4 ohm tap vs 8 ohm tap


I have read reports about using the 4 ohm tap regardless of what the ohm rating for your speakers are. Right at this moment (who knows how long) I am using Meadowlark Shearwater speakers with Rogue Magnum 120 amps.
What would the audible difference be? And could I cause any damage to either products by running the Meadowlarks which are rated for 8 ohm with the 4 ohm tap?
Thanks, Scott
scottht
Well, I can definatly notice a difference. I just got these speakers about a week and a half ago. When I first hooked them up I forgot to change from 4 to 6 ohm because my Thiels are 4 ohm. I liked the speakers right away.
After I noticed that I forgot to change to the 8 ohm tap, I quickly changed the amps to the 8 ohm tap.
After a few LP's I began to not hear the bass. So after you all confirmed that I would not damage anything, I switched back to the 4 ohm tao. The bass is back.
You need all the help you can get with the Shearwaters. They are not bass heavey at all.
Thanks, Scott
Aroc,

"Thanks for the corrections Al. I did a quick internet search and you are right on the money. Thanks again. Gotta watch who you get advise from!"

You just pinpointed why I ended my post (giving advice) with my qualifications. I notice Morbius subscribes to this concept, too!
Alraul,

I do end my post with my qualifications - and I get a lot
of flak for doing so.

The qualifications work as a double-edged sword.

The fact that I put "Physicist" after my name says that I
do have a special expertise in Physics. It also says that
I have absolutely no special qualifications in anything else.

Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist
Morbius, I think you will find this amusing
I have spoke to a good work friend who is an electrical engineer. He has been in this profession for over 25 years.
I was telling him about the discussion on the CABLE forum of breaking in power cords. I almost had to call a code red to get him medical attention, because he couldn't stop laughing so hard.
How anal is this crap?
Would like to add that this has been a useful thread for me. I am running a pair of Granite Audio 860.1 tubed monoblocks into Equation 25 speakers and had been using the 8 ohm tap- never gave it much thought. The speakers are 6 ohm. Tried the 4 ohm last night and was very pleasantly surprised- cleaner, more articulate bass, and warmer midrange, without losing too much on top- just the effect I have been looking for with mixed success by trying different cabling.

Are there any technical reasons that a 6 ohm speaker should be driven better with a 4 ohm than a 8 ohm amp?