High Efficiency Speaker Asylum

Need speakers that can rock with just one watt? You found da place.

Return to High Efficiency Speaker Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

A Simple Question I don't Know The Answer To!

67.8.39.61
Posted on July 6, 2020 at 04:01:55
thetubeguy1954
Audiophile

Posts: 6112
Location: Orlando, Fla
Joined: January 7, 2001
 Hey Guys,

If I connected an 8 ohm speaker to the 4 ohm taps of my Mastersound SET amplifier, would it cause any problems? If yes, what types of problems? If no, would I get results that I might expect to hear sonically? If so, would it be more or less bass, more or less highs, other sonic changes?

TIA.



Thetubeguy1954 (Tom)

Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers


 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: A Simple Question I don't Know The Answer To!, posted on July 6, 2020 at 09:22:49
moray james
Manufacturer

Posts: 1599
Location: Calgary on the Bow
Joined: May 19, 2002
 no problem all that would happen is that you wold transfer a little less power from the amp to the loudspeaker than you would if you were a connecting it to an 8 ohm tap. Generally I find that if you have a multi impedance output transformer (which is a design compromise to begin with)you will get the best sound quality it you connect your loudspeaker no matter the impedance to the highest impedance tap because in this way you will load the full output winding of the transformer.If you connect to a lower impedance tap you will then leave some portion of the secondary winding un loaded and free to resonate.
moray james

 

The 4 ohm tap has a lower impedance than the 8 ohm tap..., posted on July 6, 2020 at 11:20:31
viridian
 .....so a greater damping factor. This will control the woofer differently than the 8 ohm tap and will sound different in the bass. Additionally, as mentioned, power deliver is usually greatest into a matched load, so you will sacrifice a bit of power, and there will be no danger to the amp, or speakers.

As to getting the results that you expect, that's between you, and Dionne Warwick. I'm not a member of the club.

 

RE: A Simple Question I don't Know The Answer To!, posted on July 6, 2020 at 12:00:55
Bill Fitzmaurice
Industry Professional

Posts: 5370
Location: New England
Joined: October 20, 2002
 It may not cause any problem at all. However, tube amps in general don't care for running a higher impedance load than the tap rating, and aren't particularly bothered by running a lower impedance load than the tap rating. In this regard they're the opposite of SS.

 

RE: A Simple Question I don't Know The Answer To!, posted on July 6, 2020 at 12:27:57
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17297
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 No problems.

Less power, less bass extension, more bass damping, better high frequency extension and lower harmonic distortion. Each of these only to a very very small amount.

Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED BELOW!, posted on July 6, 2020 at 14:39:02
thetubeguy1954
Audiophile

Posts: 6112
Location: Orlando, Fla
Joined: January 7, 2001
 I deeply appreciate the time you all took from your day to not only answer my question, but even more so you all went even further and explained not only what would happen, but why it would happen! People like you are the reason why Audio Asylum is such a great audio forum.

Thanks Again,



Thetubeguy1954 (Tom)

Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers


 

Even A..., posted on July 7, 2020 at 16:32:12
Gerry E.
Audiophile

Posts: 2192
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Joined: February 19, 2000
 16 ohm tap to a speaker whose minimal impedance is 4 ohms in the the 40 - 160hz range? Thanks!

 

RE: A Simple Question I don't Know The Answer To!, posted on July 7, 2020 at 23:27:34
Paul Joppa
Industry Professional

Posts: 7295
Location: Seattle, WA
Joined: April 23, 2001
 You are right about the power; I'll just add that there's a small decrease in measurable distortion (probably not audible) and a greater damping factor (probably audible).

There are a lot of ways to do secondary windings, and not all of them work best at the highest-impedance taps. It's a high-frequency effect. The amp in question is an SET, so the operating conditions of the output tube have a big effect on the choice of tap. This is a lower frequency effect.

Just sayin' ...

 

Page processed in 0.028 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]