Thank you for this. One of the few responses that actually mentions how the speaker will change in "sound" to the listener. I understand that it is hard to make comments like that because they are subjective, but I see nothing wrong with giving the answer technically and then just adding in, "Oh yeah, I also think they will sound a bit compressed." This is what you did. Perfect!
Thank you so much for clearing this up. I recently had an argument with a friend about this very subject. I have and old Sovtek MIG 100 which has an 8ohm output that I have connected to 16ohm Marshall cab. He said it was going to blow my amp, I tried showing him with ohms law how that wasn't going to happen... Now I have a video to refer him to.
I have a Elmwood Modena m60 (which is a amazing amp) that only has 4,8 ohm taps hooked up to a 16 ohm 2x12 cab. I bought a Weber Zmatcher impedance matcher off of reverb for like 100 bucks and it works great. I’ve tried running the 8 ohm tap straight into the 16 ohm cab and I know exactly what the doc is talking about. I also tried running that cab in parallel (4 ohms) with the same amp and for some reason it sounds way better run in series (16 ohm). Way thicker and fuller. But I highly recommend the Weber Zmatcher for anyone with a few amps and cabs or if they have a mismatched amp and cab. Very transparent and works great
Thanks Dr. Z , I just re-wired my 2x12 cabs from 2- 8 ohm speakers wired in series at 16 ohm, to 2 - 16 ohm speakers wired in parallel to 8 ohm to accommodate my 8 ohm amp. End result is a BIG difference. Now my ears, and amplifier thank you for your well explained advice. Nothing like the sound of a well balanced sound system. Even the tone knobs on the amp give better response.
Your calculations are wrong. Two x 8 ohm in parallel gives 4 ohm total, not 8. (R1 x R2) / (R1 + R2) : (8x8)/(8+8) = 64/16 = 4. Alternatively, 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ... + 1/Rn. I know this isn't intuitive, but that's physics/electronics for you.
@@blueskyredkite Read what i wrote correctly. Two 8ohm wired in series = 16 ohm all day long! Two 16 ohm wired in parallel = 8 ohm till the end of time! Of course i had to acquire 2 x 16 ohm speakers to do it.
Great answer. I use a 8ohm JVC tv speaker, on my mini katana amplifier. Didn't know about the compression less volume more distortion. Attenuated brown sound channel, like it thanks Z.
Had a similar problem with connecting a Koch Twintone ii (4 ohm and 8 ohm outputs only) to a 412 cab with G12M Greenbacks @ 16 Ohm 25 watts each. If you go series-parallel wiring for the 412 cab you will get 16 ohm, and putting it into a 212 you can wire the speakers to get 8 ohm. If you wire the 412 in parallel you will get 4ohm impedance and each speaker will basically be more efficient as they will each receive the same signal. The cab is rated at 100 watts (25 watts G12M's *4) if wired in parallel (its 4 wires equal length coming from each + and - terminal of each speaker, you then bundle each 4 pair + and - wires together and then connect those to the + and - of the cab output jack) - yet the power of the amp will be distributed to each speaker at their maximum efficiency (as speakers differ given manufacturing differences in the same model/brand speaker - can't guarantee the amp will divide the total power equally in series-parallel wiring and send that to each speaker - the speakers will have a bigger variance in sound compared to the parallel wiring method ) giving in my opinion the most balanced sound. But this was mainly done to match impedance of the amp 4ohm to a 412 cab at 4ohm - this then has the benefit of sounding balanced and the best it can sound.
damn I should have waited......, this is the first such video to explain it correctly You da man Dr. Z, subscribed! @ 3:55 Ooooh that smell Can't you smell that smell.....
General rule of amplifiers, in general. Even transistor amplifiers. Even those that can double as arc welders. Impedance matching mostly has importance in RF circuits where Smith charts and SWR reign. Impedance matching in audio circuits was mostly important to Ma Bell, who was tasked with making sure that Aunt Mabel could hear over a couple thousand mile connection. Impedance matching in the truest sense of the phrase really doesn't exist in audio circuits. The general hierarchy is such that driving impedance < driven impedance. This follows through from transducer to amplifier to transducer. "But isn't a balanced connection from a mixer to a power amp 600Ω?" Yes and no. Usually the output impedance of the mixer is lower than the input of the amplifier. With a balanced connection, the balance is more important than having all the Zs and Ωs line up. The balance is what provides the primary rejection of noise that's picked up in the circuit. It's the output impedance of the mixer that provides a path to ground for the noise. Even with an OTL circuit using op-amps, the native Zo of the IC is quite low, before feedback comes into play. There's even a mechanical illustration that helps explain the intentional mismatch in audio circuits. A Mack truck (low Z) can easier push start a vintage Beetle (high Z), than the other way around.
I have been looking at a problem which your video has really helped explain to me: I have a speaker cabinet which is unmarked, and a tube amp with outputs for 4 ohm, 8 ohm and 16 ohm. What to do? Safest option is to run the 16 ohm outputs until I can find out what impedance drivers these are. Thanks dude!
Thanks for your content. Your explanations are are so understandable! Thats why I head to your chanel first if I have a amp relaxed question. Thanks a lot. I considered to buy a g10 creamback for my 68 custom champ (8 Ohms). Now you explained it I will search for an speaker with a 4 ohm load❤
Just came across this video. It confirms what I've always believed to be true, that is a mismatch of 100% to a higher impedance speaker ( 8-16 Ohm for example) is fine, but a mismatch to a lower impedance speaker, even if only 100% ( as in 8 Ohm to 4 Ohm) can be damaging to your amp. But I am surprised that nobody is mentioning the dreaded "flyback voltages" that can supposedly damage your amp when driving a higher impedance speaker. Personally I've always considered this "factoid" to be the equivalent of things like a guitar cables' "skin-effect", yes, technically true but a non-issue unless your dealing with radio frequencies., so not applicable in the real world but I would love to hear your take on this issue. Thanks
Hi Mike, I'm a harp player who likes to build amps for harp players. I hear a lot about impedance mismatching to change tone, and I would like to know if you have ever designed an amp specifically for harmonica players. As I'm sure you know, they have different needs as compared to a guitar amp... I'd love to hear your thoughts on harp specific amps... One day I will work for you!!!
All hail the old version of the super reverb running four tens at 8 ohms a piece for a 2 ohm load and then there's a buddy Jack for an extension speaker. I think the Tweed bassman also ran the four tens at two ohms in parallel but I don't think there was an ext. spkr. I played superRs all my life, but I can't remember ever plugging an extension in. I did have a few vibratone16? (Leslie spinners)... I can't remember if I had a separate amp for those. All that volume must have clouded my head, ha!.
I've got a Peavey ranger 212 all tube combo. The manufacturer suggests keeping the switch on 16 ohms but if i can get a little more breakup at lower volume by switching it to 8 ohms, i want to do it. Just want to be sure that its not hurting my amp, thanks.
I’ve thought about this however I’ve never tried it, fantastic explanation as always. Love your channel and I can’t wait to purchase your Mazz reverb head, still saving my shekels here to make the purchase ahah! 🤙😄
I would add that the sonic results will depend on what else is changing. Going from a 1x12 configuration @ 8 ohms to a 4x12 @ 16 ohms will make other differences, just as much as the speaker types involved, etc. For example, loosing a bit of top end but going to a brighter cab may be a nice offset ... my $0.02.
Thanks, Dr. Z (ZED in Canada). I have a set of old, UK speakers with a 15" woofer (Vitavox AK 121) and a 3-cell horn (Vitavox GP1, 550 Hz) in each (16 ohms) and I was wondering if a tiny amp would give me a listenable level (quiet for me) of sound, or would it fry the amp. You've answered that. To the un-electronically-educated, it would seem that the amp would overheat, trying to get it's power past the 16 ohms........but, alas, not the case.
