Series hookup

[archie2]

If I hooked up another set of 8 ohm speakers in series with 8 ohm speakers and compensated for phase I should get 16 ohm which would not tax my amp. Comments??

 

[Kencat]

Yup, 8+8 in series = 16.

What do you mean by "compensated for phase"? if I may ask.

What do you notice in the sound with this arrangement?

 

[archie2]

"compensate for phase" = making sure both sets of speakers are in phase, pushing and pulling at the same time. I haven't hooked them up yet, waiting for an exact pair match which may be coming soon.

 

[bolly]

series resistance: Rt= R1 + R2 + R3 ...
parallel resistance: 1/Rt= 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 ...

 

[MarkAnderson]

Connecting them in series will lower the amp output (theoretically by half). Is your amp not capable of driving 4 ohm loads? - Mark

(My kids are helping. )

 

[wualta]

..not to mention screw up the frequency response of the second speaker by running its signal through the first speaker's voice coils and xover network..

So yeah, why not parallel them?

 

[archie2]

"Connecting them in series will lower the amp output (theoretically by half). Is your amp not capable of driving 4 ohm loads?"

Well I'm driving with both channels (speakers A & B) now and was toying with idea of hooking up an identical set of speakers in series on channel B. If I did parallel them it might go to 2 ohm.

".not to mention screw up the frequency response of the second speaker by running its signal through the first speaker's voice coils and xover network.."

I may be wrong but I thought using identical sets of speakers on channel B would negate any audiable interference caused by running the signal through set one first.

 

[Kencat]

..not to mention screw up the frequency response of the second speaker by running its signal through the first speaker's voice coils and xover network..

So yeah, why not parallel them?

Now that's a new one. I had never heard it put that way. So putting speakers (and I guess that extends to drivers) in series is not a good option.

How noticeable is this deterioration in the second speaker's sound?

 

[Doug G.]

Remember, it's AC current so there is really no "1st" or "2nd" speaker. They are both affected the same.

That said, I don't like hooking speakers in series either.

Doug

 

[lab]

Series connections also ruin damping factors on amps; sometimes you can get boomier bass. The amp runs cooler of course- where as parallel connections can push an amp too hard. Some "8" ohm speakers can be alot lower in impedance. One rated 8 ohm speaker I checked had a d.c. resistance of 2.5 (2 x 12" woofers in parallel)

 

[Morden2004]

If I hooked up another set of 8 ohm speakers in series with 8 ohm speakers and compensated for phase I should get 16 ohm which would not tax my amp. Comments??

Please, get yourself a speaker switching box - do not series those speakers. It simply won't work. With any inductive loads that are fed from x-overs, series connections are not going to provide the proper loading that was designed into those x-overs. A speaker switching box will actually let you run those speakers in parallel without tossing a 4 ohm load at your amp.

Check it out. Do a search here on AK for 'speaker switching' and read the many threads and recommendations for this very necessary tool in the audiophiles equipment list. :thmbsp:

Paul

 

[archie2]

"Please, get yourself a speaker switching box - do not series those speakers. It simply won't work."

Good idea Paul. I have a speaker switch box, never thought of using it. Thanks. I don't know why series connections won't work but if it's easier and safer to use a switch box, I will.

 

[rwortman]

..not to mention screw up the frequency response of the second speaker by running its signal through the first speaker's voice coils and xover network..

So yeah, why not parallel them?

Its a series circuit. Both speakers see exactly the same current.

 

[archie2]

"Its a series circuit. Both speakers see exactly the same current."

Though so.