Impedance Matching Confusion


My stereo amplifier has two sets of binding posts for each channel. The user manual says that it can drive a pair of 4 ohm speakers if only one set of the binding posts are being used. If I were to use both sets of binding posts, it can drive speakers that are between 8 ohm to 16 ohm. My speakers are rated at 4 ohm and they support bi-wiring. My question is that if I use both sets of the binding posts on my amplifier to bi-wire a pair of 4 ohm speakers, will it cause any issue/damage? Thanks.

My amplifier’s Power Output: 200 W + 200 W (8 Ω) 400 W + 400 W (4 Ω) / The speakers are rated at 4 ohm with 90db sensitivity.

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Why not just purchase a pair of bi-wire speaker cables? I use Morrow Audio bi-wire cables. They have one pair of connectors at the amp and a dual pair of connectors for the binding posts on the speaker. Simple!

"The user manual says that it can drive a pair of 4 ohm speakers if only one set of the binding posts are being used"

 

It would seem that Sony has stated not to use both amp terminals to drive 4 ohm speakers. Why risk potential damage, or at the least I'm guessing per their statement, degrade  the sound. As others have advised just bi-wire , or if you are not presently maybe try quality jumpers

that amazing Sony TA-N1 amp is very rare, only 100 were supposed to be made, I would definitely get Sony involved before breaking the rule.

http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-TA-N1.html

 

meanwhile: typical receivers/amps with two sets of speaker terminals, it is standard procedure to have a warning about using higher impedance speakers when using tA + B . IF both pairs of speakers are efficient, you can break the rules. IF you avoid high volume use/high power needs, you can break the rules, however, AT YOUR OWN RISK!. Someone can have the wrong input, juice up the volume, no sound, juice it up some more, then select the correct input, BANG!!! Speaker damage, perhaps amp damage.

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your speakers are designed for bi-wiring so you can use different speaker cable construction (it's not the same as bi-amp).

You certainly do not need a lot of power for your existing 90db sensitivity, so you want to bi-wire because ... in theory, different cable construction for bass.

your speaker's impedance is NOMINAL 4 ohms, it may have dips to 2 ohms, perhaps do research about that.

meanwhile, the crossover of the nominal 4 ohm speakers is 'expecting' to SEE the 'same' from the amp's transformers I am GUESSING. Using speaker A:4 ohm tap  and Speaker B 8 ohm tap, the frequency response of the speaker's crossover might be altered. If that's the only 'effect', perhaps it won't make a difference you dislike or even hear.