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What does switching back of amp from 8 to 4 ohms do?

I have three speakers including a center and the left and right are connected to 4 ohm jacks on the back of the 600 W mono blocks i have.
I have a Multi channel amp that has 250 W and only have the center connected to it. The switch on the back of this app can toggle between four and eight Ohms.

If I change the switch on the back of the multi channel amp from 8 to 4 Ohms how will things be impacted?

Will volume levels be reduced? Impact to sound quality? Good idea?

I use 4 ohms for the main speakers as I was told it would be better since I have more than enough power to drive them. Not sure what difference it makes

Thought changing the center speaker to 4 might be good to be consistent with the left and right speakers

jumia

Showing 1 response by clearthinker

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

@gregdude 

You're right Greg.  Russ's answer is pretty much the same as most of the others.

Very few speakers have traces that don't go below 6 ohms.  Ergo very few speakers should be connected to the 8 ohm tap.  Mainly only 'full-range' horns and that kind of rarely used stuff.

Also consider the phase angle.  Bad combinations of phase angle and low ohms at particular low frequencies mandate the 4 ohm tap.  Read John Atkinson's tests in Stereophile.

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