Compatibility of 8 ohm amp with 4 ohm speakers?


I have an older Nikko amp/preamp which is 8 ohm. Considering purchase of Magneplanar 1.5 speakers which are 4 ohm. Will
this work/ or will there be problems?
kvack99

Showing 2 responses by ghostrider45

If the amp has no 4 ohm rating, you run the risk of it overheating or being shut down by its protection circuitry, if any.

4 ohms will require more current (but less voltage) from the amp to deliver the same power into a 4 ohm load as into an 8 ohm load. Some amps just aren't up to it.
Typically I'd expect the marketing people to publish the amp's 4 ohm spec if it had a good one.