Is it possible to connect front and rear speakers to a two channel amp at 8 ohms? The only way I see it, is hooking them up in series 16ohms or hooing them up in parallel 4ohms. Aren't most 6-1/2 and 6x9 speakers rated at 8ohms?
Will 4ohms hurt them and will they sound good at 16ohms?
Replies (13)
uochronos on 04/4/2004 03:01:51
most car speakers other then subs are 4ohms... 8 ohm speakers are usualy for home audio systems. so if you hooked both rear and front right speakers to the same channel on a 2 cahnnel amp you would get either 2 ohms or 8 ohms mattering if you did it in series or parralell. as for how it would sound i honestly dont know. i woul think you would want to use it at 8 ohms nore 2 ohms though thd(total harmonic distortion) goes up the smaller the ohm's number is. so you would get some better quality sound from 8 ohms
swez on 04/4/2004 10:56:59
As Chronos said, most car speakers are 4 ohm units. Many amps are 2 ohm stable in stereo mode. If you bridged the amp to mono for a sub application, then 4 ohms is minimum most amps can handle.
What amp do you have here? (make & model #)
In general, you can use 1 channel to drive a front & rear speaker. (say passenger side...F&R) Do the same with driver's side speakers, of channel 2. (F&R) That's wiring them in parallel. In series, you'll get an 8 ohm load per channel, but less output power to each speaker.
This will give each amp channel a 2 ohm load, maximum power output from the amp, but you will not have a fader control to balance between front & back. If the balance is way off... (too much rear speaker volume is most common) then adding passive L-pads will dial back the volume on the overpowering speakers to obtain a good balance point from drivers position.
In short form, depends on the amp used and speeakers you have to play with.
Comments?
Swez
JWCCSNM on 04/4/2004 16:50:17
Tell me this. If you have a HU with good 50 x 4 wattage and you connect all your speakers to an amplifier. Are you using the HU wattage at all?
swez on 04/4/2004 18:44:57
Surprize.. there are no HU's out there that put out a true 50 x 4 watts. The terms are as followed:
1. Peak watts : This is the maximum theoretical power an amp can put out for a very brief period of time. Most Aftermarket HU's say 40 - 60 watts x 4, but this is "not what you really get".
2. RMS or Continous power rating: This number is the real world power an amp can deliver to a given speaker load. Often, a HU that says 50 watts x 4 (peak) translates to a real world power rating of 22-25 watts RMS at a given load.
3. A third game that is common in Car audio amps, is at what voltage the power ratings were derived. Better amps rate power in RMS & Peak, but use a source voltage between 12.5 -13.5 volts. Some brands rate power "Dynamic"... whereby the input voltage is 14.4 volts or higher to get that power output.
Tricky huh? Well, figures don't lie, but liars can figure... and they do!
Some of the cheaper amplifier brands play these games in Car stereo and Home gear. In Pro gear, all speakers, amps and related items are rated in RMS power. If you know the RMS power ratings, then comparing apples to apple are easy. This is true for speakers and amps that are non-Pro level gear.
Now, in your case, it might make sense to power the 2 front stage speakers off your best amp. The rear speakers can be run off the HU amplifiers and you will have fade control this way. The reason behind this.... get your best gear up front where you are sitting. What happens in the rear channels is more ambient fill than anything else.
Since this is a King cab truck, your rear speakers are not too far away from your head. The HU amps may indeed supply adequate power to run them. But you want your best speakers in the front... amped for best clarity at higher listening levels.
Does that make sense to you?
Swez
JWCCSNM on 04/4/2004 20:52:20
Yes it makes good sense to me. Thank you!!
swez on 04/5/2004 01:29:52
You are welcome!
Swez
JWCCSNM on 04/6/2004 00:58:23
This is what I tried: I have a Sony xplod 52 x 4 HU powering two Sony 6-1/2" 160 watt door type speakers mounted in the back wall of my truck. I am powering one 8" kenwood sub in a small box with a Pioneer 300 watt amp. With a Pioneer 250 watt amp I am powering two front Sony 160watt 6-1/2" door speakers and two pioneer 240 watt 6"x 9"s mounted in the rear on the side walls. The door and rear speakers running off the Pioneer 250 watt amp are wired in series at 8 ohms. Front right and rear right wired together and same on the left side. Now It sounds great but I really can't hear the front door speaker very well. The 6 " x 9"s are over powering them and all the sound seems to be coming from the back. Can you think of a better configuration.
The only thing different I can think of is to run the 6"x 9"s off the HU and the 4 - 6-1/2" speakers off the 250 watt amp.
swez on 04/6/2004 08:34:35
"The only thing different I can think of is to run the 6"x 9"s off the HU and the 4 - 6-1/2" speakers off the 250 watt amp".
Pretty much what I mentioned earlier in this post.. the 6x9's can be run off the rear HU channels for better balance.
