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4 ohm and 8 ohm Speakers in the same system

JoshuaZ

JoshuaZ

New Member
So, weird question that I couldn't find an answer for.

I have a Pioneer Spec 1 and 2 system that I'm going to be setting up shortly. I have some Boston A400 speakers that I plan on using, but I'd also like to hook up some Boston A200 speakers I also have around. The A400 are 4 ohm and the A200 are 8 ohm. From what I understand it would be a bad idea to try running those at the same time from the current system.

Is it possible to use a SX-1050 that I have around as a second amp to power the A200s? Split the signal going out from the Spec 1 Pre-amp to the the Spec 2 and the SX-1050?

Or am I just being really bonkers with this idea?
 
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Sure that can be done. Without looking I think the SX-1050 has MAIN AMP input jacks which will allow the preamp section to be bypassed. Could also split the SX-1050's preamp outputs to feed its own power amp section and the SPEC 1 amplifier.
 
The SX-1050 does have Pre-out / Power-in jumpers on the back. I used my SX-1050 for years with a Y split on the Pre-out. One went back into the SX-1050, and one went to the Aux input of an SX-780. The SX-1050 drove the main speakers in the Party room downstairs, and the Living room upstairs, the SX-780 went to a switcher matrix I built that drove speakers on my Electronics bench, in the Bedroom, in the Garage, and on my chair (as pseudo-rear speakers). The pair on the chair had their own L-pad to adjust the level while sitting in the chair. It works great to split them like that.
And Welcome to Audiokarma!
 
Try TapeRec (output) to AUX (input). Works great for additional speakers. I do this to split the load. I prefer it to the preout method.
 
Why. Depends on your criteria. I wanted control over separate sets of speakers. Play the same music and control volume separately. For instance I have HPM-200 in living room and HPM-1100 in office.
I connect Sony to Sansui via TapeRec to AUX. Source music is connected to Sony. Laptop->USB->DAC->Sony. Connect one set of speakers to each amp.
Source music passes through unaffected to Sansui as if it was connected directly to DAC.

The HPM-1100 is rated at 6 Ohms. So if I connect with another pair of speakers to same amp I can't play them simultaneously. (by the book). This way I can play both sets without potentially harming the amp.

Theoretically you can daisy chain infinite number of amps this way. So if you have 10 sets of speakers have fun.

Finally I said try. 2 methods are mentioned. Which works better for you?
 
The OP talked about running the two pairs of speakers simultaneously, in one system.

The tape out approach is sub-optimal for his situation. But if you don't mind having to adjust the volume on 2 units every time you want to change the loudness, I guess it will work.

A clearly better solution is a single preamp/volume control driving two power amps...one for each pair of speakers.

If the speakers have differing sensitivities, he can use the level controls on the Spec amp to compensate.
 
spark1 said:
The OP talked about running the two pairs of speakers simultaneously, in one system.

The tape out approach is sub-optimal for his situation. But if you don't mind having to adjust the volume on 2 units every time you want to change the loudness, I guess it will work.

A clearly better solution is a single preamp/volume control driving two power amps...one for each pair of speakers.

If the speakers have differing sensitivities, he can use the level controls on the Spec amp to compensate.
Click to expand...
Bingo. I want to run both sets of speakers at the same time, which means I need two amps. One for the 8 ohm speakers and one for the 4 ohm speakers.

So it sounds like I can just wire directly into the SX-1050's AMP input to run the 8 ohm speakers.

Just as an FYI, the Spec 1 is a Preamp and the Spec 2 is an amp. So I'd run outputs from the Spec 1 Preamp to the Spec 2 Amp and also the SX-1050. Right?
 
Correct.

BTW...I've owned both of those speakers, and thought that both were rated at 8 ohms? That was a while back, though, so my memory may be faulty. In any case, and even though both amps are rated to handle a 4 ohm load, both will have an easier time just driving a single pair.

If one pair is more sensitive than the other, connect those to the Spec amp and use its level controls to match up the output of your speakers.
 
spark1 said:
Correct.

BTW...I've owned both of those speakers, and thought that both were rated at 8 ohms? That was a while back, though, so my memory may be faulty. In any case, and even though both amps are rated to handle a 4 ohm load, both will have an easier time just driving a single pair.

If one pair is more sensitive than the other, connect those to the Spec amp and use its level controls to match up the output of your speakers.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the A400s are 4 ohm. Great speakers. Then again, so are the A200s which is why it would be great to hook up both sets.
 
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