Speaker Questions

[Rockrz 10+ year member]

I'm hearing that my vehicle came from the factory with 3 ohm speakers.

So, if I'm installing a new head unit is there an issue if my replacement speakers are 4 ohm?

Or, should I instead make sure to get 3 ohm speakers since the wiring for the speakers are designed for 3 ohm?

One of the guys on the discussion forum for my vehicle is claiming for best sound one should only install 3 ohm speakers

Just wanted to get the poop on the latest scoop on this topic.

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[huberoy123 10+ year member]

If it came from the factory with 3-ohm speakers, that means that your factory amp was set up for 3 ohms. If you keep the factory amplifier. It may be a good idea to look for 3-ohm speakers. If you add an aftermarket amplifier that is capable of powering 4-ohm speakers, then adding 4-ohm speakers will be okay.

I had 3-ohm speakers in my car. I changed the headunit, tossed the factory amplifier, and added aftermarket amplifiers and speakers rated for 4 ohms.

Just my experience.

 

[ThxOne Premium Member]

I'm hearing that my vehicle came from the factory with 3 ohm speakers.

So, if I'm installing a new head unit is there an issue if my replacement speakers are 4 ohm?

Or, should I instead make sure to get 3 ohm speakers since the wiring for the speakers are designed for 3 ohm?

One of the guys on the discussion forum for my vehicle is claiming for best sound one should only install 3 ohm speakers

Just wanted to get the poop on the latest scoop on this topic.

You can install whatever you like. 4ohm will use just a little less power from the amp and be just a bit quieter. 2ohm speakers will pull a little more power out of the amp and the music will be just a bit louder.

3ohm... I would look into JBL and Infinity replacement speakers as a starting point.

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

I'd just run 4ohm speakers. There's way more options plus you'd never hear the difference

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

3 ohm is sort of an oddball impedance. Not many people make 3 ohm coils vs 4 ohm. I wouldn't go below whatever the factory ohm is without thorough research is because that could basically short the amp out, create too much heat at high volumes. Doing 4 ohm will result in slightly less max power capability than 3 ohms, but I'm not sure if it would be enough to matter or not to your ears.

The impedance ohms are just how easily electricity can pass through an object at a specific frequency. So 3 ohms just allows more power through, slightly more than 4 ohms.

 

[Doxquzme Premium Member]

I'm hearing that my vehicle came from the factory with 3 ohm speakers.

So, if I'm installing a new head unit is there an issue if my replacement speakers are 4 ohm?

Or, should I instead make sure to get 3 ohm speakers since the wiring for the speakers are designed for 3 ohm?

One of the guys on the discussion forum for my vehicle is claiming for best sound one should only install 3 ohm speakers

Just wanted to get the poop on the latest scoop on this topic.

The entire new line of AudioControl PNW seriesd speakers are all 3 ohms and they are very good sounding speakers to boot.

Go to Crutchfield and select 3 ohm only and it will retakurn 71 different speakers that are all three ohms impedances, from JBL. Onfinity, Audiocontrol and Kenwood.

Stick that rating becuase in the event you upgrade, most 4 channel amplifiers are rated to 2 ohms anyway.

From 3 to 4 ohms, you lose about 25% output and maybe more if the factory speakers are more efficent which a good many are and is likley the case here.

Get youself a 4 channel amp and LOC, under $150 and you'll thank me later

$86 -

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PCZBZW5/?tag=caraudiocom-20

$17.39

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VKFSLKN/?tag=caraudiocom-20

$39 (100% OFC)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8VCNPWR/?tag=caraudiocom-20

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

From 3 to 4 ohms, you lose about 25% output

You'd never hear the difference between 75w and 100w

 

[chillin 10+ year member]

What is the vehicle? Does it have a factory amp or are the speakers just powered by the head unit? If they are just powered by the factory head unit and you're replacing that, you are fine with 4 ohm speakers. If you're planning to add a front amp to the system, you will be fine with 4ohm speakers. If the vehicle has a seperate factory amplifier and you do 4 ohms, it may be a little quieter, but not much.

 

[Doxquzme Premium Member]

You'd never hear the difference between 75w and 100w

It's cumulative, not static.

If you account for that 25% and as much as 2.5-4.5db in the possible difference between usually very efficient factory drivers then yes, you will likely notice that much drop off.

Just say'n.

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

It's cumulative, not static.

If you account for that 25% and as much as 2.5-4.5db in the possible difference between usually very efficient factory drivers then yes, you will likely notice that much drop off.

Just say'n.

You won't see a 2.5-4.5db drop-off with a 25% loss of power on mids and tweets. Even a factory amp is capable of more power than those frequencies need. So a 25% loss wouldn't be noticeable especially in a automotive environment

 

[Doxquzme Premium Member]

You won't see a 2.5-4.5db drop-off with a 25% loss of power on mids and tweets. Even a factory amp is capable of more power than those frequencies need. So a 25% loss wouldn't be noticeable especially in a automotive environment

That's not the point being made, not what I said really.

If you have a 25% decrease due to the load of the aftermarket speakers being 4 ohms versus the amps ouitput rated power at 3 ohms, with a difference between those and the OEM's increased efficiency (if applicable) of 2 to 4.5db, you will definitely hear it.

If on the other hand, the difference is only the 25%, and all other factors are roughly equal, then no, it's not likely to be significant.

OEM speakers are generally 2-4.5db more efficient on the same power, combine that with a drop in output using the 4 ohm aftermarket speakers, that's the accumulative difference, not necessarily and absolute but significant and something to be aware of and to check on when using the OEM amp as was suggested by the OP.

 

[Rockrz 10+ year member]

I'd just run 4ohm speakers. There's way more options plus you'd never hear the difference

Yeah, that's what I order was some Pioneer TS-A1671F 140W RMS 6.5” 3-way Coaxial Car Speakers (2 Front and 2 Back doors) which are supposed to be 4 ohm speakers. (the vehicle has no factory amp as it's a base model)

And I'm using the JVC KW-V250BT DVD/CD Stereo Head unit, which I really like and have already in two other vehicles one of which is similar to this new vehicle and sounds great with no amp at all (mid-sized pickup)

I'm not as fancy as a lot of folks with this stuff. I've used Pioneer speakers a lot over the years as well as JVC decks and have always had good results. As long as it sounds decent and there's an equalizer to fiddle with I'll be happy.