Question

Connect amp 4 speaker wiring 4-8ohm speakers

  • 23 September 2017
  • 7 replies
  • 1034 views

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Hi there. I've just added a connect:amp to my collection and have 2 speakers connected that are rated at 4-8 ohm. Does this mean I can't wire in another pair of 8 ohm speakers? What does 4-8 ohm mean? Surely they are either 4 or 8 or 6? Cheers

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7 replies

The ohms/impedance is a measure of how much power the speakers draw to deliver sound and for most speakers more power is needed/drawn to deliver lower frequency content than higher, so the impedance keeps varying with a range.

The Connect Amp can only give power enough to one speaker pair, if it will draw power in such a way that impedance drops to 4 ohms.

To add another speaker pair, you need an impedance matching device between the amp and all speakers. It will then restrict the power draw such that the Connect Amp is not asked to deliver more power than it can deliver. The consequence will be lower sound levels from the speakers.
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Are these devices easy to come by and reasonable?
I think so, though I have never needed to use them.
An example - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NJHAFQ
This one is to serve 4 speaker pairs, I am sure there are those that support just 2 pairs as well. Volume can be controlled independently for each speaker pair, impedance matching can be selected and most that I have seen don't even need a power supply.
Another link with a review by someone that has used it with Connect Amp: https://www.amazon.com/Niles-SSVC-2-Speaker-Selector/dp/B00022LD7A/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1506164934&sr=1-2&keywords=niles+ssvc-2+speaker+selector

But USD 314 for it seems to be wrong/too high, IMO. Worth investigating further.
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I'm in the UK but seems like just the thing! Probably better to spend that money on a different pair of speakers if it was $300+
There is no reason it should be that high, many don't even need mains power to be applied to them.
See this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monoprice-2-Channel-Speaker-Selector-Control/dp/B01M7MGHAQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1506177870&sr=8-4-fkmr0&keywords=Speaker+selector+SSVC+2+channel
IMO even 50 quid is too high but it must not sell in too many numbers to allow for a lower price.
A cheaper one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/B-Tech-BT12-Speaker-Control-Terminals/dp/B001JLGEWM/ref=pd_sbs_107_15?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=46T2144SAJ0ANY7EJS62

But some reviews say their unit has its wires crossed inside!!