Obsession with LOW OHM LOADS

[JEFFakaMAX 10+ year member]

Is it just a **** measuring competition to claim you have a bazillion watts or is the general consensus that you can really "hear" the difference between a (4ohm & 2 ohm load) or (1ohm to .5ohm)?

Is the loss of sound quality and cooking your amp really worth it for daily use? Competition, I can understand that. Every bit counts.

Before the flaming starts, this has been my "recommended reading" to the novices I encounter that either have no clue and want to learn, or think they know it all and want to argue.

This is the latest version of ZED's manual. While I am not trying to endorse their products, the first several pages of the manual are filled with useful information that may clarify things for those just cutting their teeth.

http://www.zedaudiocorp.com/pdfs/ZedManual-2011.pdf

Page 7 addresses the low ohm load issue.

Stephen Mantz is to car audio as Bob Carver is to home audio. (My opinion)

Click to read more...

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

What exactly are you asking? lol

 

[bhsdriller 10+ year member]

.5 daily here for a couple years...have ran .33 daily

 

[Chriszle 10+ year member]

Distortion isn't nearly as audible at frequencies played by subs. More noticeable in mids/highs.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

^agreed.

people like low impedance loads because 1000W at 1 ohm is MUCH cheaper than 1000W at 4 ohms.

 

[infamous_e46 5,000+ posts]

Is it just a **** measuring competition to claim you have a bazillion watts or is the general consensus that you can really "hear" the difference between a (4ohm & 2 ohm load) or (1ohm to .5ohm)?
Is the loss of sound quality and cooking your amp really worth it for daily use? Competition, I can understand that. Every bit counts.

Before the flaming starts, this has been my "recommended reading" to the novices I encounter that either have no clue and want to learn, or think they know it all and want to argue.

This is the latest version of ZED's manual. While I am not trying to endorse their products, the first several pages of the manual are filled with useful information that may clarify things for those just cutting their teeth.

http://www.zedaudiocorp.com/pdfs/ZedManual-2011.pdf

Page 7 addresses the low ohm load issue.

Stephen Mantz is to car audio as Bob Carver is to home audio. (My opinion)

what about robert zeff

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

what about robert zeff

Who? Must be a nobody...

 

[gpgtp]

^agreed.
people like low impedance loads because 1000W at 1 ohm is MUCH cheaper than 1000W at 4 ohms.

Not true, unless you're not willing to buy used.

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

Not true, unless you're not willing to buy used.

Orly?

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Not true, unless you're not willing to buy used.

Right...

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Im not sure why this topic keeps coming up. Who got to arbitrarily decide that all amplifiers sound bad and over heat below 4ohms?

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Not true, unless you're not willing to buy used.

no way youre gonna find 1000 @ 4 thats cheaper than 1000 @ 1. and in the chances that you do find it, it's most likely a 4 channel that does 500 x 2 @ 4, and even then that's a class A/B which isn't nearly as efficient as a class D

 

---------- Post added at 06:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:55 PM ----------

 

Im not sure why this topic keeps coming up. Who got to arbitrarily decide that all amplifiers sound bad and over heat below 4ohms?

it's probably a placebo for some poeple

 

[twistedchild420 5,000+ posts]

Distortion crew checking in!

 

[dbjunior 10+ year member]

Find me 4k at 4ohm thats efficient atleast 75% for under 1000. I can get 4k at 1ohm 79% efficient at that load new for 750

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Find me 4k at 4ohm thats efficient atleast 75% for under 1000. I can get 4k at 1ohm 79% efficient at that load new for 750

2 ap3k's are $600