I have an 8 ohm amplifier. Can I power 8ohm speakers?

[hybridauth_Twitter_177923058]

Hi,
I have a Marantz PM350 power amplifier with:
Power output: 38 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo).

Can I power 8ohm stereo speakers with power rating of 10-100w?
Thanks

 

[RobinKidderminster]

100%

 

[macdiddy]

*good*

 

[CnoEvil]

It depends on the impedance curve of the speakers ie. do they drop to under 4 Ohms.

...though TBF, I suspect you'll be fine.

 

[davedotco]

It depends on the impedance curve of the speakers ie. do they drop to under 4 Ohms.

...though TBF, I suspect you'll be fine.

With a nominal impedance of 8 ohms the impedance really should not drop significantly below 8 ohms, though it would appear no one nothered to tell B&W that.

I am more concerned by what is 'behind' the question, given it's apparent obviousness. Are we straying into 'it's only 38 watts into speakers with a 100watt maximum rating, so I can run the amplifier at maximum volume' territory here?

 

[CnoEvil]

It depends on the impedance curve of the speakers ie. do they drop to under 4 Ohms.

...though TBF, I suspect you'll be fine.

With a nominal impedance of 8 ohms the impedance really should not drop significantly below 8 ohms, though it would appear no one nothered to tell B&W that.

...or Kef.

 

[davedotco]

Just goes to prove that my aversion to all things Kef and B&W has some basis in the real world....*diablo*

 

[CnoEvil]

Just goes to prove that my aversion to all things Kef and B&W has some basis in the real world....*diablo*

Well, you're half right. *blum3*

 

[MajorFubar]

Why can't we just give the newby the straightforward Yes answer his question deserves, without complicating it by going into depths he probably won't understand and won't be interested in. He just wants a Yes or No answer.

I once read a very amusing article about how internet forums would deal with the question "how do I put on a coat", and the hypothetical thread ran to nearly 200 replies, some even questioning the existence of the coat, before inevitably falling foul of Godwin's Law.

 

[TrevC]

It depends on the impedance curve of the speakers ie. do they drop to under 4 Ohms.

...though TBF, I suspect you'll be fine.

Is there an impedance curve for every speaker WHF tests? If not, how would you know if your ***** rated speaker is a difficult load? In the absence of a frequency response graph, how can you tell if the speakers are going to sound a bit bright?

 

[CnoEvil]

Why can't we just give the newby the straightforward Yes answer his question deserves, without complicating it by going into depths he probably won't understand and won't be interested in. He just wants a Yes or No answer.

If the specs of the speaker were known, along with the amps power into 4 Ohms...and the volume that the OP wants to listen to, a Yes/No answer would be much easier.

The fact that the speaker lists Amps from 10W and above, is the reason I said there would likely be no problem. I prefer to be a little cautious with other people's money.

 

[davedotco]

Why can't we just give the newby the straightforward Yes answer his question deserves, without complicating it by going into depths he probably won't understand and won't be interested in. He just wants a Yes or No answer.

I once read a very amusing article about how internet forums would deal with the question "how do I put on a coat", and the hypothetical thread ran to nearly 200 replies, some even questioning the existence of the coat, before inevitably falling foul of Godwin's Law.

As I said, I am concerned by the absolute straightforwardness of the question. It is so straightforward that I find myself wondering what is not being asked......*unknw*

 

[MajorFubar]

As I said, I am concerned by the absolute straightforwardness of the question. It is so straightforward that I find myself wondering what is not being asked......*unknw*

It's so straightforward a question that any answer beyond a basic Yes or No sounds like it's not going to be constructively helpful to the OP's cause. The bottom line answer (with the caveat of a few million other considerations which he won't have thought about, and that are material to us as pedants, but not to him as a newby asking what we think is an over simplistic question)...is just simply 'Yes'.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Love your post
To many smart arses and small men syndrome going on here.

