Wiring the two speakers to be equal to 8 ohms is not an easy task. All this is because the wiring cannot occur unless you use a different method to carry out your job. The primary approach to use when wiring the ohm speakers is to use a single 8-ohm speaker. Or to connect the speakers in a series way for different 16 ohms or instead in a parallel manner with 4 ohms. In most cases, the question above arises when people need a connection between two 8 ohm speakers to be the same as the 8-ohm load on the amplifier.
When you want to wire two speakers to equal one speaker, you need to follow some methods. The first method is to connect the two speakers in series with 16 ohms. Another way is to connect the two speakers in parallel with 4 ohms. To wire in series, ensure you have a small resistor that has 5 ohms and 3 ohms that can sum up to a total of 8 ohms. While parallel, the connection needs two 8 ohm speakers that make 4 ohms.
The article below discusses the different ways of wiring the two speakers to use parallel and series paths. After that are the steps you must follow during the wiring process. There are also methods of wiring the two 8 ohms speakers to equal 8 ohms.
Ways of connecting
1. Parallel way of connecting the two 8 ohm speakers
Connecting two 8 ohm speakers in parallel produces an output load amount of 4 ohms. In this way of connection, the speakers can fail to work since 4 ohms in a speaker is very low for an amplifier that has a design to accommodate at least a load of 8 ohms.
However, one can quickly get the appropriate number of ohms by calculating them. Since the connection of speakers in parallel with the same resistance needs dividing the resistance with the number of speakers available in parallel. Therefore, in this case, to get the ohms to divide 8 ohms by 2 to get 4 ohms.
When one wires the speakers in parallel and the amplifier is not in a way to support 4 ohms, then it can cause some damage to the speaker since the resistance will be very low for the amplifier. But in most cases, the amplifiers are made to support 4 ohms, or some have a tuner that can accommodate the 4 ohms speakers.
Therefore when using the parallel mode, ensure you take the preventive measure of the connection. A parallel method of connection is dangerous for use in any form of connecting speakers in the house.
2. Series way of connecting the two 8 ohm speakers
Series way of connection is a bit safer than the parallel way of connection since it produces a higher resistance than the amplifier can handle, making the quality sound when listening to music. The total amount of resistance in the series way is 16 ohms. Therefore, the type of connection is best for use with a load of 8 ohms or more than that.
The only issue is that the amp may not operate fully, especially if it is designed for variable loads even higher than 16 ohms. However, this load will not damage your amp.
In any case, while you will be operating at less power, the speakers should sound just fine.
Methods of wiring the two speakers
Method 1: Use of a speaker selector switch
There are many ways of connecting the two speakers to one speaker, which is instead an amplifier. However, when you do not want to get the highest amount of power in the speaker, then a speaker selector switch is the best option since it has a 5-ohm resistor in series. A 3-ohm resistor can also work so long as the connection is in series. A selector switch helps in adding the two speakers in parallel for a total resistance of 4 ohms.
There are different examples to use when connecting the speakers. In this case, the resistors will serve no purpose other than helping you achieve 8 ohms. The downside is that they will use half of the power from the amplifier and waste it as heat. Suppose you require maximum power output. Maximum power will not be the best way to go. However, if you do this, the amplifier’s output power will be reduced by 3dB compared to using just one 8 ohm speaker. If you connect a subwoofer, you can use a subwoofer Y splitter cable to compensate for the 3dB loss.
Method2: Mixing Speakers Of Different Wattage
Mixing speakers of different wattages is very common, and there is no problem doing so. You can combine other wattage rating speakers, but you need to remember that you can’t use more than double the power of the lowest-rated speaker. Remember, you cannot just double up speakers for twice the impedance. The amp doesn’t know how to give the higher-rated speaker more power, so it just splits the power you have equally between the two.
Frequently asked questions:
- How To Wire Two 8 Ohm Speakers For Maximum Power?
It is essential that you match your speaker’s load with your amplifier’s output impedance for several reasons: You will get maximum power transfer from the amp to the speakers. You can damage your amp if you attach an incorrect load (speaker of wrong impedance). If you are unsure, it is best to get a higher impedance speaker to help protect your amp. If you are looking to achieve maximum power output, your best bet is to use a single 8-ohm speaker.
Conclusion
Wiring the two speakers to one is not an easy task, and some people assume it is not possible since it can cause damages to both the speaker due to excess power or resistance that the speaker cannot handle. The article above shows the different possible ways of connecting the two speakers, but it is not accurate.
However, you can opt to use a different method to connect the speakers in parallel, which is a dangerous way that can cause more significant damage to the speaker since you have to use a 4 ohms speaker to complete the task. Follow the article to identify the possible way of connecting the two speakers.