V30 8 Ohm sounds different than 16 Ohm version. They sound different even if they are from the same production line. That's true for most speakers, though. One has to be extra careful with V30 speakers, though. Depending on what production year and country they come, they can sound very different even in the same impedance. So , tone wise, that's not a valid test because they are sounding different anyway. One could say put two of them in series, but then you introduce filtering from one voice coil influencing the other voice coil woth it's own inductance. Even adding high power wire resistors have an influence on sound but would be the closest match to transparent testing. Do not believe they do? Try cheap passive load box and observe loss of top end and overall sound quality. Tube amplifiers like to be at a certain power level where they sound good. If you can manage that level by using a higher impedance speaker when you have no other option, go for it. You got nothing to lose. It is the only option anyhow. Issues with tone happen when you are running it with small amp and low volume scenario where using to high impedance speaker will make it sound anemic. It just can't excite the tubes enough. It can't cause saturation either. It sounds sterile and weak. But if you can go loud enough, you will be fine. Some people think that if they load the amplifier with lower impedance speaker that they are safe if they keep the volume down. Well, they do not see the entire picture. By idling the most fixed bias, amplifiers are biased to 70 percent of they rated playe power. Cathode biased amplifiers do even go to 90 percent at idle. Therefore, loading 8 Ohm tap with 4 Ohm speaker will try to draw 140 % from the fixed bias amplifier even without playing it. With a cathode biased amplifier, you will be trying to draw up to 180% power even at the idle. And that percentage will only go up with yhe level until it reaches 200%. Some amplifiers can survive that in short term scenario but it will eventually break things in any amplifier. So never do that. The very same thing is true for no load scenario. No speaker connected might not kill some amplifiers directly, but it will definitely kill any amplifier over time.
Hey Doctor Zama, nice explanation,but what about the difference by the vintage 30 8ohms vs 16ohms by itself? They sound different even being the same model, so how to difference the sound of the mismatch of the output tap to the sound of the different voice coil wired to 8or 16 ohms, whats characteristics are related to the mismatch and what yo the speaker model itself? For instance 16ohms vintage 30 are brighter and tighter on the low end, so the mismatch will emphasized this characteristics?
The change in impedance curve that the output transformer sees will be much more noticeable than the difference in a 8 ohm speaker vs. a 16 ohm speaker. And, believe it or not, one speaker to another of even the same impedance will have some differences between them.
Hello very informative video, ty I have a 1970 VW beetle Motorola radio can I connect a 4 ohm's speaker as I have one around? Also will be facible to connect 2 4 ohm's speakers on serial instead of parallel? Thanks for your help
One trick Ken Fischer taught me years ago was to use a 25' speaker cable and set the selector on 8ohms for a 16ohm cab... the cable acts as an inductor and smooths your high end. It works.
The high frequency response will be smoothed when going from 8 to 16 ohm regardless of cable length but the longer the cable the more capacitance it will have.
Hi. So when connecting a 4 ohm Champ Amp into a 16 ohm Alnico Blue speaker cab = safe but will be sonically compromising the sound - got it!!! Thanks!!!
Always good info from the Doctor! QUESTION: I have a Yamaha RX-V375 A/V Amp which is 6ohms, my new Speakers are 4ohms... what I'm I to do? Thanks Billie
Whatabout a 4ohm head into a 2ohm speaker cabinet? Does the magnitude of difference make a setup like this ok to run so long the difference isnt too drastic?
I have a much-loved Crate GX30M solid-state combo (great cleans) that is rated for a 4 ohm driver and the one that came in the cab is not so great. I've looked around, and it appears that the only drivers and extension cabs I can find are 8 ohms and above. In order to use that amp with different drivers, would running an extension cabinet with two 8 ohm drivers in parallel do the trick to halve the impedance? Would doing such a thing even be worth it? The thing's so damn loud as it is that I'm not worried about losing some volume. 90% of the time, it runs at about 10% of what it can deliver, and that still makes it debatably too loud for a "bedroom amp". It's also too loud for the driver that's in it. It doesn't take much to get it to saturate and sponge up (lose all definition). Most metal guitarists that have a problematic lack of definition or too much "woof" in their tone need to look at the drivers and cab/s they're using, not the amp.
Wondering what the differences are, if any, for the different taps on the output transformer- matched to the same speaker impedance. 4-8-16 ohms, which sounds best and why?
parkboy55 if it’s a single speaker, with matched impedances, the difference would be so slight it would come down to the individual speaker if there was any difference at all.
good info , is a 6ohm amp to 8 ohm tweeter is minor downside ? if the max watts are identical . so is the magnets and dimentions . how will it affect the sound ?
What if my amp outputs 16 ohms, and the 1x12 G12T-75 cab is rated at 16 ohms, but specs at 12.4 ohms? Is this difference sufficient to damage the transformer and/or tubes in a new DSL1? Just finished building the cab, and the speaker’s from Ipswich: I want this to work! But when I plugged in the cab, I thought it prudent to check the impedance the head would be experiencing, and it reads12.4 ohms at the head end of the cable. If I push it hard, will I be damaging the head?
About 13 ohms DC resistance is what a 16 ohm nominal impedance will read on the meter. You aren't measuring the actual AC impedance, which is what a speaker load actually is, you are reading DC resistance. The short of it is, you are totally fine.
I worked on my friend Pete's Super reverb.He takes it to his gig.He blows the fuse on the first song. He plays the amp on 10.He calls me and says "Hal,You messed my amp up,it blew up on the first song." I asked him how where you using it? He tells me he had another Super Reverb with Its speakers connected to the amp that blew. 2 ohm amp, 1 ohm load. Put another way 8 ohm amp,8ohm speaker gives you full power.8 ohm amp,16 ohm speaker gives you less power but draws less current at clipping.8 ohm amp, 4 ohm speaker gives you less power but draws more current at clipping.
From Ted Weber himself... Here are the straight facts on impedance mismatches, and hopefully it will explain why there are contradictory reports: ON A TUBE AMP It is okay to run a LOWER impedance cabinet or speaker than the amp’s output impedance. Usually a mismatch of 2:1 is okay. (i.e. amp at 16 ohms, cab at 8 ohms.) It is dangerous to run a HIGHER impedance cabinet or speaker, as there is a potential for flyback currents that could either cause a catastrophic failure, or the stress over time can cause long-term failure eventually. (although with a tube amp, it’s really best that you keep the impedance matched.) Amp power is not affected by mismatching. ON A SOLID STATE AMP It is okay to run a HIGHER impedance cabinet or speaker than the amp’s output impedance. (i.e. amp at 4 ohms, cab at 8 ohms.) It is dangerous to run a LOWER impedance cabinet or speaker. Amp power output is reduced, the higher the impedance.
there are so many guitar players out there who know nothing about electronics and that gives me anxiety. I don't even want to think about all the exploded equipment
Bass players are worst, i saw one day a bass player in a rented practice room plug his bass in a solid state guitar amp and the speaker out of that amp to an input of a bass amp. He didn't know what he was doing but he did get his wanted distortion for the moment. I saw him doing that when he was almost done playing, so I couldn't tell him that that was a fucking stupid idea. I still don't know how he didn't fry anything hahah.
What about on an amp that has a SS power section, and doesn't have taps or an output transformer? Like the Vox AD15VT? How can you tell what the minimum load it was designed to handle? What's most confusing is that the AD15VT came from the factory with an 8 ohm speaker, but 2 years later the AD line was discontinued and the VT15 replaced it. The VT15 has a 4 ohm speaker from factory. Is it safe to run the AD15VT at 4 ohms?
