Any way to manipulate the overal impedance(ohms)?

[ATN2DETAILING 10+ year member]

Hello everyone,

I have to speakers that have a final impedance of either 1 or 4 ohms. I wanted to know if there's anyway to alter these impedance through the use of resistors or such...? Please let me know.

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[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

Why?

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Yes, you can alter the impedance via a resistor. That is basically what the old Stinger Accumatch was. But the problem is, all the additional energy your amplifier puts out due to that newly lowered impedance, goes straight into dissipated heat from the resistor. In other words, the speaker itself will see no benefit at all, while your stereo will be drawing more power from your alt/batt that will be completely wasted.

So long answer short, yes. But you wouldn't want to. The Stinger Accumatch was a gimmick.

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Why?

Maybe he wants to run it at 2 ohms?

 

[ahole-ic]

Maybe he wants to run it at 2 ohms?

Read above as to why that would be stupid.

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Read above as to why that would be stupid.

I know. But he asked why you would want to in the first place, and I was giving him a possible scenario. Chances are his sub is dual 2 but his amp is only 2 ohm stable.

 

[ahole-ic]

I know. But he asked why you would want to in the first place, and I was giving him a possible scenario. Chances are his sub is dual 2 but his amp is only 2 ohm stable.

Yup. Wire to 4. Same power will go to subs, less draw on electrical system. Wiring to 2 via a resistor or any other means would be unintelligent.

 

[BnGRacing 10+ year member]

Wire one coil, short the other. Bam...2ohm!

You don't 'need' to wire both coils to make the sub work. But if you have one of those weirdo D-Class amps that gets all moody when ran at higher impedances and need to run it @ 2ohm, run power to one coil and short the other.

Don't have a D-Class amp that runs hot with higher impedances? Wire the sub to 4ohm.

 

[ahole-ic]

Wire one coil, short the other. Bam...2ohm!
You don't 'need' to wire both coils to make the sub work. But if you have one of those weirdo D-Class amps that gets all moody when ran at higher impedances and need to run it @ 2ohm, run power to one coil and short the other.

Don't have a D-Class amp that runs hot with higher impedances? Wire the sub to 4ohm.

Why would you short the other? If you're going to jerry rig it like this, just don't even touch the other one.

 

[JoshC 10+ year member]

Why would you short the other? If you're going to jerry rig it like this, just don't even touch the other one.

right? WHat do u mean short it? He just puts a wire from positive to neg on 1 slug and thinks its a short.... haha weeeetarded

 

[JoshC 10+ year member]

Don't have a D-Class amp that runs hot with higher impedances? Wire the sub to 4ohm.

The higher the impedance the cooler any amp will run. Ure not to savy r ya?

EDIT: 4 ohms is easyer on a system then 2 right? Correct me if im wrong

 

[duanebro 10+ year member]

shorting a vc is better than not using it. I think it has something to do with the q of the driver. Using only one vc will cut power handling and change the specs on the woofer.

I would run both, even if it reduces the total power from the amp. If this isn't enough spl, get a different amp, or sub that match up better.

 

[ahole-ic]

shorting a vc is better than not using it. I think it has something to do with the q of the driver.

.... no

 

[duanebro 10+ year member]

.... no

If you know that I am wrong, would you care to explain? My answer comes from this quote, and others I have seen over the years: "You also do not have to run both. You can run one coil and the driver will work fine. However, you lose 6dB of sensitivity due to the reduction of half the wire in the gap, and you will will see Qes double as well for the same reason. But you can always short the unused coil which brings Qes back down to that of both coils runing because the shorted coil acts as an electromagnetic brake providing damping to the driver - you still lose the sensitivity unless you actually drive both coils though." Jeff B.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

I actually agree that shorting the other coil will have an effect. Think about the magnetics, if you leave it open it will generate a voltage at the terminals, if you short it, it should just be inert...I'm just theorizing based on what I remember from my electromagnetics course though, lol