The four door speakers (6.5"s) can be run in parallel (2 ohms per channel) off your 2 channel Pioneer amp. More power at 2 ohms than at 8 ohms here. This amp should be OK at 2 ohms per channel in stereo mode. This will net about +6dB more SPL to your 6.5's at 2 ohms. Right now, an 8 ohm load/ch., is wasting power from that amp.
Once you get the mids/highs balanced as best you can, then bring up the sub channel to get a well balanced sound. Your initial setup should be tweaked to optimal performance w/o the sub on. Then add the sub and adjust amp gain and bass boost for the best mix you can get.
What Sony HU model do you have now?
JWCCSNM on 04/6/2004 15:38:13
6" x 9" sound terrible now of the HU. Do you think 240watt 6 x 9s are two much for the HU to push. Oh and on the sub, the wires touched together for several seconds. Shouldn't that just blow the fuse? The sub doesn't seem as strong as it did. Do you think it damaged the 300 wt amp? It is wired bridged mono.
swez on 04/6/2004 20:17:02
Really, try disconnecting the rear 6x9's and see what you get with only the 6.5" in all doors. Probably best you can do if the x9's sound bad off HU.
Shorted sub wires will usually send most amps into protect mode, blow a fuse or damage output transistors. Depends on the amp design and protection circuits used in same. Most newer amps have a protect for shorts, low ohms and thermal monitor. Not sure if your Pioneer amps have much fault protection if old.
Swez
JWCCSNM on 04/6/2004 20:41:46
Its a GM-X562. If it has a protection mode, how do you get it out of that mode? Its a brand new amp. On the 6x9s, you know how speakers sound when they don't have enough wattage to them.
well, that's how they sound.
JWCCSNM on 04/7/2004 01:11:55
Never mind. I put the 6x9s and front door speaker back in series with the back 6.5s running off the HU. I can live with the back being a little louder. I really sounds clear and great at 8ohms.
The sub seems ok now too. I don't know what was going on with that earlier. Thanks guys.
swez on 04/7/2004 10:09:53
The amp will automatically return to normal performance after the short circuit is corrected. Should be fine now.
About your x9's that overpower the front... there is a simple device you can add to each x9 (in series with + terminals) that will bring the power down to balance out front & 6x9's. It's a variable resistor called an L-Pad. It works on the same principle as a dimmer contol for home lighting, but made for audio applications.
A pair of these should work well:
1. http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=260-265
2. http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=263-705
This product will tone down the x9's so that you can get a better balance of outputs between front speakers and x9's.
Swez
Will 4ohms hurt them and will they sound good at 16ohms?
Replies (13)
uochronos on 04/4/2004 03:01:51
most car speakers other then subs are 4ohms... 8 ohm speakers are usualy for home audio systems. so if you hooked both rear and front right speakers to the same channel on a 2 cahnnel amp you would get either 2 ohms or 8 ohms mattering if you did it in series or parralell. as for how it would sound i honestly dont know. i woul think you would want to use it at 8 ohms nore 2 ohms though thd(total harmonic distortion) goes up the smaller the ohm's number is. so you would get some better quality sound from 8 ohms
swez on 04/4/2004 10:56:59
As Chronos said, most car speakers are 4 ohm units. Many amps are 2 ohm stable in stereo mode. If you bridged the amp to mono for a sub application, then 4 ohms is minimum most amps can handle.
What amp do you have here? (make & model #)
In general, you can use 1 channel to drive a front & rear speaker. (say passenger side...F&R) Do the same with driver's side speakers, of channel 2. (F&R) That's wiring them in parallel. In series, you'll get an 8 ohm load per channel, but less output power to each speaker.
This will give each amp channel a 2 ohm load, maximum power output from the amp, but you will not have a fader control to balance between front & back. If the balance is way off... (too much rear speaker volume is most common) then adding passive L-pads will dial back the volume on the overpowering speakers to obtain a good balance point from drivers position.
In short form, depends on the amp used and speeakers you have to play with.
Comments?
Swez
JWCCSNM on 04/4/2004 16:50:17
Tell me this. If you have a HU with good 50 x 4 wattage and you connect all your speakers to an amplifier. Are you using the HU wattage at all?
swez on 04/4/2004 18:44:57
Surprize.. there are no HU's out there that put out a true 50 x 4 watts. The terms are as followed:
1. Peak watts : This is the maximum theoretical power an amp can put out for a very brief period of time. Most Aftermarket HU's say 40 - 60 watts x 4, but this is "not what you really get".
2. RMS or Continous power rating: This number is the real world power an amp can deliver to a given speaker load. Often, a HU that says 50 watts x 4 (peak) translates to a real world power rating of 22-25 watts RMS at a given load.
