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pro's and con's of a 4 ohm speaker?

I have a 35 watt tube amp and a 100 watt ss amp ,both can be 4 o or 8 ohm which is the best way to go for speakers? I am in the market for speakers and i am considering the TEKTON 8.1en , they are 4 ohms.
cwazz
cwazz OP
49 posts
 
Thanks for the answers ,yes i was wrong 8.1en is the 8 ohm . But it seems like sound wise ,,there is really not that big of a difference between 8 or 4 ohm , thats is what i am getting out of this .Correct?
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
Again, it all depends on the interaction between the speaker and amp, the impedance , IN ITSELF, does not make the speaker sound better or worse. If your amp can handle the load fine, if not update your fire insurance.
audiokinesis
2,755 posts
 
In general, amplifiers are happier into a high impedance load, as long as they aren't driven into clipping. So assuming all else is equal (which of course it never is), I'd suggest 8 ohms if there is no danger of clipping and 4 ohms if there is.

Now all else is never equal, and apparently you've already found speakers you really like, and unless their impedance curve is really funky they'll work fine with both your amps. Having "speakers you really like" outweighs any theoretical/speculative "amps are happier with higher impedance unless blah blah". So go for it!
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,447 posts
 
Cwaz - Power will be inversely proportional to load (assuming good power supply) while perceived loudness goes in (1/3.5) power of the amplifier output power ratios.

In you case: Loudness = (8/4)^(1/3.5)= 1.22 (22% louder with 4 ohm speaker)

8 ohm speaker will also double your damping factor (damping of the speaker).
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
8 ohm speaker will also double your damping factor
Although that will not be true in the case of a tube amp, assuming the 8 ohm speaker would be connected to the 8 ohm tap, and the 4 ohm speaker would be connected to the 4 ohm tap. In those cases damping factor would be the same.

Not that it matters in many cases. Damping factor is mainly significant when either:

1)A tube amp (or other amp with high output impedance/low damping factor) is used with speakers whose impedance varies widely with frequency. In which case higher damping factor may or may not be better, depending on the particular speaker. Or,

2)Woofer damping and control is particularly important to the particular speaker, and the damping factors of the amps being compared are not especially high.

Best regards,
-- Al
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