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Topic: 4 ohm versus 16 ohm speaker |
Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 6 Aug 2015 11:25 am |
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Hypothetically, would a 4 ohm speaker sounds any different than a 16 ohm speaker? Assume each speaker is the same brand and model.
Of course the 4 ohm speaker may see a different wattage level as many, if not most amps put out more power as the ohm load goes down.
I'm thinking about trying a 16 ohm JBL D130f or K130 with my Matrix power amp set up. The Matrix puts out 125 watts at 16 ohms, which is about all the JBL can take. I'm presently using the Matrix with a 4 ohm D130F, and it sounds fantastic, but I'm afraid of blowing it up as the Matrix puts out 400 watts at 4 ohms.
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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. |
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 6 Aug 2015 1:59 pm
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Paul,
Until you pick a string, the Matrix doesn't put out any watts. Most of us probably find a comfortable listening level without regard to the watts involved. In a practice setting or small club, you'll hurt your ears long before you hurt the JBL. However, in a stadium, you may want to keep a spare speaker handy.
All the best,
Craig
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"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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Alan Berdoulay
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Posted 9 Aug 2015 4:43 am Re: 4 ohm versus 16 ohm speaker
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[quote="Paul Sutherland"]Hypothetically, would a 4 ohm speaker sounds any different than a 16 ohm speaker? Assume each speaker is the same brand and model.
Anyone....? |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 9 Aug 2015 5:45 am
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They'd almost HAVE to. The difference may be subtle, but you're gonna have different inductance and different amounts of wire. Like the difference between the 605 and 705
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 11 Aug 2015 12:14 am
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| Quote: |
| They'd almost HAVE to. The difference may be subtle, but you're gonna have different inductance and different amounts of wire. Like the difference between the 605 and 705 |
Not so, Lane, with the JBL's at least, the cone, magnet, gap, compliance mechanics, all of the design components are the same, only the resistance of the voice coil is different. The speaker itself will sound the same but will require different power levels to do so, and most guitar amps do not sound the same at different power levels.
There is one scientifically verified performance "improvement" to be found in using the 16- versus the 4-ohm speaker. With a direct-coupled solid-state amp the higher speaker impedance will increase the damping factor of the amplifier, which in turn tightens up the low end and generally reduces distortion, albeit by a very small amount. To some ears this will sound less exciting, to some it will sound more articulate, and to most it will sound exactly the same.[/quote] |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 11 Aug 2015 9:02 am
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[quote="Dave Grafe"]
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...The speaker itself will sound the same but will require different power levels to do so, and most guitar amps do not sound the same at different power levels.
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I'm glad you added the little "qualifier" at the end of that statement.  Hooking up a mismatched speaker, and then simply boosting the (mismatched) amp power to compensate, will not yeild the same tonal characteristics. This is probably why audiophiles, years ago, often recommended that users try their speakers on various output transformer taps, in order to get the most pleasing sound. |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 11 Aug 2015 9:37 am
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| Impedance "matching" is only relevant to transformer-coupled outputs, i.e. tube amps. For a solid state amp the only issue is maintaining a minimum impedance to avoid an over-current meltdown. Using a 16 ohm speaker in a direct-coupled amp capable of handling 4 ohm loads is NOT a mis-match in any way, and will result in a reduction of signal distortion provided the amp is not over-driven. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 11 Aug 2015 9:46 am
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And that's the key, Dave. Boosting the preamp volume to compensate for the significant power loss may overload the drive section of the amp. Even if it doesn't, it may affect the linearity of the frequency response. Wouldn't you agree?
edit: Anyhow Dave, I'm trying to learn your definition of "no mismatch". Are you saying that a direct-coupled amp designed for a 4-ohm speaker will be just as loud if you used a 16-ohm speaker? My own experience says "no", and if I'm wrong, please enlighten me. 
Last edited by Donny Hinson on 11 Aug 2015 11:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jerry Berger
From:
Nampa, Idaho USA
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Posted 11 Aug 2015 10:04 am
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Yeah sure. What Donny Hinson said. 
Last edited by Jerry Berger on 11 Aug 2015 3:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Cartwright Thompson
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Posted 11 Aug 2015 2:22 pm
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| FWIW, I have 4,8 and 16 ohm D-130's. If they are properly matched with an amplifier, there is no perceptible difference in tone between the three. |
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