I just bought a new Sub and 2 6x9 speakers. and i want to test them out in my room, is it cool to hook them up to my stereo with just regular speaker wire? just making sure, cuz i dont wanna mess my bran new equipment up! thanks in advance.
Aaron
Replies (6)
MrBrownstone on 08/16/2006 20:55:26
putting too small size wire will only limit the power you can send the speakers...there's no impact on them from a reliability standpoint.
12 guage wire is the largest size you'll need for those even if you run the length of the vehicle. 14 guage is good for most 6x9s up to 150W and 12 feet in length
aaronl on 08/16/2006 22:46:10
will 12 gauge work for the sub too? i probably sound retarted, but like i said im new to this stuff and this wire stuff is way over my head. thanks
Ps the sub is a ALPINE SWR-1522D TYPE R and the speakers are Alpine SPS-69C2 6"x 9" if that helps with my question.
ttocs on 08/17/2006 00:59:52
the only problem that you may face is that most home audio stuff is made to play 8 ohm speakers, your 6 x 9's are probably 4 ohm. You will run your home amp hot and run the risk of lettin the magic smoke out.......
MrBrownstone on 08/17/2006 01:36:47
If you are talking about hooking them up for a few seconds, or, at low volumes, the amplifier won't be in jeopardy..just if you are hammering away at the system.
I didn't see above where we're talking about home audio. Perhaps I missed something?
With respect to speaker wire, it depends upon the length between the amplifier and the speaker, AND; the amount of power you are sending.
swez on 08/17/2006 18:02:00
In the home or car, 12 gage is pretty solid at lengths under 20 feet. A length of #12 wire can manage (120 volts AC x 20 Amperes) = 2400 watts w/o breaking a sweat. Voltage is not the problem here, it's how much current the wire takes, is the key.
Using #14 wire is also a good option as it can carry (120 x 15A) =1800 watts. Not bad for a bunch of thing wires, bundled up like a pile of sardines in a plastic jacket huh?
Home stereos are as ttocs said, geared for 8 ohm speakers. Most will operate OK with 4 ohm speakers as long as you go easy on the power you feed them. The amps will over heat and may shut off to cool if you are lucky. But in a low budget Home Stereo system, most don't use protection circuits and just fry the internal parts. Hense, the "magic smoke" gets out and that's all she wrote... good-bye Home Stereo.
In short, go easy on the volume control there bub.
Swez
PS If you use that sub for a bit, wire both coils in series for a net 4 ohm load. It really should have an enclosure and a filter network to block highs as well. (Above 100 Hz.)
aaronl on 08/18/2006 13:06:57
thanks for the help fellas
Aaron
Aaron
Replies (6)
MrBrownstone on 08/16/2006 20:55:26
putting too small size wire will only limit the power you can send the speakers...there's no impact on them from a reliability standpoint.
12 guage wire is the largest size you'll need for those even if you run the length of the vehicle. 14 guage is good for most 6x9s up to 150W and 12 feet in length
aaronl on 08/16/2006 22:46:10
will 12 gauge work for the sub too? i probably sound retarted, but like i said im new to this stuff and this wire stuff is way over my head. thanks
Ps the sub is a ALPINE SWR-1522D TYPE R and the speakers are Alpine SPS-69C2 6"x 9" if that helps with my question.
ttocs on 08/17/2006 00:59:52
the only problem that you may face is that most home audio stuff is made to play 8 ohm speakers, your 6 x 9's are probably 4 ohm. You will run your home amp hot and run the risk of lettin the magic smoke out.......
MrBrownstone on 08/17/2006 01:36:47
If you are talking about hooking them up for a few seconds, or, at low volumes, the amplifier won't be in jeopardy..just if you are hammering away at the system.
I didn't see above where we're talking about home audio. Perhaps I missed something?
With respect to speaker wire, it depends upon the length between the amplifier and the speaker, AND; the amount of power you are sending.
swez on 08/17/2006 18:02:00
In the home or car, 12 gage is pretty solid at lengths under 20 feet. A length of #12 wire can manage (120 volts AC x 20 Amperes) = 2400 watts w/o breaking a sweat. Voltage is not the problem here, it's how much current the wire takes, is the key.
Using #14 wire is also a good option as it can carry (120 x 15A) =1800 watts. Not bad for a bunch of thing wires, bundled up like a pile of sardines in a plastic jacket huh?
Home stereos are as ttocs said, geared for 8 ohm speakers. Most will operate OK with 4 ohm speakers as long as you go easy on the power you feed them. The amps will over heat and may shut off to cool if you are lucky. But in a low budget Home Stereo system, most don't use protection circuits and just fry the internal parts. Hense, the "magic smoke" gets out and that's all she wrote... good-bye Home Stereo.
In short, go easy on the volume control there bub.
Swez
PS If you use that sub for a bit, wire both coils in series for a net 4 ohm load. It really should have an enclosure and a filter network to block highs as well. (Above 100 Hz.)
aaronl on 08/18/2006 13:06:57
thanks for the help fellas
Aaron
Copyright ClubKnowledge 2009 * All Rights Reserved