Ive just posted a similar thing on a simple cable thickness thread.

 

[bigboss]

As I said, I am concerned by the absolute straightforwardness of the question. It is so straightforward that I find myself wondering what is not being asked......*unknw*

It's so straightforward a question that any answer beyond a basic Yes or No sounds like it's not going to be constructively helpful to the OP's cause. The bottom line answer (with the caveat of a few million other considerations which he won't have thought about, and that are material to us as pedants, but not to him as a newby asking what we think is an over simplistic question)...is just simply 'Yes'.

TBF, the first 2 replies already answered the OP's question. If the OP wishes to know about it in more detail, read further on!

 

[CnoEvil]

It depends on the impedance curve of the speakers ie. do they drop to under 4 Ohms.

...though TBF, I suspect you'll be fine.

Is there an impedance curve for every speaker WHF tests? If not, how would you know if your ***** rated speaker is a difficult load? In the absence of a frequency response graph, how can you tell if the speakers are going to sound a bit bright?

Some list their minimum impedance (3.2 Ohms in my case), which gives an idea....then it's a matter of trying it.

Generally I determin if a speaker is bright (with a particular amp), by listening to it....when it comes to personal preference, "bright" is subjective.

 

[manicm]

With a nominal impedance of 8 ohms the impedance really should not drop significantly below 8 ohms, though it would appear no one nothered to tell B&W that.

In fairness B&W state their minimum impedance which nobody bothers to read before weeping pain and tears. For example they state the specs for the 685 S2 as 8Ω (minimum 3.5Ω). But nooooo......

 

[Vladimir]

That is because one needs not read 'specs' but just listen with their ears and synergy will sparkle in the horizon.

 

[CnoEvil]

Love your post To many smart arses and small men syndrome going on here.

This is nothing to do with being a smart arse and everything about finding out enough about the OP's situation to give accurate advice.

To know if the amp/speaker combination is suitable, you need to know what speakers he is using, what size of room they are in and how loud he likes to play his system. Without this knowledge, the answer is nothing but an over simplistic guess.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Love your post To many smart arses and small men syndrome going on here.

This is nothing to do with being a smart arse and everything about finding out enough about the OP's situation to give accurate advice.

To know if the amp/speaker combination is suitable, you need to know what speakers he is using, what size of room they are in and how loud he likes to play his system. Without this knowledge, the answer is nothing but an over simplistic guess.

 

Fair enough and that is correct but its the way the questions are being asked almost in a way that be-littles the one asking. I just find the manners a bit rude or am i just reacting to the all amps sound the same thread

 

[CnoEvil]

Fair enough and that is correct but its the way the questions are being asked almost in a way that be-littles the one asking. I just find the manners a bit rude or am i just reacting to the all amps sound the same thread

I think you are muddling me with someone else.....I certainly don't need to insult others from behind a keyboard, just to boost my ego.

 

[Andrewjvt]

I re-read the replies and think i got that one wrong.
I was re-acting to other threads ive read where people are asking advice and the people that reply often in my opinion seem more intent on showing up the chap or trying to show up other people that are trying to help.

So sorry cno

 

[iQ Speakers]

Cno certainly does not fall into that camp.

However I do wonder how some people get through life! A very quick Google would answer a lot of these questions.

 

[CnoEvil]

I re-read the replies and think i got that one wrong. I was re-acting to other threads ive read where people are asking advice and the people that reply often in my opinion seem more intent on showing up the chap or trying to show up other people that are trying to help.

So sorry cno

No problem.

 

[steve_1979]

It depends on the impedance curve of the speakers ie. do they drop to under 4 Ohms.

...though TBF, I suspect you'll be fine.

Is there an impedance curve for every speaker WHF tests? If not, how would you know if your ***** rated speaker is a difficult load? In the absence of a frequency response graph, how can you tell if the speakers are going to sound a bit bright?

+1

I've said that to them several times over the past few years but they never reply.