Mixing speaker resistance, will I hurt my receiver?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

If the receiver is loaded with a lower impedance than what it was
designed to handle, it may be damaged.

--

Jerry G.
======

"Gwood" <sorry@nothere.com> wrote in message
news:2rh47fF1a1dpkU1@uni-berlin.de...
Want to re-use some old sets of speakers we have around with a new
receiver
(model to be determined, but a used, fairly inexpensive model). The
speakers are mixed resistance - one set is 8 ohm, another 6 ohm. The
third
might even be 4 ohm, it came off a mini-component system and I've only
ever
used it for high-range fill in sound.

I'd like to run two of these sets of speakers off the receiver, but
realize
almost all receivers in this range would expect 8 ohm speakers. I've
checked a few web sites that explain wiring strategies and resistance
calculations, but they're a little beyond an audio-phobe like me.

Wondering if anyone can venture a guess as to whether I'll be
jeopardizing
the receiver amp by mixing speakers?

Help appreciated.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

In article
<c145d.629745$Gx4.178603@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
"JohnR" <nospam@att.net> wrote:

> Safest bet would be to put the 4 and six Ohm speakers in series. This gives
> 10 Ohms which is close to 8. If you play them at higher levels, this will
> spread the dissipation out in the speakers as mini system speakers may not
> be rated for high power use (you should open the speaker cover and see what
> power the driver is rated. I've seen speakers rated for 100 Watts RMS, but
> the woofer driver has 15 Watts max stamped on the magnet!
>
> Someone's going to say you'll throw of the crossover and damping off by
> putting these speakers into series, but hell, these ARE mini system
> speakers! Sound quality is apparently not a priority here.
> John

True, and cheap mini-system speakers have wild impedances. Putting them
in series should be interesting. It could sound horrible or it could
sound like a concert hall. It's worth a try.


> "Gwood" <sorry@nothere.com> wrote in message
> news:2rh47fF1a1dpkU1@uni-berlin.de...
> > Want to re-use some old sets of speakers we have around with a new
> receiver
> > (model to be determined, but a used, fairly inexpensive model). The
> > speakers are mixed resistance - one set is 8 ohm, another 6 ohm. The
> third
> > might even be 4 ohm, it came off a mini-component system and I've only
> ever
> > used it for high-range fill in sound.
> >
> > I'd like to run two of these sets of speakers off the receiver, but
> realize
> > almost all receivers in this range would expect 8 ohm speakers. I've
> > checked a few web sites that explain wiring strategies and resistance
> > calculations, but they're a little beyond an audio-phobe like me.
> >
> > Wondering if anyone can venture a guess as to whether I'll be jeopardizing
> > the receiver amp by mixing speakers?
> >
> > Help appreciated.
> >
> >