Hey man. Thanks for the info. I accidentaly (bought the head and was too excited to just try it lol) turn on a head setted on 4 ohm on a 16 ohm cab. Played for a while and then noticed the mismatch. Turned off in a hurry expecting for the worse and came here to discover that it was ok... Uffffff thank god lol.
@@DrZAmplification but... what i got from the video is that as long that the amp is setted for lower impedance and the cab higher it is ok.... 4ohm--->16ohm ... no?
No idea how I missed this video. Good info here, and very well explained. How a out expanding on this and addressing multi-speaker cabs (2x12 and 4x12)? Cheers Cheers
Taps don't "have" the Z shown in the label, they're all about damn turns ratio. Zs are reflected with turns ratio "squared" which we can call "k". Put some Z on one side, the other gets k=(Np/Ns)² times that: [Zp=k*Zs] or [k=Zp/Zs]. It inverts in the oposite direction! Consider16ohm SPK into its correct taps and a pair of class AB EL84s which like 4k+4k=8000ohm; so turns squared is k=8000/16=500; Say the manufacturer put 200 turns on the secondary. We know the primary will be Np=sqrt(k)*Ns = sqrt(500)*200 = 4472 turns. So 200 with that "k" specificaion requires 4472 the other side. Ah, when we say Z we mean actually |Z| which is polar modulus of Z=sqrt(R² + Xl²) bla bla ...
I have an old 1930s speaker (electromagnetic) that has a 2k (2000) ohm voice coil. It only has three wires and a "power"(?) lead attached to it. Wires are red, black and green with red and black connected to the lead. The plug on the other end is supposed to have a 10uf capacitor in it. Now I want to be able to run this speaker with anything (so 3.5 mm jack compatible) and also use speaker wires on the receiver downstairs (runs 8 ohm out of the back connections). Would I be able to use an audio transformer to do such a thing, or is any other circuitry necessary? Basically what I need to do is make the 2k ohm voice coil compatible with modern equipment (well recently modern, receiver is from '96) tia, MrGtaGangster (old name, gotta stick with it...)
Dr Z; This seems to be in direct conflict to what Weber Speakers says in their website (below). Can you advise please? Thanks !! ON A TUBE AMP It is okay to run a LOWER impedance cabinet or speaker than the amp’s output impedance. Usually a mismatch of 2:1 is okay. (i.e. amp at 16 ohms, cab at 8 ohms.) It is dangerous to run a HIGHER impedance cabinet or speaker, as there is a potential for flyback currents that could either cause a catastrophic failure, or the stress over time can cause long-term failure eventually. (although with a tube amp, it’s really best that you keep the impedance matched.) Amp power is not affected by mismatching.
You better tell Mesa and Fender this, they will probably stop building their transformers with 8 and 4 ohm outputs only. The Weber explaination leaves out that going to a lower impedance will draw more current and stress the tubes, and tube failure can potentially cause a domino effect to other components. A higher impedance load does have potential for flyback voltage (but this is a very low potential with a 2:1 mismatch), and I would sooner bet on the output transformer (especially in a quality amplifier such as the one's we make) than I would on current production power tubes. Mesa and Fender have been making the same bets for half a decade. Neither is ideal, each have caveats which the video explains. That's why weber sells a Z-Matcher.
Please can you explain what will happen if the output source has higher ohms than the amp. I have laptop, I think it is not auto adjusting to the 4 ohms of my amp. I think it is 16 ohm output headphone jack socket or higher. How can I match the ohm output to stop pop surges?
Hi, I have a vintage amp and my output is 16 ohms. I have a single woofer ( 16 ohm) and Tweeter (16 ohm) hooked up to the amp through a cross-over. My tweeter is toast so I bought a new Tweeter from Pyle ( PH-391) but it is only 8 ohms. How do I wire this into my set up. My cross-over has a 15 ohm and 33 ohm resistor along with a 3.0 uf Capacitor. Do these new tweeters even need a cross-over ..I am confused. Any help appreciated.
If I have a 16ohm subwoofer is there a way I can get the driver to match. the amplifier ohm load rating of 8 or 4 ohm. by wire more speakers or some resister in line to be able to get the power out of the amplifier. in stead of taking the power loss and not sounding so bad. Thanks for any time and reply🎶👍✌️🥂
Sir can you please help me. I have 4 floor monitor speakers 2 Fender 1272XP rated at 200 W 16 ohm, and 2 Behinger Eurolive F1220 rated at 200 W 8 ohms. So, there are different ohm ratings. My question is can I hook these up in series 1 Fender / 1 Behinger on the left side and 1 Fender / 1 Behinger on the right side. This set up is for my band's PA System. I am using a Mackie PPM 406 to power them up.
I have a "rookie" question, which I hope you'll be able to answer. My question is this: Is it possible to drive a pair of 4 ohm speakers AND a pair of 8 ohm speakers simultaneously with a Pioneer SX-1250, which is rated at 160 watts per channel into 8 ohms? The speakers in question are a pair of Phase Tech 8.5 speakers (4 ohms) and a pair of Large Advents (8 ohms). These speakers are in different rooms, and I only use one pair at a time, depending on which room I'm in, but I would like to occasionally run all four at the same time. Can I do this without blowing up my beloved SX-1250?
or to say, tube output is impedance "finicky", wants what it wants ... SS is low, and it's anything at, or over, minimum, but tube amps are just Not like that ... but tube amps are like twice the wattage, ( SS amps need minimum 3db head room, where a tube amp can run whole hog ), and the sound happens within a tube amp, instead of the preceding circuitry, as in SS.... so it's important to know those differences, if people change rigs..
Hello sir, what will be ohm requirement for this setup?? 8 ohm bass + 8 ohm mid + 8 ohm tweet all connected to 3-way 8 ohm crossover = amp output xxx??? is it 2 ohm or 8 ohm coming out of crossover?
Hi, my woofer is 16 ohms but my horn is only 8 ohms ( because I can't find a 16 ohm horn. How can I connect the horn ? Can I use a resistor to match my 16 ohm. How would I do that and would it go on positive or negative side of horn? Thanks.
Maybe I'm missing something obvious that other people are in on, but why is the face plate info. on the amps behind you, upside down? I'm new to your videos.
Hi thanks for watching. That amp will be loaded with the tubes and transformers facing down into a speaker cabinet. So the face plate will be facing up once loaded. For a head, it is the opposite, so we have two different panel sets.
Hello I am confused a need recommendations. I ordered the Yamaha Aventage A6@. I currently have a 5.0 system. I wanted to upgradw to a 5.0.4 atmos. I would like to get a preamp for my front L/R speakers. I have oñder Cerwin Vega VS series 15”, there RMS is 500 watt each. What type, brand or wattage do I look for. Econ price please. Also atmos speakers (mounted on-wall not in-wall) can you help me please.
Thank you for explaining how this works, I try to keep all my cabs at 8ohms, but some have 4 or 16 and I know what they are, but when you have other people as sometimes happens, they aren't so privy to what is really going on, and it's a real shame to damage an amp over carelessness. I am thinking I will label over the jack(jacks) what the ohm is and as a reminder to myself. I have wondered if you could safely mix say a 8 ohm and a 16ohm if the amp has both of those outputs. I would like to see in one of your videos a lesson on how to test a speaker for the correct ohm. Can you just use a multi meter if it is all unhooked?
Meters read DC resistance not impedance. A nominal 16 ohm load will read ~12-13, an 8 ohm will read ~6.5 and a 4 ohm will read ~2.5-3. You should never mix output taps to different loads.
@@DrZAmplification I thank you very much for your info. I think you could publish a small pamphlet with the basic does and don'ts for speaker wiring and amp hook ups, hooking up multiple cabs all in one little book. I know this info is out there but to have it all in a small booklet that would stay in a guitar case or the back of a cab and have the info handy. Maybe speaker polarity and info on how to run two amps correctly, and explain how effects loops work and proper use. I enjoy your videos and thanks for what you do.
