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What does switching back of amp from 8 to 4 ohms do?

I have three speakers including a center and the left and right are connected to 4 ohm jacks on the back of the 600 W mono blocks i have.
I have a Multi channel amp that has 250 W and only have the center connected to it. The switch on the back of this app can toggle between four and eight Ohms.

If I change the switch on the back of the multi channel amp from 8 to 4 Ohms how will things be impacted?

Will volume levels be reduced? Impact to sound quality? Good idea?

I use 4 ohms for the main speakers as I was told it would be better since I have more than enough power to drive them. Not sure what difference it makes

Thought changing the center speaker to 4 might be good to be consistent with the left and right speakers

jumia
lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
877 posts
 

If you have 8 Ohm speakers, set it to 8 Ohms. If you have 4 Ohm speakers set it to 4 Ohms.

If your speaker Ohm rating isn't on their back look their specs up online.

czarivey
5,946 posts
 

Speakers normally never will have stable impedance, but the rule is far simpler. If speaker impedance chart does not go below 8 ohms, then use 8-ohm binding posts. Otherwise use 4-ohm binding posts. 

If you change switch for 8-ohm speakers the following will happen:

If your speakers are 8- ohm you may lose a-bit of the volume, but you'll gain dynamic headroom and clarity. If your speakers are below 8-ohms, you may lose a lot of low-frequency resolution and larger loss of volume.

 

jumia OP
528 posts
 

Czarivey, Great answer but the very last sentence confused me.

I was told changing to four ohms, since my speakers explore below eight ohms, is helpful when the lower range is used by the speakers. Not sure how the speaker is wired within the speaker to accommodate four and eight ohm settings. I guess it's a design way for channeling more power to the lower end of frequency range which Impacts sound level. Using McIntosh amplifier with transformer.

 

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