3. A third game that is common in Car audio amps, is at what voltage the power ratings were derived. Better amps rate power in RMS & Peak, but use a source voltage between 12.5 -13.5 volts. Some brands rate power "Dynamic"... whereby the input voltage is 14.4 volts or higher to get that power output.
Tricky huh? Well, figures don't lie, but liars can figure... and they do!
Some of the cheaper amplifier brands play these games in Car stereo and Home gear. In Pro gear, all speakers, amps and related items are rated in RMS power. If you know the RMS power ratings, then comparing apples to apple are easy. This is true for speakers and amps that are non-Pro level gear.
Now, in your case, it might make sense to power the 2 front stage speakers off your best amp. The rear speakers can be run off the HU amplifiers and you will have fade control this way. The reason behind this.... get your best gear up front where you are sitting. What happens in the rear channels is more ambient fill than anything else.
Since this is a King cab truck, your rear speakers are not too far away from your head. The HU amps may indeed supply adequate power to run them. But you want your best speakers in the front... amped for best clarity at higher listening levels.
Does that make sense to you?
Swez
JWCCSNM on 04/4/2004 20:52:20
Yes it makes good sense to me. Thank you!!
swez on 04/5/2004 01:29:52
You are welcome!
Swez
JWCCSNM on 04/6/2004 00:58:23
This is what I tried: I have a Sony xplod 52 x 4 HU powering two Sony 6-1/2" 160 watt door type speakers mounted in the back wall of my truck. I am powering one 8" kenwood sub in a small box with a Pioneer 300 watt amp. With a Pioneer 250 watt amp I am powering two front Sony 160watt 6-1/2" door speakers and two pioneer 240 watt 6"x 9"s mounted in the rear on the side walls. The door and rear speakers running off the Pioneer 250 watt amp are wired in series at 8 ohms. Front right and rear right wired together and same on the left side. Now It sounds great but I really can't hear the front door speaker very well. The 6 " x 9"s are over powering them and all the sound seems to be coming from the back. Can you think of a better configuration.
The only thing different I can think of is to run the 6"x 9"s off the HU and the 4 - 6-1/2" speakers off the 250 watt amp.
swez on 04/6/2004 08:34:35
"The only thing different I can think of is to run the 6"x 9"s off the HU and the 4 - 6-1/2" speakers off the 250 watt amp".
Pretty much what I mentioned earlier in this post.. the 6x9's can be run off the rear HU channels for better balance.
The four door speakers (6.5"s) can be run in parallel (2 ohms per channel) off your 2 channel Pioneer amp. More power at 2 ohms than at 8 ohms here. This amp should be OK at 2 ohms per channel in stereo mode. This will net about +6dB more SPL to your 6.5's at 2 ohms. Right now, an 8 ohm load/ch., is wasting power from that amp.
Once you get the mids/highs balanced as best you can, then bring up the sub channel to get a well balanced sound. Your initial setup should be tweaked to optimal performance w/o the sub on. Then add the sub and adjust amp gain and bass boost for the best mix you can get.
What Sony HU model do you have now?
JWCCSNM on 04/6/2004 15:38:13
6" x 9" sound terrible now of the HU. Do you think 240watt 6 x 9s are two much for the HU to push. Oh and on the sub, the wires touched together for several seconds. Shouldn't that just blow the fuse? The sub doesn't seem as strong as it did. Do you think it damaged the 300 wt amp? It is wired bridged mono.
swez on 04/6/2004 20:17:02
Really, try disconnecting the rear 6x9's and see what you get with only the 6.5" in all doors. Probably best you can do if the x9's sound bad off HU.
Shorted sub wires will usually send most amps into protect mode, blow a fuse or damage output transistors. Depends on the amp design and protection circuits used in same. Most newer amps have a protect for shorts, low ohms and thermal monitor. Not sure if your Pioneer amps have much fault protection if old.
Swez
JWCCSNM on 04/6/2004 20:41:46
Its a GM-X562. If it has a protection mode, how do you get it out of that mode? Its a brand new amp. On the 6x9s, you know how speakers sound when they don't have enough wattage to them.
well, that's how they sound.
JWCCSNM on 04/7/2004 01:11:55
Never mind. I put the 6x9s and front door speaker back in series with the back 6.5s running off the HU. I can live with the back being a little louder. I really sounds clear and great at 8ohms.
The sub seems ok now too. I don't know what was going on with that earlier. Thanks guys.
swez on 04/7/2004 10:09:53
The amp will automatically return to normal performance after the short circuit is corrected. Should be fine now.
About your x9's that overpower the front... there is a simple device you can add to each x9 (in series with + terminals) that will bring the power down to balance out front & 6x9's. It's a variable resistor called an L-Pad. It works on the same principle as a dimmer contol for home lighting, but made for audio applications.
A pair of these should work well:
1. http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=260-265
2. http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=263-705
This product will tone down the x9's so that you can get a better balance of outputs between front speakers and x9's.
Swez
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