2 ohm.

[Zilch]

If you wire and 8 and a 4 in series, the 8's gonna get 2/3 of the power.

If you put them in parallel, the 4's gonna get 2/3.

How 'bout that?

[Nothin' to do with nothin'. I know.... :p ]

[sourceoneaudio]

OK - what about this. I will wire two 8ohm speakers together to get a 4ohm load - but would it ever dip way below that - say 2~3 ohm load. My little tube amp can handle 4 ohm load but I just worry that it will be overloaded at 2 ohm.


Hard to say, all of the musical energy is below 100hz, so if it dips for a millisecond you'll probably be OK, Long term ? The amp will run hotter at a 4ohm load, if it falls lower hotter even still until shut down (thermal) or burn up. :flamer: Just keep an eye on it, and smell is also another dead give away if problems are starting.
MacIntosh power amps use whats called Autofomer Technologly. With this type of technology you can run any load all the time and the power produced stays the same.
But if your amp is and has a 4ohm rating you should be OK, but Like I said before, keep an eye on it.

P.S. If you put them in parallel, 8 and a 4 I believe that is = a 3.2 ohm load.

J/S-S1A

[tnc]

Thanks everyone for your help. I will play around mix/match drivers, etc...