speakers hooked in series

kendt · 10th April 2009, 03:37 PM

I am trying to sort out the impedance of my speakers. If I hook two drivers in series to raise the impedance does that mean they will also be out of phase since the positive of one is hooked to the negative of the other

Cal Weldon · 10th April 2009, 03:39 PM

No that is fine. It's a series connection on an AC circuit.

kendt · 10th April 2009, 06:00 PM

Thank you

mcmahon48 · 12th April 2009, 07:02 AM

so you may wish to put the first in series to the bottom

Moondog55 · 12th April 2009, 08:41 AM

How so?? is it the resistance of the first driver?
I know the series connection can effect the Qts of the following driver but wasn't aware that power sharing changed.
regards
Ted

mcmahon48 · 12th April 2009, 07:18 PM

thus causing a voltage drop to the second, that is why you can have two 4 ohm speakers in series for around 8 ohms impedance, you can shift the load slightly to about 55/45 by redirecting a small amount around but you will never be able to 50/50, but you will loose a little power be supplied to the speakers

planet10 · 12th April 2009, 10:54 PM

It is an AC signal... there is no 1st driver. you will get a voltage divider that is based on the actual impedance of the speakers. If they have identical impedance each driver gets 50% of the signal.

dave

anatech · 13th April 2009, 01:39 AM

Hi mcmahon48,
Look at this another way. You have a series circuit. Therefore the current flowing through one speaker must be the same as the current flowing through the other speaker. It does not matter which one is closest to the positive phase or common (negative phase) terminals.

The power dissipated (used up) in each speaker will depend on the exact impedance ratio between them at each moment in time. This means that one, then the other plays louder depending on their impedances at each frequency - and the temperature of each voice coils as they heat up.

Sound confusing? Too many details. So, if they are each rated at 4 ohms, you will have a total of an 8 ohm load. Each speaker will get 1/2 the total power. Make any sense now?

-Chris

john65b · 13th April 2009, 01:41 AM

I have always wanted to hook up a pair of identical 4 ohm magnepan speakers in series to see how it would sound, and get 8 ohm impedance...crazy to think such a thing? Anyone done this before?

I have ans love my MGIIIa's, and always have an eye out for another pair to "make" myself a Typmani type maggies by connecting them in series.

anatech · 13th April 2009, 02:27 AM

Hi John,
I'm thinking the ability of the amplifier to control the panels would be severely comprised.

Running your Maggies off a single pair of network cable would begin to show the effects. Actually doing this would expose more complications as the impedance changed with frequency. Probably better than running a couple pairs of speakers that had complex crossovers and impedance.

Go ahead an try running one channel that way.

-Chris

10th April 2009, 03:37 PM	#1
kendt diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006	speakers hooked in series I am trying to sort out the impedance of my speakers. If I hook two drivers in series to raise the impedance does that mean they will also be out of phase since the positive of one is hooked to the negative of the other

10th April 2009, 03:39 PM	#2
Cal Weldon Speakerholic diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: British Columbia	No that is fine. It's a series connection on an AC circuit. __________________ Next stop: Margaritaville Some of Cal's stuff \| Cal Weldon Consulting

12th April 2009, 07:02 AM	#4
mcmahon48 diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2008	the first one will 60% the next 40% of electrical energy so you may wish to put the first in series to the bottom

12th April 2009, 08:41 AM	#5
Moondog55 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Norlane; Geelong: Victoria: Australia	How so?? is it the resistance of the first driver? I know the series connection can effect the Qts of the following driver but wasn't aware that power sharing changed. regards Ted __________________ QUOTE" The more I know, the more I know, I know (insert maniacal laugh >here<) NOTHING"

12th April 2009, 07:18 PM	#6
mcmahon48 diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2008	yes the speaker act as a resistor thus causing a voltage drop to the second, that is why you can have two 4 ohm speakers in series for around 8 ohms impedance, you can shift the load slightly to about 55/45 by redirecting a small amount around but you will never be able to 50/50, but you will loose a little power be supplied to the speakers


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10th April 2009, 06:00 PM	#3
kendt diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006	Thank you

12th April 2009, 10:54 PM	#7
planet10 frugal-phile(tm) diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Victoria, BC, NA, Sol III Blog Entries: 4	It is an AC signal... there is no 1st driver. you will get a voltage divider that is based on the actual impedance of the speakers. If they have identical impedance each driver gets 50% of the signal. dave __________________ community sites t-linespeakers.org, frugal-horn.com ........ commercial site planet10-HiFi p10-hifi forum here at diyA

13th April 2009, 01:39 AM	#8
anatech diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Georgetown, On	Hi mcmahon48, Look at this another way. You have a series circuit. Therefore the current flowing through one speaker must be the same as the current flowing through the other speaker. It does not matter which one is closest to the positive phase or common (negative phase) terminals. The power dissipated (used up) in each speaker will depend on the exact impedance ratio between them at each moment in time. This means that one, then the other plays louder depending on their impedances at each frequency - and the temperature of each voice coils as they heat up. Sound confusing? Too many details. So, if they are each rated at 4 ohms, you will have a total of an 8 ohm load. Each speaker will get 1/2 the total power. Make any sense now? -Chris __________________ "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should" © my Wife

13th April 2009, 01:41 AM	#9
john65b diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicago	I have always wanted to hook up a pair of identical 4 ohm magnepan speakers in series to see how it would sound, and get 8 ohm impedance...crazy to think such a thing? Anyone done this before? I have ans love my MGIIIa's, and always have an eye out for another pair to "make" myself a Typmani type maggies by connecting them in series. __________________ "I speak Spanish to God, Italian to Women, French to Men, and German to my Horse" - Charles V

13th April 2009, 02:27 AM	#10
anatech diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Georgetown, On	Hi John, I'm thinking the ability of the amplifier to control the panels would be severely comprised. Running your Maggies off a single pair of network cable would begin to show the effects. Actually doing this would expose more complications as the impedance changed with frequency. Probably better than running a couple pairs of speakers that had complex crossovers and impedance. Go ahead an try running one channel that way. -Chris __________________ "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should" © my Wife

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