16 ohm drivers?

morbo · 5th November 2004, 04:06 PM

I know that 16 ohm speakers are meant to be wired together to form an 8ohm load, for instance in an MTM. But, it is safe/advisable to run a 16 ohm driver like this one:

http://www.creativesound.ca/details.php?model=WR125ST

From a regular amplifier or reciever?

MEXXX · 5th November 2004, 05:26 PM

You could run a 160 ohm driver on a "regular" amp and it wouldnt hurt it.

The higher the impedance, the lower the "draw" on the amp. So yes, you can. But remember, you will only get about half the power into a 16 ohm speaker as you would an 8 ohm.

Timn8ter · 5th November 2004, 06:17 PM

Many owners of tube amps prefer a 16 ohm load.

morbo · 5th November 2004, 09:38 PM

thanks guys, looks like I will be ordering these

planet10 · 5th November 2004, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MEXXX
But remember, you will only get about half the power into a 16 ohm speaker as you would an 8 ohm.

And half the distorion (in general)

dave

morbo · 5th November 2004, 11:28 PM

Quote:

And half the distorion (in general)

Power shouldnt be a problem, this speaker will get the (claimed) 100wpc into 8 ohms from my mass market reciever. Your distrortion statement intrigues me though - my reciever (Pionerr 811s) has a pretty weak amp section, and does not 'officially support' a 4 ohm load, does this mean it will have an easier time driving a 16ohm speaker than an 8ohm speaker? Because with my big floorstanding 8ohm towers, it is not very dynamic, I ended up using the preamp outs for the front channels so I could use an outboard amp with some balls (1970's Yamaha reciever), and it would be nice to avoid the need for a separate amp for this speaker (center channel).

Timn8ter · 6th November 2004, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by planet10

And half the distortion (in general)

dave

That's been my experience too.

(need a new keyboard Dave?)

planet10 · 6th November 2004, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Timn8ter
(need a new keyboard Dave?)

No, just never learned to type (the f key is right beside the d key)... took Grade 11 Math instead of Grade 10 typing.

dave

Salas · 11th November 2004, 09:39 PM

Maybe you lose less than the theoretical 3dB with 16 Ohm series using small tube amps, especially SET? I would expect so with a high output impedance amp. Did you ever measure SPL when parallel (4 Ohm) double drivers vs series (16 Ohm) when fed off an 8 Ohm tap? Speakers are governed by voltage, so maybe less of a loss than expected? Do you subjectively feel not so much of an spl loss when using push push 16 Ohm vs push push 4 Ohm with tube amps? Planet 10?

Salas · 14th November 2004, 11:09 AM

Timn8ter? Planet10? voice in a desert here....

5th November 2004, 04:06 PM	#1
morbo diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Guelph, Ontario	16 ohm drivers? I know that 16 ohm speakers are meant to be wired together to form an 8ohm load, for instance in an MTM. But, it is safe/advisable to run a 16 ohm driver like this one: http://www.creativesound.ca/details.php?model=WR125ST From a regular amplifier or reciever?

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5th November 2004, 05:26 PM	#2
MEXXX diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	You could run a 160 ohm driver on a "regular" amp and it wouldnt hurt it. The higher the impedance, the lower the "draw" on the amp. So yes, you can. But remember, you will only get about half the power into a 16 ohm speaker as you would an 8 ohm.

5th November 2004, 06:17 PM	#3
Timn8ter diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Seattle, WA	Many owners of tube amps prefer a 16 ohm load.

5th November 2004, 09:38 PM	#4
morbo diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Guelph, Ontario	thanks guys, looks like I will be ordering these

11th November 2004, 09:39 PM	#9
Salas diyAudio Chief Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Athens-Greece	Maybe you lose less than the theoretical 3dB with 16 Ohm series using small tube amps, especially SET? I would expect so with a high output impedance amp. Did you ever measure SPL when parallel (4 Ohm) double drivers vs series (16 Ohm) when fed off an 8 Ohm tap? Speakers are governed by voltage, so maybe less of a loss than expected? Do you subjectively feel not so much of an spl loss when using push push 16 Ohm vs push push 4 Ohm with tube amps? Planet 10?

14th November 2004, 11:09 AM	#10
Salas diyAudio Chief Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Athens-Greece	Timn8ter? Planet10? voice in a desert here....