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There are several ways to drive four speakers. For simplicity, this answer assumes that the amplifier will be a two channel stereo amplifier - one channel for left and one for right hand channels. It also assumes that the speakers will be connected in parallel, that is, both positive terminals wired together and both negative terminals together. The two speakers together will be the equivalent of a four ohm speaker.

First, make sure the amplifier is rated to drive four ohms to both the left and the right speaker. Most amplifiers will handle a four ohm load but some are aonly designed for eight ohms. The manual will tell you what the amplifier can handle.

The speakers can handle up to 120 Watts per channel when two are used together. To fully drive the speakers, an amplifier of 120W per channel will be needed. However, that is the worst possible size of amplifier to use if you are going to run the system near its peak power output. Here's why:

Speakers are able to cope much more power than their rated power. The sound will be terrible but generally, the speakers will not be damaged. Speakers can also cope with a distorted signal from an amplifier as long as the power level is a lot less than the rated speaker power. However, overdrive the amplifier when it is delivering the full power rating of the speaker and the high power distortion is very likely to cause damage to the speaker.

The choice of amplifier should either be higher or lower than the speaker rating. A 30W per channel amplifier will still have a great deal of power to offer and the output will be far louder than most people would ever want in a living room. If the amplifier is over-driven, the low power level avoid speaker damage. A 200W per channel amplifier will drive the speakers harder but with a clean signal. If you want to run the speakers close to their maximum level, choose an amplifier of this power output or higher.

A note about power levels: True power output is always measured as an RMS figure. Music power is approximately twice RMS power and peak music power is about twice the level of music power. Therefore, if the speakers are rated at 60W peak music power, they actually have a rating of just 15 Watts RMS. When comparing amplifiers and speakers, always make sure you use the same units, RMS, Music or Peak Music. Never mix them.

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Q: What size audio amplifier will you need to buy to power four 60 watts speakers 8 ohms impedance Frequency Response 120 Hz - 20 kHz?
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How do you select speakers with respect to the impedance of the amplifier?

Amplifiers are rated to operate within a range of impedances. Typically, a domestic amplifier will drive a minimum impedance of 8 Ohms or 4 Ohms. Using speakers that have an impedance lower than the amplifier rating is likely to increase distortion and can damage the outputs of the amplifier if the levels are too high. Using speakers that are significantly higher than the minimum rating will not cause damage to either the amplifier or speakers but it will reduce the power that is delivered to the speakers. In most domestic systems, this limitation of the power output is not likely to be an issue. Any amplifier rated to drive into 4 Ohms will work well with speakers of between 4 and 8 Ohms. An amplifier with an 8 Ohm rating should be used only with speakers of 8 Ohms or higher.


How do you reduce frequency in speakers?

Using a crossover, you can limit the frequency response of the signal sent to speakers.


Will 6 ohm surround sound speakers work with an 8 ohm amplifier?

It's a myth. There is really no 8 Ohm amplifier on the market. And there never was. The amplifier will have an output impedance of around 0.04 ohms. In hi-fi we have always impedance bridging. Zout


Can you connect a pair of speakers to your computer?

In general, you cannot connect a pair of speakers to a computer, because the computer's sound board does not normally include a power amplifier fit to drive a speaker.It might be possible to drive very small speakers with a high impedance directly from a sound board's headphone output, though.Note that most "PC Speakers" can be directly connected to a computer's audio output because the speaker itself contains a power amplifier. Strictly speaking, such a speaker is a combination of a loudspeaker and an amplifier (sometimes also called an active speaker).


Can you match a 6 ohms impedance amplifiers with 4 ohms speakers?

There is really no 3 ohms amplifier on the market with an output impedance of three ohms for power matching. You will find there 0.3 ohm or less for voltage bridging. Scroll down to related links and look at "Interconnection of two audio units - Power amplifier and passive loudspeaker".

Related questions

Which stereo speakers offer the best frequency response?

Bose speakers are best for frequency response.


Your speakers will handle 400 watts but start to disort at 200 watts?

The speaker impedance does not match the amplifier's specified speaker impedance.


How many speakers can go into a single stereo system?

All amplifiers are rated to handle a certain speaker impedance. The majority of loudspeakers have an impedance of 8 ohms while most amplifiers will be able to drive a minimum load of 4 ohms. It is important to check the ratings of the amplifier before adding more speakers. If two 8 ohm speakers are wired in parallel, the total impedance will be 4 ohms. If 3 speakers are wired in parallel then the total impedance will reduce to around 2.5 ohms. If the total speaker impedance is lower than the rated impedance of the amplifier, it is quite possible to damage the amplifier as the output level is increased. To be safe, make sure you understand the impedances of the speakers and the amplifier's rating before hooking anything up.