Sir I recently got a jjn 20 watt tube amp and the cab specifically made for it is as costly as the amp so I decided to make my own 2*12" cab but confused with the config on the amp s speaker outs can u please advise
I think this is how i ruined my amp that turns on for a splot second now and just keeps restarting. I thin my amp vas much higher ohm rating than my speaker
I have a 1970s AIMS amp head (120 watts RMS) with 2 output jacks: "5 ohms" and "external speaker." I don't have the original AIMS cab, which was apparently a 6x10. But for many years, I have used both 8 ohm and 4 ohm cabs-separately-using the 5 ohm primary jack only, with no issues. However, I have never tried using two cabs at once, deploying both output jacks. If I connected both an 8 ohm cab and a 16 ohm cab, one to each output jack, I assume the transformer would then be outputting 5.33 ohms? In that scenario I imagine the 8 ohm cab would be receiving 2/3 the wattage and the 16 ohm cab would be receiving 1/3 the wattage ... Does that sound correct to you? Is that safe to do, assuming cab wattages are sufficient? I'd love to be able to play the amp at its intended output impedance.
Speaker cab impedances are nominal. Don't get too hung up on that. The mismatch in wattage between the cabs is more likely to cause phase issues and result in sub-optimal tone than the difference between 1 nominal ohm of impedance. As in, you'll hear the difference between two mismatched cabs sooner than you would ever hear an impedance difference of 1 ohm. Use two 8 ohm cabs in parallel if you want to use two cabs.
@@DrZAmplification Thank you very much-that is helpful. I hadn't even considered phase issues and tone problems. I don't actually need to use two cabs simultaneously, I just wanted to hear the amp at 5.33 ohms. But considering the potential issues, I think I'll stick with using my 4 ohm or 8 ohm cab separately, which has always served me well. Thanks again!
Thank you for that wonderful explanation. Just want to clarify things. I have a 500watt mono amp 8ohms here and i wired my 8ohm 350watts subwoofer and my 100watts tweeter in parallel. Will the amp deliver the same power to the sub and tweeter?
So is impedance a characteristic of the transformer then? I've been unable find an explanation of what increases/decreases the impedance, how you can calculate it, and how you can measure it in an amp that doesn't have the inputs labeled.
A transformer has an impedance curve. It has nothing to do with the speaker outputs. A speaker's impedance is separate from the transformers primary impedance. A transformer has a primary and secondary winding, one that seems the power tubes, the other that sees the speakers. You don't decrease or increase the impedance of transformer, you tap it a different parts of the winding depending on what speaker output you are using. If you amp doesn't have the outputs labeled, then you would need to take it to a tech or look at a schematic to see which output is which.
I would like to know I have a 2 12 combo and it was set on 4ohm but the speaker were plug into two 8ohm in series that equal 16ohm. it stop working after a few hours of play. but I it's started after working after 15 minutes. I setup to 16 ohm realized that it wasn't set right. now it's working but did I Break anything or did I just overheat the something. I bought this amp second hand and it was set on 4 ohm.
I am currently building my first experimental EL34 tube amp, the input impedance should be about 3.5k but the outpunt transformer I have is 3k so technically the output impedance will be 9.3 ohms. Is hooking up an 8 ohm speaker still within the safety margin or might it still damage the transformer? Great video, thanks! Subscribed.
I suspect an receiver that states 45 watts per channel into 8 ohms would not struggle to drive a 6 ohm speaker rated for 15-75 watts per channel. I suspect you would have to run it at high volume levels for a sustained period to stress the receiver. But generally, would you see any issue with that type of set up?
Why does halving the impedance not mean twice the amp output? My Markbass mini 121P combo gives 300w with its own 8 ohm driver. Plugging in another 8 ohm-er raises output to 500w. The Trace Elliot Elf gives 130 at 8 ohms and 200 at 4. Moreover the Markbass 801 combo is 50 at 8 but 60 at 4. Markbass won't answer me on it.
good vid subscribed ,new info learned thank you. question, i have 4x 16 0hm drivers if i parralel them would the bass be shared between four drivers or benefit from more bass because theres 4 instead of one not forgetting in a perfect world they be down to 4 ohms paralelled, thanks again
If you slow down the video x2, he sounds like your old buddy drunk as hell, rambling about details of stories you never asked for. Pretty informative though, thanks!
What about the tone differences in running two 4ohms wired series vs two 16ohm wired parallel? Also, in regards to amps that have 8 and 16ohm modes. Would I rather get an 8 or 16ohm cab? I'm thinking 16, since I would be able to run it in both the 8 and 16ohm modes.
Parallel wiring will have more immediacy as the signal sees both speakers simultaneously. Series wiring, there will be electrical dampening as the signal passes through one speaker to the other and will be smoother by comparison.
I have a Pioneer SX 434 receiver. The speaker connections say ‘4 ohms or higher’. Can anyone recommend some good vintage 4 ohm speakers? Preferably bookshelf speakers. All I can find online are 8 ohm speakers. Would 8 ohm speakers reduce the fullness or quality of sound? The stereo will be in my bedroom, used at low or moderate volume. I’m not intending to turn it up too loud. I would really appreciate recommendations from anyone. Thank you.
@@DrZAmplification. Thank you for your response. Subscribing now. am i getting full power if my 2x12 cab is 8ohms ? If my Marshall says 16ohms (8ohms minimum.)
"Low to High, that would fly. High to Low, that won't go"
Thanks for that.
That's a great method for learning the formula 👍
That’s what I’ve always heard
Please keep doing these AMAs Dr. Z. I love it
Thank you for this. One of the few responses that actually mentions how the speaker will change in "sound" to the listener. I understand that it is hard to make comments like that because they are subjective, but I see nothing wrong with giving the answer technically and then just adding in, "Oh yeah, I also think they will sound a bit compressed." This is what you did. Perfect!
Thank you so much for clearing this up. I recently had an argument with a friend about this very subject. I have and old Sovtek MIG 100 which has an 8ohm output that I have connected to 16ohm Marshall cab. He said it was going to blow my amp, I tried showing him with ohms law how that wasn't going to happen... Now I have a video to refer him to.
This was the most helpful info so far with what to do/not to do with a head and cab. Thank you so much!
I have a Elmwood Modena m60 (which is a amazing amp) that only has 4,8 ohm taps hooked up to a 16 ohm 2x12 cab. I bought a Weber Zmatcher impedance matcher off of reverb for like 100 bucks and it works great. I’ve tried running the 8 ohm tap straight into the 16 ohm cab and I know exactly what the doc is talking about. I also tried running that cab in parallel (4 ohms) with the same amp and for some reason it sounds way better run in series (16 ohm). Way thicker and fuller. But I highly recommend the Weber Zmatcher for anyone with a few amps and cabs or if they have a mismatched amp and cab. Very transparent and works great
I enjoyed this explanation more than anyone I've seen on YT.
He really breaks it down without losing you in the explanation.
I like this guy!
Thanks Doc!! You answered my question beautifully. I'm a huge fan, and I ONLY play Zs - Maz 8, Route 66, and of course the Ghia.
Love how many times you repeated the lesson. I’ve now memorized. Thanks!
Fantastic and simple explanation. Thank you sir.
School is still in session. Thanks again Dr. Z
Thanks Dr. Z , I just re-wired my 2x12 cabs from 2- 8 ohm speakers wired in series at 16 ohm, to 2 - 16 ohm speakers wired in parallel to 8 ohm to accommodate my 8 ohm amp. End result is a BIG difference. Now my ears, and amplifier thank you for your well explained advice. Nothing like the sound of a well balanced sound system. Even the tone knobs on the amp give better response.
Your calculations are wrong. Two x 8 ohm in parallel gives 4 ohm total, not 8. (R1 x R2) / (R1 + R2) : (8x8)/(8+8) = 64/16 = 4. Alternatively, 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ... + 1/Rn. I know this isn't intuitive, but that's physics/electronics for you.
@@blueskyredkite Read what i wrote correctly. Two 8ohm wired in series = 16 ohm all day long! Two 16 ohm wired in parallel = 8 ohm till the end of time! Of course i had to acquire 2 x 16 ohm speakers to do it.
@@blueskyredkite🤦♂️
So clear and enlightening. The sound compromises kinda coincide with what happens when using an attenuator. Im ready to experiment.
Right so less volume and dirty sound going 8ohm to 16ohm. But 16ohm to 8ohm is a no-no. Gotcha. Thanks for a simple and short answer.
Great answer. I use a 8ohm JVC tv speaker, on my mini katana amplifier. Didn't know about the compression less volume more distortion. Attenuated brown sound channel, like it thanks Z.
Had a similar problem with connecting a Koch Twintone ii (4 ohm and 8 ohm outputs only) to a 412 cab with G12M Greenbacks @ 16 Ohm 25 watts each.
If you go series-parallel wiring for the 412 cab you will get 16 ohm, and putting it into a 212 you can wire the speakers to get 8 ohm. If you wire the 412 in parallel you will get 4ohm impedance and each speaker will basically be more efficient as they will each receive the same signal.
The cab is rated at 100 watts (25 watts G12M's *4) if wired in parallel (its 4 wires equal length coming from each + and - terminal of each speaker, you then bundle each 4 pair + and - wires together and then connect those to the + and - of the cab output jack) - yet the power of the amp will be distributed to each speaker at their maximum efficiency (as speakers differ given manufacturing differences in the same model/brand speaker - can't guarantee the amp will divide the total power equally in series-parallel wiring and send that to each speaker - the speakers will have a bigger variance in sound compared to the parallel wiring method ) giving in my opinion the most balanced sound.
But this was mainly done to match impedance of the amp 4ohm to a 412 cab at 4ohm - this then has the benefit of sounding balanced and the best it can sound.
I think i saw this a while ago. I like the sound of my iohm 5 watt amp into a 16ohm cabinate for home use
damn I should have waited......, this is the first such video to explain it correctly
You da man Dr. Z, subscribed!
@ 3:55 Ooooh that smell
Can't you smell that smell.....
Great job of breaking it down for us. Clear, concise info. Keep up the good work and thanks.
love listening to Dr.Z he is a character :)
General rule of amplifiers, in general. Even transistor amplifiers. Even those that can double as arc welders.
Impedance matching mostly has importance in RF circuits where Smith charts and SWR reign. Impedance matching in audio circuits was mostly important to Ma Bell, who was tasked with making sure that Aunt Mabel could hear over a couple thousand mile connection.
Impedance matching in the truest sense of the phrase really doesn't exist in audio circuits. The general hierarchy is such that driving impedance < driven impedance. This follows through from transducer to amplifier to transducer.
"But isn't a balanced connection from a mixer to a power amp 600Ω?"
Yes and no. Usually the output impedance of the mixer is lower than the input of the amplifier. With a balanced connection, the balance is more important than having all the Zs and Ωs line up. The balance is what provides the primary rejection of noise that's picked up in the circuit. It's the output impedance of the mixer that provides a path to ground for the noise. Even with an OTL circuit using op-amps, the native Zo of the IC is quite low, before feedback comes into play.
There's even a mechanical illustration that helps explain the intentional mismatch in audio circuits. A Mack truck (low Z) can easier push start a vintage Beetle (high Z), than the other way around.
Question can I run a 8 ohm 20 watt head amp info a 4 ohm 25 watt guitar cabinet without breaking anything? Please let me know fast
Thank you very much for you're clear and concise explanation. I recently purchased a 4ohm amp and an 8ohm cab
Same here
I have been looking at a problem which your video has really helped explain to me: I have a speaker cabinet which is unmarked, and a tube amp with outputs for 4 ohm, 8 ohm and 16 ohm. What to do? Safest option is to run the 16 ohm outputs until I can find out what impedance drivers these are.
Thanks dude!
Thanks for your content. Your explanations are are so understandable! Thats why I head to your chanel first if I have a amp relaxed question. Thanks a lot.
I considered to buy a g10 creamback for my 68 custom champ (8 Ohms). Now you explained it I will search for an speaker with a 4 ohm load❤
Great to hear
I love the AMAs!
Just came across this video. It confirms what I've always believed to be true, that is a mismatch of 100% to a higher impedance speaker ( 8-16 Ohm for example) is fine, but a mismatch to a lower impedance speaker, even if only 100% ( as in 8 Ohm to 4 Ohm) can be damaging to your amp. But I am surprised that nobody is mentioning the dreaded "flyback voltages" that can supposedly damage your amp when driving a higher impedance speaker. Personally I've always considered this "factoid" to be the equivalent of things like a guitar cables' "skin-effect", yes, technically true but a non-issue unless your dealing with radio frequencies., so not applicable in the real world but I would love to hear your take on this issue. Thanks
Thanks for the video. Does anyone have a calculation for the power loss as a percentage. Using a 8 ohm speaker on a 4 ohm amplifier? Thanks
Please add subtitles to all your videos if only for deaf people
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Mike, I'm a harp player who likes to build amps for harp players. I hear a lot about impedance mismatching to change tone, and I would like to know if you have ever designed an amp specifically for harmonica players. As I'm sure you know, they have different needs as compared to a guitar amp... I'd love to hear your thoughts on harp specific amps... One day I will work for you!!!
All hail the old version of the super reverb running four tens at 8 ohms a piece for a 2 ohm load and then there's a buddy Jack for an extension speaker. I think the Tweed bassman also ran the four tens at two ohms in parallel but I don't think there was an ext. spkr. I played superRs all my life, but I can't remember ever plugging an extension in. I did have a few vibratone16? (Leslie spinners)... I can't remember if I had a separate amp for those. All that volume must have clouded my head, ha!.
This is great, I just wish you would have recorded a comparison of the sound (maybe with different impedence variations of the same speaker)
Best (clearest) explanation!!! Thank you!
I've got a Peavey ranger 212 all tube combo. The manufacturer suggests keeping the switch on 16 ohms but if i can get a little more breakup at lower volume by switching it to 8 ohms, i want to do it. Just want to be sure that its not hurting my amp, thanks.
I’ve thought about this however I’ve never tried it, fantastic explanation as always. Love your channel and I can’t wait to purchase your Mazz reverb head, still saving my shekels here to make the purchase ahah! 🤙😄
I would add that the sonic results will depend on what else is changing. Going from a 1x12 configuration @ 8 ohms to a 4x12 @ 16 ohms will make other differences, just as much as the speaker types involved, etc.
For example, loosing a bit of top end but going to a brighter cab may be a nice offset ... my $0.02.
Thanks Dr.! These are a wonderful resource!
Thanks, Dr. Z (ZED in Canada). I have a set of old, UK speakers with a 15" woofer (Vitavox AK 121) and a 3-cell horn (Vitavox GP1, 550 Hz) in each (16 ohms) and I was wondering if a tiny amp would give me a listenable level (quiet for me) of sound, or would it fry the amp. You've answered that. To the un-electronically-educated, it would seem that the amp would overheat, trying to get it's power past the 16 ohms........but, alas, not the case.
Love your vids, Dr. Z!!!
16 to 4 a bit extreme, but what about 16 into 8? Less strain than 16 to 4 but generally to be avoided unless you play very quiet i guess
V30 8 Ohm sounds different than 16 Ohm version. They sound different even if they are from the same production line. That's true for most speakers, though. One has to be extra careful with V30 speakers, though. Depending on what production year and country they come, they can sound very different even in the same impedance.
