Tube Amps with Only 8/16ohm taps

[captouch]

I know it's bad to put 4ohm speakers on SS amps not rated to support 4ohm speakers - I guess you can blow the amp up or at least heavily stress it.

Is this the same with tube amps?

There's a tube amp whose manual says output impedance of 8-16ohms and it has 8ohm and 16ohm outputs. It's an old '60's amp.

Just got some KLH 20's that were supposed to be voiced with tubes that I'm curious to hear with a tube amp, but they're 4ohm speakers.

Just wondering if this tube amp that specs 8-16ohms can be used with the KLH 20's or if similar dangers would exist by trying to use lower ohm speakers.

Just don't know a lot about tube amps, so I'm learning.

Thanks!

 

[sKiZo]

I just found out I have 16 ohm capabilities on my Latino ST-120. It's not documented as there's not much call for it, but the transformers DO have the correct taps. There's two wires hooked up to "NFB" pads for feedback to the driver board that get swapped with the leads attached to the speaker terminals that will give me 16 ohm with the addition of a couple jumpers.

Check with your amp mfg - you may get lucky there and be able to make a similar mod ...

 

[peterh]

I know it's bad to put 4ohm speakers on SS amps not rated to support 4ohm speakers - I guess you can blow the amp up or at least heavily stress it.

Is this the same with tube amps?

There's a tube amp whose manual says output impedance of 8-16ohms and it has 8ohm and 16ohm outputs. It's an old '60's amp.

Just got some KLH 20's that were supposed to be voiced with tubes that I'm curious to hear with a tube amp, but they're 4ohm speakers.

Just wondering if this tube amp that specs 8-16ohms can be used with the KLH 20's or if similar dangers would exist by trying to use lower ohm speakers.

Just don't know a lot about tube amps, so I'm learning.

Thanks!

No problem. A tube amp is very forgiving, besides speakers has a very variable impedance. The only thing you might loose is some power.