Most high-quality loudspeakers are 4-Ohms


Is it true?
128x128ihcho
If you are only used to listening to systems driven by big, high current SS amps, you might that it is true. Many good, multi-driver speakers that mate well with SS amps have low impedences. However, there are many very, very good speakers with high impedences. They tend to mate well w tube amps. See for example, Vandersteen, Merlin, Coincident, Silverline, Classic Audio Reproductions, Dali Megaline, Horning, Audionote.
Swampwalker, I don't consider the Vandersteens to be high impedance speakers and there the only ones of those that you've suggested that I've heard and appreciate. While I haven't heard them all, some of the other I down right dislike. But, that's just me, YMMV.
Nope. But you knew that, didn't you :)?

Well, sort of, but was not quite sure. ;) I had it direct quoted from somewhere without much context. How about "there are more high end speakers with 4 ohm than 8 ohm?"

When I had relatively cheap amps, I could not find anywhere about power ratings (RMS) mentioned for 4 ohm in their specs. All were listed for 8 ohm.
Most mid-high end power amps seem to have ratings listed for both 4 ohm and 8 ohm.
Most relatively cheap speakers I had (including Klipsch KLF-20, B&W 603 S3, Celestion Impact 20, ...) were all 8 ohms.

So, I was wondering if the low impedance has to do with high end speaker design in general. Of couser, I agree that there are many high end/high quality speakers with 8 ohm, so there must be exceptions.