So , tone wise, that's not a valid test because they are sounding different anyway.
One could say put two of them in series, but then you introduce filtering from one voice coil influencing the other voice coil woth it's own inductance.
Even adding high power wire resistors have an influence on sound but would be the closest match to transparent testing. Do not believe they do? Try cheap passive load box and observe loss of top end and overall sound quality.
Tube amplifiers like to be at a certain power level where they sound good. If you can manage that level by using a higher impedance speaker when you have no other option, go for it. You got nothing to lose. It is the only option anyhow.
Issues with tone happen when you are running it with small amp and low volume scenario where using to high impedance speaker will make it sound anemic. It just can't excite the tubes enough. It can't cause saturation either. It sounds sterile and weak.
But if you can go loud enough, you will be fine.
Some people think that if they load the amplifier with lower impedance speaker that they are safe if they keep the volume down.
Well, they do not see the entire picture. By idling the most fixed bias, amplifiers are biased to 70 percent of they rated playe power. Cathode biased amplifiers do even go to 90 percent at idle.
Therefore, loading 8 Ohm tap with 4 Ohm speaker will try to draw 140 % from the fixed bias amplifier even without playing it. With a cathode biased amplifier, you will be trying to draw up to 180% power even at the idle.
And that percentage will only go up with yhe level until it reaches 200%.
Some amplifiers can survive that in short term scenario but it will eventually break things in any amplifier.
So never do that.
The very same thing is true for no load scenario. No speaker connected might not kill some amplifiers directly, but it will definitely kill any amplifier over time.
Hey Doctor Zama, nice explanation,but what about the difference by the vintage 30 8ohms vs 16ohms by itself? They sound different even being the same model, so how to difference the sound of the mismatch of the output tap to the sound of the different voice coil wired to 8or 16 ohms, whats characteristics are related to the mismatch and what yo the speaker model itself? For instance 16ohms vintage 30 are brighter and tighter on the low end, so the mismatch will emphasized this characteristics?
The change in impedance curve that the output transformer sees will be much more noticeable than the difference in a 8 ohm speaker vs. a 16 ohm speaker. And, believe it or not, one speaker to another of even the same impedance will have some differences between them.
Thank you very much for your important information
Hello very informative video, ty I have a 1970 VW beetle Motorola radio can I connect a 4 ohm's speaker as I have one around? Also will be facible to connect 2 4 ohm's speakers on serial instead of parallel? Thanks for your help
Thanks for the vid Dr. Z! I learned a lot here
One trick Ken Fischer taught me years ago was to use a 25' speaker cable and set the selector on 8ohms for a 16ohm cab... the cable acts as an inductor and smooths your high end. It works.
The high frequency response will be smoothed when going from 8 to 16 ohm regardless of cable length but the longer the cable the more capacitance it will have.
@@DrZAmplification From 8 to 16... or 16 going to 8? To my ears the 8 is smoother.
Hi. So when connecting a 4 ohm Champ Amp into a 16 ohm Alnico Blue speaker cab = safe but will be sonically compromising the sound - got it!!! Thanks!!!
Always good info from the Doctor! QUESTION: I have a Yamaha RX-V375 A/V Amp which is 6ohms, my new Speakers are 4ohms... what I'm I to do? Thanks Billie
That was clear and simple! 👍
Thank you!
Whatabout a 4ohm head into a 2ohm speaker cabinet? Does the magnitude of difference make a setup like this ok to run so long the difference isnt too drastic?
I have a much-loved Crate GX30M solid-state combo (great cleans) that is rated for a 4 ohm driver and the one that came in the cab is not so great. I've looked around, and it appears that the only drivers and extension cabs I can find are 8 ohms and above. In order to use that amp with different drivers, would running an extension cabinet with two 8 ohm drivers in parallel do the trick to halve the impedance? Would doing such a thing even be worth it? The thing's so damn loud as it is that I'm not worried about losing some volume. 90% of the time, it runs at about 10% of what it can deliver, and that still makes it debatably too loud for a "bedroom amp". It's also too loud for the driver that's in it. It doesn't take much to get it to saturate and sponge up (lose all definition). Most metal guitarists that have a problematic lack of definition or too much "woof" in their tone need to look at the drivers and cab/s they're using, not the amp.
Wondering what the differences are, if any, for the different taps on the output transformer- matched to the same speaker impedance. 4-8-16 ohms, which sounds best and why?
parkboy55 if it’s a single speaker, with matched impedances, the difference would be so slight it would come down to the individual speaker if there was any difference at all.
good info , is a 6ohm amp to 8 ohm tweeter is minor downside ? if the max watts are identical . so is the magnets and dimentions . how will it affect the sound ?
What if my amp outputs 16 ohms, and the 1x12 G12T-75 cab is rated at 16 ohms, but specs at 12.4 ohms? Is this difference sufficient to damage the transformer and/or tubes in a new DSL1? Just finished building the cab, and the speaker’s from Ipswich: I want this to work! But when I plugged in the cab, I thought it prudent to check the impedance the head would be experiencing, and it reads12.4 ohms at the head end of the cable. If I push it hard, will I be damaging the head?
About 13 ohms DC resistance is what a 16 ohm nominal impedance will read on the meter. You aren't measuring the actual AC impedance, which is what a speaker load actually is, you are reading DC resistance. The short of it is, you are totally fine.
Dr Z Amplification Thank you very, very much for taking the time to address my concern, Dr. Z. You’ve put my mind at ease!
I worked on my friend Pete's Super reverb.He takes it to his gig.He blows the fuse on the first song. He plays the amp on 10.He calls me and says "Hal,You messed my amp up,it blew up on the first song." I asked him how where you using it? He tells me he had another Super Reverb with Its speakers connected to the amp that blew. 2 ohm amp, 1 ohm load. Put another way 8 ohm amp,8ohm speaker gives you full power.8 ohm amp,16 ohm speaker gives you less power but draws less current at clipping.8 ohm amp, 4 ohm speaker gives you less power but draws more current at clipping.
Always remember: High to low, it's gonna blow. Low to high, you'll get by.
From Ted Weber himself...
Here are the straight facts on impedance mismatches, and hopefully it will explain why there are contradictory reports:
ON A TUBE AMP
It is okay to run a LOWER impedance cabinet or speaker than the amp’s output impedance. Usually a mismatch of 2:1 is okay. (i.e. amp at 16 ohms, cab at 8 ohms.) It is dangerous to run a HIGHER impedance cabinet or speaker, as there is a potential for flyback currents that could either cause a catastrophic failure, or the stress over time can cause long-term failure eventually. (although with a tube amp, it’s really best that you keep the impedance matched.) Amp power is not affected by mismatching.
ON A SOLID STATE AMP
It is okay to run a HIGHER impedance cabinet or speaker than the amp’s output impedance. (i.e. amp at 4 ohms, cab at 8 ohms.) It is dangerous to run a LOWER impedance cabinet or speaker. Amp power output is reduced, the higher the impedance.
there are so many guitar players out there who know nothing about electronics and that gives me anxiety. I don't even want to think about all the exploded equipment
Bass players are worst, i saw one day a bass player in a rented practice room plug his bass in a solid state guitar amp and the speaker out of that amp to an input of a bass amp. He didn't know what he was doing but he did get his wanted distortion for the moment. I saw him doing that when he was almost done playing, so I couldn't tell him that that was a fucking stupid idea. I still don't know how he didn't fry anything hahah.
Great info. Thanks for the effort.
What about a 4ohm amp going into a 16ohm cab? Is it still safe?
No, too far of a mistmatch.
