• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Series or parallel?

z-adamson

z-adamson

Addicted Member
In my amplifier collection is a Toshiba sc-665.

I can hook up two pairs of speakers and select a+b if I choose to do so.

How do I easily determine if the amp puts one pair of speakers in series with the other or parallel with the other?
 
Register to hide this ad
push the A+B switch and see if both are live with only one set hooked up. If both are active with one speaker connected, its parallel. If both need to be hooked up, its series.

I'd all but guarantee its parallel though.
 
gladiator335 said:
I don't see any reason to connect speakers in series. It is parallel as gadget73 explained.
Click to expand...
Series would help circumvent the user from connecting two pair of 4ohm speakers being seen by the amp as 2ohm and having a melt down. Other than this I don't see any reason either. This method is often used in the automotive sound industry connecting multiple subs.
 
gadget73 said:
push the A+B switch and see if both are live with only one set hooked up. If both are active with one speaker connected, its parallel. If both need to be hooked up, its series.

I'd all but guarantee its parallel though.
Click to expand...
Makes sense. Thanks!!
 
Never tried this, but it seems ok on paper...

Imagine speaker output A. Go positive OUT to positive IN of a speaker cabinet. Then go negative OUT of that cabinet to positive IN of another identical speaker cabinet. Then go negative OUT of the second cabinet to negative IN of the amp for speaker A.

This should present the amp with a 16 ohm load since the two cabinets are wired in series and connected to output A and each cabinet is rated at 8 ohms.

Anyone ever tried this? Any reason not to do it?
 
Cause the first speaker will suck all the sound out of the cable, starving the second of any output at all?
 
There are a number of technical things that happen. One is a creation of timing difference (group delay) between the speakers on each channel. This happens because the crossovers present a reactive path for the audio signal, the signal has to go through the crossover components and the voice coils of the drivers of the first speaker before it gets to the second speaker.

There will be an impact on the frequency response of the audio signal due to the characteristics of the each speaker (the crossover and the drivers.) Remember nothing is perfect so when the signal passes through the crossover and drivers of one speaker it will be changed before it goes to the next speaker.

Of course since this is a series circuit and an audio signal (alternating current), each speaker in series with have an impact on the the other speaker.

The impact on the sound quality will depend on the characteristics of the speakers in use, this listening environment and the perception of the listener.
 
z-adamson said:
In my amplifier collection is a Toshiba sc-665.

I can hook up two pairs of speakers and select a+b if I choose to do so.

How do I easily determine if the amp puts one pair of speakers in series with the other or parallel with the other?
Click to expand...

Do neither. Speakers present very weird impedance to amplifier. When you connect two together - it becomes way worse. If you need more than two speakers running, use AVR in "multichannel stereo" mode.
 
Amps that put speakers in series mean that the power supply is light weight. They probably shouldn't have even put the second set of connectors on there.
 
Like Gadget said in post 2: With only one pair of speakers hooked up, switch to A+B. If the speakers turn off, it's series. If the speakers continue to play music, it's parallel.

Most are set up parallel, but there are some (I had a Marantz that was series) that do have series-connected A+B.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom