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
Kvack, I'm not sure how you read this, but, I don't recommend this combination and I don't think any one else has either!
Thanks, I have received alot of good info from this forum and other sources. I think we are going ahead on the purchase.
Typically I'd expect the marketing people to publish the amp's 4 ohm spec if it had a good one.
Just because its power rating was given at 8 ohms does not mean that it cannot push a 4 ohm load. Of bigger concern is that the speakers may be 4 ohm nominal, but may dip down lower at some frequencies. Many planar speakers do drop down to 2 ohms or less, and require large amounts of current. OTOH, If its a steady 4 ohms and the minimum power requirement is well within the rated capacity of the amp at 8 ohms, you may be OK. Older Nikko may not be able to deliver enough current, tho, to make the Maggies work to their capability.
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.