ohms are the unit of measurement for impedance or resistance. It tells you how much a device will resist the flow of current. If you take two signals of exactly the same strength and send one to a 4-ohm speaker and the other to an 8-ohm speaker, twice as much current will flow through the 4-ohm speaker. In other words, the 8-ohm speaker will require twice as much power (wattage) to play at the same volume.
Also, amps have a minimum impedance (ohms) that they will run safely at. Usually between 1ohm and 4ohms. If you have a 2 channel that’s bridgeable, each channel may be 4ohm minimum but when bridged it may be able to run as low as 2 ohms. If you had 2 4 ohm subs and wired them parallel, they would equal 2 ohms and you could run that to a 2channel 4ohm amp bridged to operate at 2 ohms and that would be safe. Some amps do go down to 1 ohm but don’t do it unless the amp is rated for it or you’ll fry your amp.
March 10th, 2010 at 5:01 am
ohms are the unit of measurement for impedance or resistance. It tells you how much a device will resist the flow of current. If you take two signals of exactly the same strength and send one to a 4-ohm speaker and the other to an 8-ohm speaker, twice as much current will flow through the 4-ohm speaker. In other words, the 8-ohm speaker will require twice as much power (wattage) to play at the same volume.
March 10th, 2010 at 5:01 am
Also, amps have a minimum impedance (ohms) that they will run safely at. Usually between 1ohm and 4ohms. If you have a 2 channel that’s bridgeable, each channel may be 4ohm minimum but when bridged it may be able to run as low as 2 ohms. If you had 2 4 ohm subs and wired them parallel, they would equal 2 ohms and you could run that to a 2channel 4ohm amp bridged to operate at 2 ohms and that would be safe. Some amps do go down to 1 ohm but don’t do it unless the amp is rated for it or you’ll fry your amp.