How do you select speakers with respect to the impedance of the amplifier?

Amplifiers are rated to operate within a range of impedances. Typically, a domestic amplifier will drive a minimum impedance of 8 Ohms or 4 Ohms. Using speakers that have an impedance lower than the amplifier rating is likely to increase distortion and can damage the outputs of the amplifier if the levels are too high. Using speakers that are significantly higher than the minimum rating will not cause damage to either the amplifier or speakers but it will reduce the power that is delivered to the speakers. In most domestic systems, this limitation of the power output is not likely to be an issue. Any amplifier rated to drive into 4 Ohms will work well with speakers of between 4 and 8 Ohms. An amplifier with an 8 Ohm rating should be used only with speakers of 8 Ohms or higher.


How do you reduce frequency in speakers?

Using a crossover, you can limit the frequency response of the signal sent to speakers.


What are some key technical specifications to consider when choosing omnidirectional speakers, such as power handling, sensitivity, and impedance?

When choosing omnidirectional speakers, there are several key technical specifications to consider to ensure they meet your specific audio needs: Power Handling (Wattage): Power handling, typically measured in watts (W), represents the maximum amount of electrical power the speaker can handle without distortion or damage. It's crucial to match the power handling of the speaker to the capabilities of your amplifier or receiver. Choosing speakers with a power rating close to your amplifier's output can help prevent overloading or underutilizing the speakers. Sensitivity (Efficiency): Sensitivity is a measure of how efficiently a speaker converts the electrical power from the amplifier into acoustic sound. It is usually expressed in decibels (dB) and tells you how loud the speaker will be for a given input power. Higher sensitivity ratings indicate more efficient speakers, which can produce louder sound with less power. This is essential for ensuring your audio system can reach the desired volume levels without straining your amplifier. Impedance (Ohms): Impedance represents the electrical resistance of the speaker, measured in ohms (Ω). It's vital to match the speaker's impedance to the amplifier's rated impedance to ensure proper compatibility and efficient power transfer. While many speakers have a nominal impedance of 8 ohms, some models may have different ratings, such as 4 ohms. Make sure your amplifier can handle the speaker's impedance to prevent overheating or other issues. Frequency Response: The frequency response indicates the range of frequencies that the speaker can reproduce accurately. It's typically represented as a range in hertz (Hz), such as 40 Hz to 20 kHz. A broader frequency response means the speaker can handle a wider range of audio frequencies, providing better sound quality. Consider your specific audio content, whether it's music, movies, or gaming, to determine the ideal frequency response for your needs. Distortion Levels: Low distortion is essential for clear and accurate audio reproduction. Look for specifications that detail the distortion levels at various frequencies and power levels, typically expressed as a percentage (e.g.,


What happens if you connect 3 ohms impedance speakers to a 8 ohms impedancece amplifier?

Sorry, but there is really no amplifier on the market with 8 ohms output impedance. The output impedance of a power amplifier is always less than 0.5 ohms. We use no impedance matching. We use voltage bridging. Scroll down to related links and look at "Interconnection of two audio units - Power amplifier and passive loudspeaker".


Best match of amplifier with speakers?

I always try to match an amplifier or receiver that is rated within the following range: from .8 times to 1.5 times the RMS rating of the speakers. The impedance of the speakers should not be rated below 5 ohms unless the amplifier/receiver is conservatively rated as 4 ohm stable.


Can 10 ohm speakers run off of a 4 ohm amp without damaging the speakers?

There are no 4 ohm amplifiers!The amplifier will have an output impedance of around 0.04 ohms. In hi-fi we have always impedance bridging. Zout


Will 2 16 ohm speakers work with a 4 ohm amplifier?

There is really no amplifier on the market which has an output impedance of 4 ohms. The impedance of an amplifier is always less than 0.5 ohms. We do not use matching, we use bridging when we connect the amplifier to the loudspeaker. Scroll down to related links and look at "Interconnection of two audio units".


Can you series two 4 ohms speakers?

Yes, you can run a pair of 16 ohm speakers in series. The resultant impedance would be approximately 32 ohms. Assuming constant voltage, this would result in one quarter the original power to both speakers, or one eighth the original power to each speaker.


Will 4 ohm speakers work with a 6 ohm amplifier?

It's a myth. There is really no 6 Ohm amplifier on the market. And there never was. The amplifier will have an output impedance of around 0.04 ohms. In hi-fi we have always impedance bridging. Zout