Author |
Topic: Pushing the Envelope |
James Cann
From: Phoenix, AZ
|
Posted 10 Dec 2007 3:33 pm
|
|
To what extent can you do this?
Take, say, a X watt amp into 8 ohms and replace the speaker with a 4 ohm item.
Feasible? Tempting the gods? Amp homicide?
What would you get? |
|
|
|
Walter Killam
From: Nebraska, USA
|
Posted 11 Dec 2007 7:57 am yes no maybe!
|
|
I'm sure that some of the amp gurus here will chime in also, in my experience though:
Most amps that are designed for an 8 ohm load will support a 4 ohm load without danger to the amp. Solid State amps will usually experience a boost in power when you drop the impedance, while tube amps will typically lose a little power. That said, this all depends on the type/brand of amp you are changing the load to. Class A & AB amps are not going to be as sensitive to low impedance loads as class D amps, so, you will need to provide more info for a better answer, is your amp:
Tube, or Solid State?
What class?
What impedance load is it designed for?
What brand/make is it? |
|
|
|
Brad Sarno
From: St. Louis, MO USA
|
Posted 11 Dec 2007 10:52 am
|
|
I would never mismatch impedance on a tube amp. Transistor amps don't usually care so much.
Brad |
|
|
|