🚀 go-pugleaf

brunetm@JSP.UMontreal.CA (Brunet Martin) writes:

>Hi there,

>      I have a little problem. I got a speakers cabinet (4x12" speakers) and I want
>to change it for a 2x12". I know there are 2 pair of speakers in series and the 2 pair 
>are in parallel to make a total of 8 ohms. Each speakers is 8 ohms. Can I put 2 speakers
>in serie with a 16 ohms resistance in parallel ? Thanks to all answer!


You won't damage the amp this way, but you will experience some change in
frequency response. An amplifier sees a speaker as a reactive load with an
impedance value that changes according to the frequency of the output.      
Thus the nominal 16 ohms of the branch comprised of two 8 ohm speakers in
series will vary with frequency, while the pure resistance (very nearly) of
the 16 ohm resistor will not change. Therefore the current flow through
the two branches will only be equal at one frequency, causing non-linearity
of the frequency response of the speakers. 
You might be better off just running the two speakers in series as a 16 ohm
load. Assuming your amp has an 8 ohm output jack, you'll have an impedance
mismatch and will lose some power, but you'll preserve the frequency
response curve of the speakers. It's generally safe to run a mismatch when
the load is > the amp output.