What about on an amp that has a SS power section, and doesn't have taps or an output transformer? Like the Vox AD15VT? How can you tell what the minimum load it was designed to handle? What's most confusing is that the AD15VT came from the factory with an 8 ohm speaker, but 2 years later the AD line was discontinued and the VT15 replaced it. The VT15 has a 4 ohm speaker from factory. Is it safe to run the AD15VT at 4 ohms?
Thank you for clarifying this!
Hey man. Thanks for the info. I accidentaly (bought the head and was too excited to just try it lol) turn on a head setted on 4 ohm on a 16 ohm cab. Played for a while and then noticed the mismatch. Turned off in a hurry expecting for the worse and came here to discover that it was ok... Uffffff thank god lol.
Careful with that mismatch. A well made transformer should be able to tolerate that for a short amount of time, but don't make it a habit!
@@DrZAmplification but... what i got from the video is that as long that the amp is setted for lower impedance and the cab higher it is ok.... 4ohm--->16ohm ... no?
@@vexguine one step upward is ok. Two steps and you are pushing it. Do not recommend it.
@@DrZAmplification thank you very much
So it's safe to run a 32ohm cabinet (two 16ohm speakers wired in series) with a 16ohm amp (Marshall DSL1H)?
No idea how I missed this video. Good info here, and very well explained. How a out expanding on this and addressing multi-speaker cabs (2x12 and 4x12)?
Cheers
Cheers
Maybe a subject for a later video...
Thanks for posting this. Is driving a higher impedance on the speaker (in a mismatch) gonna wear out the tubes quicker?
Not necessarily, usually high to low will cause more heat on the tubes
Taps don't "have" the Z shown in the label, they're all about damn turns ratio. Zs are reflected with turns ratio "squared" which we can call "k". Put some Z on one side, the other gets k=(Np/Ns)² times that: [Zp=k*Zs] or [k=Zp/Zs]. It inverts in the oposite direction! Consider16ohm SPK into its correct taps and a pair of class AB EL84s which like 4k+4k=8000ohm; so turns squared is k=8000/16=500; Say the manufacturer put 200 turns on the secondary. We know the primary will be Np=sqrt(k)*Ns = sqrt(500)*200 = 4472 turns. So 200 with that "k" specificaion requires 4472 the other side. Ah, when we say Z we mean actually |Z| which is polar modulus of Z=sqrt(R² + Xl²) bla bla ...
I have an old 1930s speaker (electromagnetic) that has a 2k (2000) ohm voice coil. It only has three wires and a "power"(?) lead attached to it.
Wires are red, black and green with red and black connected to the lead. The plug on the other end is supposed to have a 10uf capacitor in it.
Now I want to be able to run this speaker with anything (so 3.5 mm jack compatible) and also use speaker wires on the receiver downstairs (runs 8 ohm out of the back connections).
Would I be able to use an audio transformer to do such a thing, or is any other circuitry necessary?
Basically what I need to do is make the 2k ohm voice coil compatible with modern equipment (well recently modern, receiver is from '96)
tia, MrGtaGangster (old name, gotta stick with it...)
Dr Z; This seems to be in direct conflict to what Weber Speakers says in their website (below). Can you advise please? Thanks !!
ON A TUBE AMP
It is okay to run a LOWER impedance cabinet or speaker than the amp’s output impedance. Usually a mismatch of 2:1 is okay. (i.e. amp at 16 ohms, cab at 8 ohms.) It is dangerous to run a HIGHER impedance cabinet or speaker, as there is a potential for flyback currents that could either cause a catastrophic failure, or the stress over time can cause long-term failure eventually. (although with a tube amp, it’s really best that you keep the impedance matched.) Amp power is not affected by mismatching.
You better tell Mesa and Fender this, they will probably stop building their transformers with 8 and 4 ohm outputs only.
The Weber explaination leaves out that going to a lower impedance will draw more current and stress the tubes, and tube failure can potentially cause a domino effect to other components. A higher impedance load does have potential for flyback voltage (but this is a very low potential with a 2:1 mismatch), and I would sooner bet on the output transformer (especially in a quality amplifier such as the one's we make) than I would on current production power tubes. Mesa and Fender have been making the same bets for half a decade. Neither is ideal, each have caveats which the video explains. That's why weber sells a Z-Matcher.
@@DrZAmplification thanks doc! You’re a true specialist!
Please can you explain what will happen if the output source has higher ohms than the amp. I have laptop, I think it is not auto adjusting to the 4 ohms of my amp. I think it is 16 ohm output headphone jack socket or higher. How can I match the ohm output to stop pop surges?
Hi, I have a vintage amp and my output is 16 ohms. I have a single woofer ( 16 ohm) and Tweeter (16 ohm) hooked up to the amp through a cross-over.
My tweeter is toast so I bought a new Tweeter from Pyle ( PH-391) but it is only 8 ohms. How do I wire this into my set up.
My cross-over has a 15 ohm and 33 ohm resistor along with a 3.0 uf Capacitor.
Do these new tweeters even need a cross-over ..I am confused. Any help appreciated.
It will only overheat if you ask it to provide the power, right? If you keep the volume at a reasonable level it's safe?
If I have a 16ohm subwoofer is there a way I can get the driver to match. the amplifier ohm load rating of 8 or 4 ohm. by wire more speakers or some resister in line to be able to get the power out of the amplifier. in stead of taking the power loss and not sounding so bad. Thanks for any time and reply🎶👍✌️🥂
Sir can you please help me. I have 4 floor monitor speakers 2 Fender 1272XP rated at 200 W 16 ohm, and 2 Behinger Eurolive F1220 rated at 200 W 8 ohms. So, there are different ohm ratings. My question is can I hook these up in series 1 Fender / 1 Behinger on the left side and 1 Fender / 1 Behinger on the right side. This set up is for my band's PA System. I am using a Mackie PPM 406 to power them up.
I have a "rookie" question, which I hope you'll be able to answer. My question is this:
Is it possible to drive a pair of 4 ohm speakers AND a pair of 8 ohm speakers simultaneously with a Pioneer SX-1250, which is rated at 160 watts per channel into 8 ohms?
The speakers in question are a pair of Phase Tech 8.5 speakers (4 ohms) and a pair of Large Advents (8 ohms). These speakers are in different rooms, and I only use one pair at a time, depending on which room I'm in, but I would like to occasionally run all four at the same time. Can I do this without blowing up my beloved SX-1250?
You should check your manual to see if the amp can run speakers with an impedance lower than 8 ohm.
or to say, tube output is impedance "finicky", wants what it wants ... SS is low, and it's anything at, or over, minimum, but tube amps are just Not like that ...
but tube amps are like twice the wattage, ( SS amps need minimum 3db head room, where a tube amp can run whole hog ), and the sound happens within a tube amp, instead of the preceding circuitry, as in SS.... so it's important to know those differences, if people change rigs..
Hello sir, what will be ohm requirement for this setup?? 8 ohm bass + 8 ohm mid + 8 ohm tweet all connected to 3-way 8 ohm crossover = amp output xxx??? is it 2 ohm or 8 ohm coming out of crossover?
no idea, would have to know the wiring scheme to calculate
thank you for good infos
Hi, my woofer is 16 ohms but my horn is only 8 ohms ( because I can't find a 16 ohm horn.
How can I connect the horn ? Can I use a resistor to match my 16 ohm.
How would I do that and would it go on positive or negative side of horn?
Thanks.
Maybe I'm missing something obvious that other people are in on, but why is the face plate info. on the amps behind you, upside down? I'm new to your videos.
Hi thanks for watching. That amp will be loaded with the tubes and transformers facing down into a speaker cabinet. So the face plate will be facing up once loaded. For a head, it is the opposite, so we have two different panel sets.
