Best way to connect 4 woofers?

HiFiNutNut · 3rd April 2006, 07:22 AM

Could you experts please explain the sound / distortion differences of 4 woofers connected:

(2 woofers in series) in parallel with (2 woofers in series)
(2 woofers in parallel) in series with (2 woofers in parallel)

I know they have the same impedance and SPL and if all the drivers are ideal then they should make no difference. But in a real world the drivers may be different from each other therefore the possible effects of back EMF, etc for each connection may differ.

------

Background information:

I have 4 x 8" Peerless HDS woofers covering 40-300Hz in a WWMTMWW speaker.

A while ago I tried series connection of 2 woofers with a 100W SS amplifier and the sound was awful. I then tried parallel connection and it sounded good. But I wouldn't want the amp to drive a 1.5 ohm load by connecting the 4 woofers in parallel so I connected the 4 woofers in 2 parallel pairs and was planning on using 2 amplifiers for the 4 woofers.

I recently upgraded the SS power amps and they behave better. So yesterday I tried connecting the 2 parallel pairs in series with only one amplifier and it sounded quite good.

BUT, this isn't the normal way to connect 4 woofers to one amp. I think the normal way is to connect 2 woofers in series then connect the 2 series pairs in parallel.

------

Your input will be much appreciated.

Regards,
Bill

richie00boy · 3rd April 2006, 07:27 AM

Both ways are the same.

HiFiNutNut · 3rd April 2006, 07:40 AM

Do you mean electronically the same (as I agreed to when using ideal drivers)? The actual physical connections are different as the 2nd set of connections connects the "MID" point while the 1st set does not.

francis varkey · 3rd April 2006, 10:55 AM

Hifinutnut,
Electrically, electronically the same.
The only difference is if 1 speaker is destroyed, (for the case which you described at the end of your post) 3 speakers will work.
Whereas the first case only 2 speakers will work even if only 1 is not working(or destroyed).

HiFiNutNut · 3rd April 2006, 11:26 PM

Thanks for your helpful replies. I am not worrying about them now.

Regards,
Bill

3rd April 2006, 07:22 AM	#1
HiFiNutNut diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sydney	Best way to connect 4 woofers? Could you experts please explain the sound / distortion differences of 4 woofers connected: (2 woofers in series) in parallel with (2 woofers in series) (2 woofers in parallel) in series with (2 woofers in parallel) I know they have the same impedance and SPL and if all the drivers are ideal then they should make no difference. But in a real world the drivers may be different from each other therefore the possible effects of back EMF, etc for each connection may differ. ------ Background information: I have 4 x 8" Peerless HDS woofers covering 40-300Hz in a WWMTMWW speaker. A while ago I tried series connection of 2 woofers with a 100W SS amplifier and the sound was awful. I then tried parallel connection and it sounded good. But I wouldn't want the amp to drive a 1.5 ohm load by connecting the 4 woofers in parallel so I connected the 4 woofers in 2 parallel pairs and was planning on using 2 amplifiers for the 4 woofers. I recently upgraded the SS power amps and they behave better. So yesterday I tried connecting the 2 parallel pairs in series with only one amplifier and it sounded quite good. BUT, this isn't the normal way to connect 4 woofers to one amp. I think the normal way is to connect 2 woofers in series then connect the 2 series pairs in parallel. ------ Your input will be much appreciated. Regards, Bill

3rd April 2006, 07:27 AM	#2
richie00boy Did it Himself diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gloucestershire, England, UK	Both ways are the same. __________________ www.readresearch.co.uk my website for UK diy audio people - designs, PCBs, kits and more

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3rd April 2006, 07:40 AM	#3
HiFiNutNut diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sydney	Do you mean electronically the same (as I agreed to when using ideal drivers)? The actual physical connections are different as the 2nd set of connections connects the "MID" point while the 1st set does not.

3rd April 2006, 10:55 AM	#4
francis varkey diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: U.A.E	Hifinutnut, Electrically, electronically the same. The only difference is if 1 speaker is destroyed, (for the case which you described at the end of your post) 3 speakers will work. Whereas the first case only 2 speakers will work even if only 1 is not working(or destroyed).

3rd April 2006, 11:26 PM	#5
HiFiNutNut diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sydney	Thanks for your helpful replies. I am not worrying about them now. Regards, Bill

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