amp power & driver sensitivity in multiamp setup

Thanks, Ralph. I don't think, though, that Lewinski was asking about adding more drivers or putting drivers in series. As I read it he was asking about the possibility of choosing a single 16 ohm driver instead of an ostensibly similar 8 ohm driver, and whether doing so would be beneficial with respect to maximum volume capability.

Best regards,
-- Al

Hi Al- got it. I really don't think so, although it would help the amplifier to have lower distortion. He would still need either greater power or a more efficient driver.

Ralph, sorry I missed your post. And thanks for chiming in!

Al is right: I was considering using a single 16 ohm driver.

Maybe using specific examples helps. The original 94dB/2.83V driver was a B&W FST. PHL Audio makes high sensitivity drivers, and I was considering some of their 6.5" and 8" midranges as well. For example 2520 is an 8" 4 ohm driver spec'd as 100dB/2.83V and the 2530 is the same but 16 ohm.

Also as example, I'm looking into Yamamoto A-08S (45 SET) and A-011 (2A3). These only have one set of speaker connectors, though. I'm looking into what kind of impedance they were designed for, but so far haven't discovered it.

BTW, what's the impact you would expect if I ran one channel on the 5 ohm tweeter and the other channel on a 16 ohm midrange? Would that tax the amp in any way?

Thank you!

Its probably that if the amp has only one output and no taps, that the 5 ohm load would result in less output than the 16 ohm load.

If you use drivers that are 100 db 1 watt/1 meter (PHY?), then you have a chance with the 2A3 amp but I have my doubts about the type 45 amp- realistically they only make about 0.75 watts.

When you say "if the amp has only one output and no taps", what are you referring to by taps? I initially I thought you meant speaker output connectors, but maybe not.

PHL Audio is a French manufacturer, well regarded in EU.