Hello I am confused a need recommendations. I ordered the Yamaha Aventage A6@. I currently have a 5.0 system. I wanted to upgradw to a 5.0.4 atmos. I would like to get a preamp for my front L/R speakers. I have oñder Cerwin Vega VS series 15”, there RMS is 500 watt each. What type, brand or wattage do I look for. Econ price please. Also atmos speakers (mounted on-wall not in-wall) can you help me please.
So I can use a 16ohm head with an 8 ohm cab?
Thank you for explaining how this works, I try to keep all my cabs at 8ohms, but some have 4 or 16 and I know what they are, but when you have other people as sometimes happens, they aren't so privy to what is really going on, and it's a real shame to damage an amp over carelessness. I am thinking I will label over the jack(jacks) what the ohm is and as a reminder to myself. I have wondered if you could safely mix say a 8 ohm and a 16ohm if the amp has both of those outputs. I would like to see in one of your videos a lesson on how to test a speaker for the correct ohm. Can you just use a multi meter if it is all unhooked?
Meters read DC resistance not impedance. A nominal 16 ohm load will read ~12-13, an 8 ohm will read ~6.5 and a 4 ohm will read ~2.5-3. You should never mix output taps to different loads.
@@DrZAmplification I thank you very much for your info. I think you could publish a small pamphlet with the basic does and don'ts for speaker wiring and amp hook ups, hooking up multiple cabs all in one little book. I know this info is out there but to have it all in a small booklet that would stay in a guitar case or the back of a cab and have the info handy. Maybe speaker polarity and info on how to run two amps correctly, and explain how effects loops work and proper use. I enjoy your videos and thanks for what you do.
Sir I recently got a jjn 20 watt tube amp and the cab specifically made for it is as costly as the amp so I decided to make my own 2*12" cab but confused with the config on the amp s speaker outs can u please advise
I think this is how i ruined my amp that turns on for a splot second now and just keeps restarting. I thin my amp vas much higher ohm rating than my speaker
I have a 1970s AIMS amp head (120 watts RMS) with 2 output jacks: "5 ohms" and "external speaker." I don't have the original AIMS cab, which was apparently a 6x10. But for many years, I have used both 8 ohm and 4 ohm cabs-separately-using the 5 ohm primary jack only, with no issues. However, I have never tried using two cabs at once, deploying both output jacks. If I connected both an 8 ohm cab and a 16 ohm cab, one to each output jack, I assume the transformer would then be outputting 5.33 ohms? In that scenario I imagine the 8 ohm cab would be receiving 2/3 the wattage and the 16 ohm cab would be receiving 1/3 the wattage ... Does that sound correct to you? Is that safe to do, assuming cab wattages are sufficient? I'd love to be able to play the amp at its intended output impedance.
Speaker cab impedances are nominal. Don't get too hung up on that. The mismatch in wattage between the cabs is more likely to cause phase issues and result in sub-optimal tone than the difference between 1 nominal ohm of impedance. As in, you'll hear the difference between two mismatched cabs sooner than you would ever hear an impedance difference of 1 ohm. Use two 8 ohm cabs in parallel if you want to use two cabs.
@@DrZAmplification Thank you very much-that is helpful. I hadn't even considered phase issues and tone problems. I don't actually need to use two cabs simultaneously, I just wanted to hear the amp at 5.33 ohms. But considering the potential issues, I think I'll stick with using my 4 ohm or 8 ohm cab separately, which has always served me well. Thanks again!
@@BrendanKGreaves it won't hurt anything to try, it"s just probably not going to sound as best as it "can" sound.
is it possible to run a 8 ohm amp to a 3 ohm sub driver. I am turning a car subwoofer to a theater subwoofer
Thank you for that wonderful explanation. Just want to clarify things. I have a 500watt mono amp 8ohms here and i wired my 8ohm 350watts subwoofer and my 100watts tweeter in parallel. Will the amp deliver the same power to the sub and tweeter?
If they are the same impedance, yes.
So is impedance a characteristic of the transformer then? I've been unable find an explanation of what increases/decreases the impedance, how you can calculate it, and how you can measure it in an amp that doesn't have the inputs labeled.
A transformer has an impedance curve. It has nothing to do with the speaker outputs. A speaker's impedance is separate from the transformers primary impedance. A transformer has a primary and secondary winding, one that seems the power tubes, the other that sees the speakers. You don't decrease or increase the impedance of transformer, you tap it a different parts of the winding depending on what speaker output you are using. If you amp doesn't have the outputs labeled, then you would need to take it to a tech or look at a schematic to see which output is which.
I would like to know I have a 2 12 combo and it was set on 4ohm but the speaker were plug into two 8ohm in series that equal 16ohm. it stop working after a few hours of play. but I it's started after working after 15 minutes. I setup to 16 ohm realized that it wasn't set right. now it's working but did I Break anything or did I just overheat the something. I bought this amp second hand and it was set on 4 ohm.
Hi Everyone .. can i use 4 ohms tweeter in ALTO TS315 speaker ?
I am currently building my first experimental EL34 tube amp, the input impedance should be about 3.5k but the outpunt transformer I have is 3k so technically the output impedance will be 9.3 ohms. Is hooking up an 8 ohm speaker still within the safety margin or might it still damage the transformer? Great video, thanks! Subscribed.
You'll be totally fine.
I suspect an receiver that states 45 watts per channel into 8 ohms would not struggle to drive a 6 ohm speaker rated for 15-75 watts per channel. I suspect you would have to run it at high volume levels for a sustained period to stress the receiver. But generally, would you see any issue with that type of set up?
No, just don't blast it 24/7.
I have a lot of speaker cabs, that is great info!! Thanks much!! 8) --gary
Why does halving the impedance not mean twice the amp output? My Markbass mini 121P combo gives 300w with its own 8 ohm driver. Plugging in another 8 ohm-er raises output to 500w. The Trace Elliot Elf gives 130 at 8 ohms and 200 at 4. Moreover the Markbass 801 combo is 50 at 8 but 60 at 4. Markbass won't answer me on it.
You are referring to solid state output transistors. This is in reference to vacuum tube output stages.
good vid subscribed ,new info learned thank you. question, i have 4x 16 0hm drivers if i parralel them would the bass be shared between four drivers or benefit from more bass because theres 4 instead of one not forgetting in a perfect world they be down to 4 ohms paralelled, thanks again
yes, more speakers more air moving, more bass response. Four 16 ohm speakers all parallel equals 4 ohms.
thank you@@DrZAmplification
thanks much. very helpful .
If you slow down the video x2, he sounds like your old buddy drunk as hell, rambling about details of stories you never asked for. Pretty informative though, thanks!
What about the tone differences in running two 4ohms wired series vs two 16ohm wired parallel?
Also, in regards to amps that have 8 and 16ohm modes. Would I rather get an 8 or 16ohm cab? I'm thinking 16, since I would be able to run it in both the 8 and 16ohm modes.
Parallel wiring will have more immediacy as the signal sees both speakers simultaneously. Series wiring, there will be electrical dampening as the signal passes through one speaker to the other and will be smoother by comparison.
I have a Pioneer SX 434 receiver. The speaker connections say ‘4 ohms or higher’.
Can anyone recommend some good vintage 4 ohm speakers? Preferably bookshelf speakers.
All I can find online are 8 ohm speakers.
Would 8 ohm speakers reduce the fullness or quality of sound?
The stereo will be in my bedroom, used at low or moderate volume. I’m not intending to turn it up too loud.
I would really appreciate recommendations from anyone.
Thank you.
My Marshall JVM1 has a 16ohm. It also says “8ohm Min”. Why is this? I thought we couldn’t go the “other way”. Thank you.
8 ohm minimum means do not connect a load lower than 8 ohms.
@@DrZAmplification. Thank you for your response. Subscribing now.
am i getting full power if my 2x12 cab is 8ohms ? If my Marshall says 16ohms (8ohms minimum.)