Correct load impedence

[SharpyWarpy]

I'm a newbie so please bear with me here.
I have a Sony surround sound amp. I wanted to improve the quality of sound when listening to music so I built a set of speakers. I have two drivers per enclosure wired in parallel, they are 4 ohm drivers. It occurred to me this makes the load impedance 2 ohms. Should I put a 2 ohm resistor in there to bring the load back up to 4 ohms? Would it be better to wire the drivers in series, or would that not work properly? Thanks.

 

[Cal Weldon]

Hi,

Are these full range units?

 

[SharpyWarpy]

I''m sorry, I don't know what you mean by "full range". Where can I find terminology of speakers? Thanks.

 

[SharpyWarpy]

Okay, never mind, a quick Google search tells me "full range" means the drivers are capable of producing the entire audio range, which in my are case they are.

 

[Cal Weldon]

I would try running them in series.

 

[Hartono]

given the choice of serial connection or parallel+resistor connection :


1. If you do connect in parallel+2 ohm resistor, your resistor will dissipate a lot of power and should be rated accordingly (watts) ,plus you will lose 50% or more power in that resistor. without the resistor the load will be to hard for amp to drive. meaning not good for amplifier life.

2. I agree with Cal Weldon, I also recommend series connection.

 

[SharpyWarpy]

I would try running them in series.

given the choice of serial connection or parallel+resistor connection :


1. If you do connect in parallel+2 ohm resistor, your resistor will dissipate a lot of power and should be rated accordingly (watts) ,plus you will lose 50% or more power in that resistor. without the resistor the load will be to hard for amp to drive. meaning not good for amplifier life.

2. I agree with Cal Weldon, I also recommend series connection.

Thanks for the replies.
I rewired them from parallel to series and they sound just as good. Now I will worry a lot less about my amp. Thanks again guys.

 

[Cal Weldon]

Did you happen to notice if you lost a wee bit at the top end?

 

[Hartono]

I never thought of that before (haven't been putting tweeter in series)

how does that happen ? (losing the top end a bit)

 

[Cal Weldon]

I was just thinking the extra inductance of two voice coils might filter it.

 

[Hartono]

hopefully not , twice series voice coil resistance + twice inductance should present same roll off electrically.

 

[SharpyWarpy]

Did you happen to notice if you lost a wee bit at the top end?

No noticeable loss on the high end, but then I'm 52 years old and I might not be able to tell. I have used ear plugs through the years to protect my hearing when necessary, but still, old man age creeps up on you.

 

[Cal Weldon]

hopefully not , twice series voice coil resistance + twice inductance should present same roll off electrically.

Of course. Hadn't thought it all the way through. Thanks.