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Impedance question

I have a pair of Acoustat 1+1s that are nominally 4ohms. Along with them I have an RH Labs subwoofer (RB 3p?) with a single 12" woofer and a high pass crossover that feeds the panels. This set up, while vintage, is very pleasing to me and I've never considered replacing it. The soundstage is amazing.

I'm driving them with an ARC VS-110 amplifier with outputs for 4, 6 or 8 ohms. I'm currently using the 6 ohm taps thinking that the sub with crossover would affect the impedance. When I first got the VS-110 I was concerned about stepping down from my previous solid state amps but the ARC really makes it all sing when I turn up the volume. 

I'm thinking of swapping down to the 4 ohm taps but am curious as to why 4 ohm vs 6 ohm would matter. Also what affect I would expect from doing the swap? 

Thanks much!

Happy listening.

 
 
 
128x128musicfan2349
larryi
4,033 posts
 

I take it that the subwoofer is a passive subwoofer?  It still would be the case that you could try any of the taps to hear the result and not worry about harming anything.  The supposedly wrong tap often sounds the best.

musicfan2349's avatar
musicfan2349 OP
238 posts
 

Okay, thank you all for your responses. I'll try the 4 ohm taps and let you know what I hear.

Happy listening.

 
 
 
boomerbillone
356 posts
 

Hello musicfan2349.  Feel free to experiment with the taps feeding your subwoofer. A tube amp doesn't much care what it drives. The transformer protects the amp, even from short circuits. A speaker changes impedence with frequency, air loading, and cabliing. Try everything and don't worry. You can even try the 4 ohm tap for the - and the 8 ohm tap for the +. Use what sounds best. The thing that a tube amp with an output transformer dislikes in an open circuit - no speaker on its output terminals. Give it a load and it will be happy. Happy listening!

musicfan2349's avatar
musicfan2349 OP
238 posts
 

Thanks much @boomerbillone !

 
 
 
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