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2 speakers 8ohm per channel; amp 4 or 8 ohm?

M

MacShrike

New Member
Ls,

I have decided to put 2 speakers on each front channel of my surround amp.
They are both 8 Ohm so that should not fck up my stuff.
The amp however has a switch that can be set to 4 or to 8 Ohms. What setting would be safer/better?

As you can tell from my "indepth" knowledge I have been reading up in this wonderful forum.
Still I cant seem to wrap my head around the actual workings.
Does 4 ohm on the amp mean that it will work harder or less ?
 
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Be aware that playing the system loud with a 4Ω load and 8Ω setting may cause the amp to go into protection, especially if they are set up as large speakers in your amp's configuration (I'm assuming you're talking about a modern amp/receiver with menus for everything). I'm not exactly sure how the 4Ω setting is configured, but if it's just a case of limiting the power output (as suggested by @whoaru99) then you can accomplish the same by keeping the volume at a reasonable level with the 8Ω setting, and this way you'll at least have full power available for peaks. Don't try to reproduce concert or club levels and you'll probably be fine. If you have parties where it's going to be used for more than background music, use something else.
 
JoeESP9 said:
The real question here is, why four speakers for two channel stereo?
Click to expand...

Thank you all for replying.

Bare with me:
Its an old sony str-db870 surround receiver.
I still own some very loud whitevan speakers that im trying to fix and reuse to ... deny my shame for buying them. And they do have nice bass.
I also have a set of bose 205 speakers.
Leaves me with the 5 infinity surround speakers.
They are all 8 ohm.
So...
Im intending to use the whitevanns and Bose parallel as front. The 4 small infinity as 2 sets surround parallel. And 1 centerspeaker as surround back.
Then to really piss of the neighbours i scored a nice philips subwoofer.

Should sound ... very sound and surround. I only have a small appartement

And yeah the whitevans... they are really good to put my larger pots and plants on =)

Thanks for all the sound info yall.
Much appreciatie.
Highest regards,
Mac
 
More MIXED grab bag speakers does not equal "better sound".

Have you ever looked at "surround sound" speaker packages?
There is a reason they contain speakers all made by the same manufacturer. Similar voicing and volume levels (sensitivity ratings).
You'll probably find some of your grab bag speakers are louder than the others. Maybe you can find a way to balance them. Or maybe you don't care. And that's fine. It's your system.
 
Last edited:
This is supposed to be the 7 channel version of your receivers output with all channels driven.


https://www.soundandvision.com/content/sony-str-dn1080-av-receiver-review-test-bench

Screenshot_20210226-141103_Opera.jpg


As you can see the power output falls dramatically as you add speakers and more importantly you will lose the already low damping factor that the amplifier has on your unknown white van monsters.

I would try to pick your best two speakers or add an external amplifier to your system but I don't think you receiver has preouts.
 
Orwell84 said:
This is supposed to be the 7 channel version of your receivers output with all channels driven.


https://www.soundandvision.com/content/sony-str-dn1080-av-receiver-review-test-bench

View attachment 2145167


As you can see the power output falls dramatically as you add speakers and more importantly you will lose the already low damping factor that the amplifier has on your unknown white van monsters.

I would try to pick your best two speakers or add an external amplifier to your system but I don't think you receiver has preouts.
Click to expand...

It has preouts! =) Also its nothing as fancy as a 1080. Its a 870.
Nevertheless, you are right about the sound quality.
I'm just having a really low budget season and just enjoy playing around with what I got.
I used to be competing with school buddies about who had the best setup. Then I went dark a long time just listening to my 1 speaker FM radio in my bedroom.
Just rediscovered my old self self-serving side.
Although it might not sound optimal by far I'm just enjoying it for now.
I'll improve my ways, promise. I didn't sign up for this forum for nothing =)
Thanks for the input <B
 
goodolpg said:
More MIXED grab bag speakers does not equal "better sound".

Have you ever looked at "surround sound" speaker packages?
There is a reason they contain speakers all made by the same manufacturer. Similar voicing and volume levels (sensitivity ratings).
You'll probably find some of your grab bag speakers are louder than the others. Maybe you can find a way to balance them. Or maybe you don't care. And that's fine. It's your system.
Click to expand...

Hi. Its has 5 infinity surround speakers.
I just have these large speakers that I want to use for now.
Listening to "I'd rather feel something then be numb" right now =)
When I get my cashflow back up and running, I'll be sure to improve. Promised.
Thanks for the input bro
 
MacShrike said:
It has preouts! =) Also its nothing as fancy as a 1080. Its a 870.
Nevertheless, you are right about the sound quality.
I'm just having a really low budget season and just enjoy playing around with what I got.
I used to be competing with school buddies about who had the best setup. Then I went dark a long time just listening to my 1 speaker FM radio in my bedroom.
Just rediscovered my old self self-serving side.
Although it might not sound optimal by far I'm just enjoying it for now.
I'll improve my ways, promise. I didn't sign up for this forum for nothing =)
Thanks for the input <B
Click to expand...

It's supposed to be fun!
And it is your system.
I have to say it is a step up from the 1 speaker FM setup!
I think we just want you to get the best sound from what you have. But you may not care about the "best" sound and at this time simply want sound.
 
MacShrike said:
It has preouts! =) Also its nothing as fancy as a 1080. Its a 870.
Nevertheless, you are right about the sound quality.
I'm just having a really low budget season and just enjoy playing around with what I got.
I used to be competing with school buddies about who had the best setup. Then I went dark a long time just listening to my 1 speaker FM radio in my bedroom.
Just rediscovered my old self self-serving side.
Although it might not sound optimal by far I'm just enjoying it for now.
I'll improve my ways, promise. I didn't sign up for this forum for nothing =)
Thanks for the input <B
Click to expand...


Awesome! It's all about improving the the sound however you can for me.
My system isn't impressive compared to most here.
Good luck
 
goodolpg said:
It's supposed to be fun!
And it is your system.
I have to say it is a step up from the 1 speaker FM setup!
I think we just want you to get the best sound from what you have. But you may not care about the "best" sound and at this time simply want sound.
Click to expand...

Yes. Well. The surround is mostly for movies or Jean Michel Jarre and such.
Just put on a classical record (and the Db870 still has a phono input! ) put the amp on 2 channel analog and it just uses the 2 Bose205 speakers.
That is beautiful indeed. Amazing what 2 clear speakers can produce.
For beethoven; im kicking in the whitevans
 
‍☝
Ok so i "glued" them with liquid rubber and let them dry properly.
That worked like a dream. Its doesnt even look that ugly.
The whitevans are now parallel with the bose205's.
+ 4 surround infinity on 2 l+r channels parallel + 1 center monitor.
I know its blaspheme but.. the 205+ wvs really sound good together.
Also the subwoofer and the 12" from the wvs seem to complement each other.
Playing requiem on it know. It truly sounds amazing. Like im in a cathedral.
Anyhoe thank you all for the great support and advice.
Here's a snapshot of the derelicts
20210228_210447.jpg
 
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