Understanding Speaker Impedance and Speaker Switches

This video explains how speaker impedance matters, especially when connecting multiple speakers to your HiFi amp. It also demonstrates how speaker selector switches protect your amp from low impedance.

[sashacolic]

If your speakers are rated at 8 ohms, that means impedance will vary from 16ohm and during heavy, complex bass and orchestral music, it will sure drop down to 3.2 ohms. While 4 ohm speakers will drop down to 1, 2 or zero ohms and drain the current from your amplifier severe. The more high current you provide, the more headroom you have, also with high current amplifier you prevent amp and speakers from potential damage - clipping! After trying 4, 6 and 8 ohm speakers, I realized minimum power amp is 100watts per channel into 8 ohms and close to 200watt into 4 ohm, to drive most speakers. As for 4 ohm speakers or connecting 2 pairs of speakers, they require at least 150watt/ch high current amplifier to drive them well. For a year I drove Dynaudio 4 ohm floorstander with 75w/ch high current amp and that power wasn't enough to take control of the bass and soundstage (stereo mode). It was a torture like driving heavy Land Rover with a 75 horse power engine. While minimum requirements for such a beast is 120hp. Hope this helps someone :)

[bolt-action]

This is hands down the best video for information on impedance. I'm no expert, but thanks to this I was able to wire my subs down to a safe 2 Ohm load.

[mgbobx]

Basically, you never want your Ohm rating to be lower than what your amp lists, because less resistance means there is more current going through the amp, and the amp can literally be fried. Too high of an impedance, and your volume will be too low because there is too much resistance.

This video is intended to make one understand what impedance you should be looking for when connecting speakers to an amp, but it doesn't explain the concept of impedance itself.

[swinde]

An impedance assigned to loudspeakers is essentially a "nominal" impedance. Impedance varies with frequency so there is an "impedance curve" for every loudspeaker or speaker system. For instance my AR-3a speakers have a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, however this speaker's impedance varies from a low of 2.5 ohms at 900 Hz to 22 ohms at about 45 Hz with various settings of the speaker's mid-range and tweeter controls. The overall impedance at most frequencies is close to 4 ohms.

This is something you should know, but in general this video gives excellent advice on how to hook up speakers, but there will be some speakers that deviate from this simple solution.

[jakedillingham]

disastrous for the poor amp! That made me laugh! Thanks for such a great video, may it live long on YouTube.

[Querencias]

O U T S T A N D I N G ! Excellent info on speaker impedance without getting overly technical. Most obliged G3 sir. Really appreciate your altruistic labor here. All the best.

[gphkg]

HURRAH...that was the best explanation I've seen so far...now I completely get it..!!!
Thank you 😃👍

[sisirroy]

Impedance (Z) is known as equivalent resistance value of a circuit. A speaker coil has three parameters like coil resistance, coil inductance and coil capacitance, usually known as R, L, C. Impedance (Z) is calculated as R+kL+1/(kC) where K=2*Pie*F (F=frequency & Pie=3.14), R is the coil resistance in ohm, L is inductance value in milli-Henry and C is capacitance value in micro-farad. The unit of Z is ohm. Be remember, standard values of speakers are 4, 8 or 16 ohm.
Here, Mr. Geoff clearly explained how we can obtain desired coil resistance with speaker having different coil resistance, like getting 4 ohm with 2 X 8 ohm speakers, or getting 4 ohm with 4 X 16 ohm speakers etc. to match desired value of output of amplifier.

[pramodkadpate]

What I really learnt was how not to go wrong while matching the speakers with the amplifier. But what I wish to know is whether using multiple speakers in parallel or series make any difference in audio quality.

[michael]

best vid yet on youtube i have a 600 watt amp (( 4 - 16 ohms )) need to run 4 mid speakers and one 750 watt sub can do it now no need to buy a over priced amp again, ,

[harryfandakis]

Good and simple explanation - gongrats from an electrical Engineer !!!

[hbcbz]

Excellently done video the only thing I would add is does going on 4 ohms versus 8 ohms change the actual volume sound

[ShibuPaulAluckal]

Awesome video, impedance explained in the simplest way possible.

[streamallday]

"now the fun starts" love this part of the video
thanks for this

[Giblet]

I repair amplifiers. This video is great for my business! Thanks!

[EoCx]

The back track music completes this video. Well done. What's the track?

[i_smoke_ghosts]

im an arsehat coz im old now and sorta thought i knew wat i was doing and ive just learnt i know nothing and need a lot more learning - 'coz optimizing mean beats is funtimes.
thanx for the upload.

[SIBERIANDEATH]

Best speakers connection tutorial on youtube, congrats!

[narf]

Still totally no idea what is impedance. Title of the video should be "impedance calculation", not understanding impedance.

[Chiroman]

Geoff, THX for this very helpful Video. My question is : Does wiring 2 pairs of Bookshelf speakers in Series affect the sound quality ?