4-ohm Speakers on 6-ohm Amp? (newbie question)

[sreten]

I'd have to concur with Burntfingers on this one.
Running speakers with lower impedance than the
amplifier is rated for is just asking for trouble. Not worth it.
Find a nice set of 8 ohm speakers. Safer all around.

Hi, whilst this is sensible it does not answer the original question, /sreten.

 

[diesel_88]

Or just throw a 2 Ohm 10-20 watt resistor (NON inductive!) in series with each speaker.

So this would increase impedance above the danger level for my (not-so-great) amp. What's the tradeoff? Lower sensitivity? Some distortion? I'm still trying to wrap my knuckle-dragging mechanical brain around the whole impedance thing.

BTW, thanks all for the well-considered answers. I appreciate hearing both sides.

 

[troystg]

Electrically the 2 Ohm resistors will make your 4 Ohm speakers "safe" for your amp with the added bonus of a more resistive load and less reactive.

Sonicly, if your amp isn't rated for 4 Ohms I seriously doubt the front end source is much better and an extra resistor (QUALITY NON-INDUCTIVE) should not be audible. Not a put down of your equipment mind you, just a simple assumption. We all start somewhere and at least you are smart enough to ask. In 20 yrs I have let my share of the magic smoke out learning. Would have been MUCH better on the gear had the internet been around back then.

Keep in mind this forum has geniuses and idiots (me), perfectionists and slobs. You will get all sorts of comments and answers.. Average them out, use good judgment.


Something like this:

http://www.partsexpress.com/non-inductive-resistor-index.cfm

 

[sreten]

Hi,

Adding resistors in series will seriously affect the speaker response,
sometimes for the better (full range), mostly for the worse. Expect
looser bass, somewhat less midrange and somewhat brighter treble.

/sreten.