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My Grand Veenas have a substantially uniform 5 ohm impedance. My Quicksilver 88 amps have a 4 ohm and an 8 ohm tap. Which to use? Is the old ear test called for?
Edits: 06/24/14 06/24/14Follow Ups:
This is from 30 years ago, but what I recall: my speakers are nominally 8 ohm but in fact drop to ~6 ohms at some frequencies and present a very reactive load. The best audio engineer I ever knew instructed me to connect them to the 4-ohm taps on my amplifier: "a bit less power," he said, "but also less distortion and a higher damping factor."
Forgive me if I don't enter the endless "ears vs. specs" debate.
Jeremy
Use the 8 ohm tap or 4 you won't tell a difference. I have cremonas original can't tell a difference
I was using my GV with a VTL that only had a 6 ohm tap. But I would really think they would sound better on the 8 ohm tap. But your ears will tell you. On the correct tap they will sound slightly louder and more dynamic.
Oz
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill
Interesting. An article in Absolute Sound about the Heresy III suggests the speaker could be rated at 5 ohm, instead of 8 ohm, with a corresponding loss of sensitivity.
So, I've just switched the output on my PrimaLune Dialogue 4 to the 4 Ohm tap instead of the 8 Ohm. (I'm using Genelex Gold Lion KT77.)
There's quite a difference. Some would say more resolving, some would say more harsh in the pentode mode. The triode mode has almost disappeared, which is perhaps consistent with the decreased sensitivity. At 8 Ohms, I have found this speaker very smooth. (Others have found it harsh.)
More listening will ensue!
nt
By denying scientific principles, one may maintain any paradox.
Galileo Galilei
Edits: 06/24/14
I don't know much of anything about tube amps, but I do know that 5-ohms is closer to 4-ohms than 8-ohms. If your goal is to deliver the most power, the 4-ohm tap should do that better than the 8-ohm tap. Of course, it probably won't hurt anything to drive the speakers on either tap, so listening is always an acceptable way to make a decision.
Good luck,
John Elison
You really need to try both.
Yep....only YOUR ear can determine the winner.
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