Does anyone rember how to calculate impedance?


In the old days when amps and receivers had only one set of speaker outputs, if you wanted to to run more than one pair of speakers you either had to run them in parralell or in series. This varied the amplifierload. Say if I were connecting two eight ohm speaker in paralell, what load would the amplifier see? If I connected them in sereis what load would the amplifier see? The person with the correct answer will receive a vintage slide rule.
gregadd

Showing 5 responses by gregadd

You guys are genuises! So in order to avoid potential damage to the amp, it is better to connect them in sereis? Lower impedance is more likely to cause the amp to oscillate.
P.S. I was kidding about the slide rule. However, if you insist, Where can I find one?
Jeffreybehr-I was giving advice to another Audiogoner. He is runnig a satellite system with two mini-monitors and two subs. It looks like there is no crossover for the subs. He essentially is running them in parrallel. He twisted the wires together and connected them to his reciever. I suggested he try running thme in series. I wanted to make sure he did not improperly load his amp. He says the speakers are rated at six ohms and his amp has selectable impedance. Sounds Like he is okay.
I learned this stuff years ago and forgot. It's not really a problem with the level of components I use. Thanks!
Imin2u. Afraid I have to disagree with you. The ultimate test is in the listening, spec's do matter. I want a product that is technicaly correct. I have no patience with "flat earthers". If the designer is departing from the laws of physics I want to know why.
This would make it good thread of it's own.
Foxtrot-Parallel is with both speaker wires connected to the amps speaker terminals. Series means one speaker lead to one speaker, Then you run anther wire off that speaker to the other speaker.
Bombaywalla-You guys never cease to amaze me with the depth of your knowledge. See the thread on "what makes my reciever hum." I gave this guy some advice and wanted to be sure I did not make his receiver blow-up.

He was essentially trying to run an outboard woofer without the benifit of an outboard crossover/ amp. I would purchase a multizone amp if I were trying to run mutliple speakers. They also have receivers that allow you to run two pair of speakers at the same time.
I trust only my ears! Evaluating components is an art. Designing and building them is a science.
Since no component system or room is perfect once I've identified a problem, how do I correct it? Do I bring home every product and insert it in my sysytem? Suppose I want more bass. Do I get better speakers or do I make room improvements? Measurements can't take you all the way home, but they can eliminate the pretenders.
It can also save you money. Many products use expensive overkill to solve problems. Big is good then bigger must better. A few measurements could tell you at a certain point no signifcant improvement would occur. It's no doubt in my mind that many cables are using exotic materials when it would better to install better RFI Shielding and better connectors. Most cable companies don't even supply basic measuremnts like capictance or the cables ability to reject radio waves. Maybe they should do some measuring before they charge us megabucks for upgrading to platinum.

One of my fun things to do is look at systems on audiogon. I can't belive the horrible speaker placement. Speakers so far apart they couldn't possibly be getting a proper stereo image. Cables that cost more than thier components, dipole speakers pushed up against the wall. Almost every Martin Logan I saw was too close to the wall. ( I only hope some of these were posed for sake of the picture).

We have to pay some attention to the measurements.Let's not even mention how some audiophiles idea of "good sound" is ludicrous.