Wiring component speakers with separate xovers in parrallel

[Gregulate 10+ year member]

Is this possible? I have an amp that can put out 50 at 4 ohms and 75 at 2 ohms and was looking for some good comp speakers but have limited options in the 2 ohm variety.

Has anyone done this or seen a diagram on how this would look?

Thanks!

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[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

if you have two component sets for each channel, you simply wire the crossover inputs in parallel. the crossover outputs are normally connected to the woofer/tweeter. the amplifier will see both crossovers and thus both speakers in parallel, reducing the impedance load.

i did some impedance plots of this exact thing in another thread... i will see if i can find it (was only a week or so ago).

there isn't much reason for this though. adding a second set while giving less power to each set (50W into one set vs 37W into each set) will maybe give you 1-2dB more output. your better bet would be to just spend the money on one nicer 4 ohm set. having twice as many lesser quality speakers will not give you better sound, and having multiple drivers will cause comb filtering and other forms of phase interference that can sound even worse.

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

yep I usually use a 4channel bridged instead of running hard to find 2ohm speakers. I have been tossing around the idea of running 8ohm drivers to get my dampening up higher.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

it's damping, not dampening. they aren't wet. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

i agree with your logic. i have even experimented with bi-amp vs bridged (using the same amp and comps with bi-amp crossovers). bi-amp is great if you want separate level control or T/A, but you might as well be active at that point. but running bridged instead gives more power/headroom and results in more output.

 

[Gregulate 10+ year member]

if you have two component sets for each channel, you simply wire the crossover inputs in parallel. the crossover outputs are normally connected to the woofer/tweeter. the amplifier will see both crossovers and thus both speakers in parallel, reducing the impedance load.

Cool, but can you do it with one set? It's only a stereo amp and 75 w @ 4 ohm is max in stereo. I wonder if underpowering some speakers is that big of a deal and then just upgrade the amp later on...

 

[Ninesvnsicks 10+ year member]

How would you wire one set in parallel do you mean to just one channel?

 

[duanebro 10+ year member]

Cool, but can you do it with one set? It's only a stereo amp and 75 w @ 4 ohm is max in stereo. I wonder if underpowering some speakers is that big of a deal and then just upgrade the amp later on...

"under powering" speakers is not a problem. Just try not to clip the amp. Most ratings on speakers are thermal ratings. This does not mean that they need to have a matching amp. Or that they can handle the power mechanically. Use a multi meter to set your gains, or your ears if you trust them, and you should be fine.

 

[Gregulate 10+ year member]

How would you wire one set in parallel do you mean to just one channel?

Ha, you're right--not sure what I was thinking! I will just get a decent pair of 4 ohm speakers and maybe upgrade the amp at a later time.