2 ohm or 4 ohm

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=98239
Printed Date: May 09, 2025 at 1:28 PM

Topic: 2 ohm or 4 ohm

Posted By: aclone
Subject: 2 ohm or 4 ohm
Date Posted: October 23, 2007 at 4:16 AM

I have kappa infinity 6.1 splits, and a coustic 241se amp, the speakers are rated @100watts rms and are 4ohm , the amp can drive 2 speakers @ 60whatts per channel @ 4 ohm, or 2 speakers @ 2 ohm @120 whatts per channel.

Is it wise to wire these speakers 2 ohm x 120 watts, because I have heard having more power than required is preferable to under powering a speaker, and is there any degradation to the sound quality, going the 2 ohm way.

Thanks

Geoff

Replies:

Posted By: jmelton86
Date Posted: October 23, 2007 at 4:24 AM

Since they are 4ohm speakers, the amp will be loaded to 4ohms. You can't make 4ohm speakers load the amp to 2ohms. The speakers will each get about 60watts.

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2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001

Posted By: aclone
Date Posted: October 23, 2007 at 6:23 AM

Thankyou for the reply, maybe i asked the wrong question. In the setup below, the speakers are wired for a 2 ohm load. This is what I am thinking off doing, would this draw 120 watts per channel from my amp; see first post, or am I off track here.

2 x 4 Ohm speaker = 2 Ohm load

posted_image

Posted By: jmelton86
Date Posted: October 23, 2007 at 6:44 PM

How many speakers do you have, total? If you've only got 1 pair of 4ohm speakers, you can only wire 1 to each channel, for a 4ohm stereo load = about 60watts RMS x 2 @ 4ohms.

If you've got 2 pairs of 4ohmers, you can wire the 2 left speakers to the left output of the amp and the 2 right ones to the right output of the amp =120watts RMS x 2 @ 2ohms. -Your diagram for parallel wiring is correct. Note, you will lose fader capabilities.

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2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001

Posted By: aclone
Date Posted: October 24, 2007 at 12:41 AM

Thanks for your help, I have 2 speakers only, and now realise I'll be getting 60 watts per channel, excuse my nobby-ness.