2 Ohm speakers on 4 Ohm amp
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
You can use lower impedance speakers than an amp is rated for, but only if you're very careful. The issue is that you don't want to be pushing more current than the amp circuitry is capable of handling. Adjusting the gain will help, but ensuring that you keep the volume down and don't rely on the gain setting to save your amp is the only way to be sure. In my opinion, it is a BAD IDEA TO RUN SPEAKERS WITH LOWER IMPEDANCE THAN AN AMP'S RATING. (The emphasis is for other members who might read this and think I'm condoning that setup.)
I would look for 4-ohm speakers rather than risk your power packs unless you plan to keep a couple of spares around or you never turn up the volume beyond conversational levels. Yes, twice the impedance cuts output in half, but volume is a logarithmic scale so cutting power in half doesn't cut the volume in half - it only reduces volume by about 3dB which is the common amount of one click of the volume ****. With higher impedance you push less current which creates a lot less heat so your amp will be much happier. Heat is the enemy of electronics and, even if you don't immediately blow the output section of the amp, the effect of too much heat is cumulative and your amp is likely to die over time.
I would look for 4-ohm speakers rather than risk your power packs unless you plan to keep a couple of spares around or you never turn up the volume beyond conversational levels. Yes, twice the impedance cuts output in half, but volume is a logarithmic scale so cutting power in half doesn't cut the volume in half - it only reduces volume by about 3dB which is the common amount of one click of the volume ****. With higher impedance you push less current which creates a lot less heat so your amp will be much happier. Heat is the enemy of electronics and, even if you don't immediately blow the output section of the amp, the effect of too much heat is cumulative and your amp is likely to die over time.
Last edited by WhiteBird00; Apr 24, 2023 at 08:58 AM.
You can use lower impedance speakers than an amp is rated for, but only if you're very careful. The issue is that you don't want to be pushing more current than the amp circuitry is capable of handling. Adjusting the gain will help, but ensuring that you keep the volume down and don't rely on the gain setting to save your amp is the only way to be sure. In my opinion, it is a BAD IDEA TO RUN SPEAKERS WITH LOWER IMPEDANCE THAN AN AMP'S RATING. (The emphasis is for other members who might read this and think I'm condoning that setup.)
I would look for 4-ohm speakers rather than risk your power packs unless you plan to keep a couple of spares around or you never turn up the volume beyond conversational levels. Yes, twice the impedance cuts output in half, but volume is a logarithmic scale so cutting power in half doesn't cut the volume in half - it only reduces volume by about 3dB which is the common amount of one click of the volume ****. With higher impedance you push less current which creates a lot less heat so your amp will be much happier. Heat is the enemy of electronics and, even if you don't immediately blow the output section of the amp, the effect too much heat is cumulative and your amp is likely to die over time.
I would look for 4-ohm speakers rather than risk your power packs unless you plan to keep a couple of spares around or you never turn up the volume beyond conversational levels. Yes, twice the impedance cuts output in half, but volume is a logarithmic scale so cutting power in half doesn't cut the volume in half - it only reduces volume by about 3dB which is the common amount of one click of the volume ****. With higher impedance you push less current which creates a lot less heat so your amp will be much happier. Heat is the enemy of electronics and, even if you don't immediately blow the output section of the amp, the effect too much heat is cumulative and your amp is likely to die over time.
