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Re: eliminating low frequenies impact on ohm/load handling of amp?

Posted by Soundmind (A) on August 22, 2004 at 09:13:09

In Reply to: Re: eliminating low frequenies impact on ohm/load handling of amp? posted by john curl on August 16, 2004 at 11:41:34:

The information in Mr. Curl's response is incorrect. If an amplifier delivers three times as much current, it will generate nine times as much heat. In high school electricity, we learn that heat generated by an electrical resistance is proportional to the square of the current, not the current itself.

The other analogy is also misleading because Mr. Curl compared apples and oranges. If an 8 ohm resistor is producing heat at the rate of 8 watts from an amplifier output, then one amp is flowing through it. If four eight ohm resistors are connected in parallel, they will present a two ohm resistance to the amplifier and to dissipate a total of 8 watts, this time they will have to draw a total of two amps which generates four times as much heat as one amp would.

In your case, it is impossible to know if this could cause damage to your amplifier. The amplfier has no way to know what the load impedence is. At best it knows what voltage is being applied and how much current is going through it. Different amplifiers have different schemes for protecting themselves. Voltage clamping of the signal voltage is one way and assumes a minimum load. If the load is lower impedence than the minimum, the clamping circuit may not be ineffective. Current limiting from the power supply is another. Temperature sensing of the output stage for solid state units is yet another. Generally but not always, most power is needed for low frequency signals, therefore in your case, your idea is probably safe. However, if you feel uncomfortable with this arrangement, you have several options including purchasing devices for saftely connecting multiple pairs of speakers to one amplifier such as those available at Parts Express.

There may be a tendancy to drive speakers harder out of doors because there is no reinforcement from room acoustics and you sometimes have to overcome noise from other sources like the neighbors' garden equpment, cars, and planes. Fusing the output to the speakers with an in line fuse is also a very good idea.

Hi jneutron. Guess Who!!!!!!

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