AudiogoN
Search Buy Sell Learn MyPage
 Learn > Forums > Amps Preamps > 1264598707  Start New Thread | Log In | Bookmark This
  Running 4 speakers from a 2-channel amp
I love the sound of 4 speakers playing at once around me. I've got a simple old SS amp, Luxman L507 (mid-1970's) that runs 4 speakers at once. I'm running a pair of Yamaha NS-1000x (6 Ohm) as mains, and a tweaked set of B&W 805Ns (8 Ohm) as B's.

I'm talking here about 2-channel sound, 4 speakers, not 4-channel surround sound.

I've been looking for a higher-end amp, but find almost all are two-channels only, with ports for only two speakers.

Some great old Luxman tube amps offer 4 channels, but only one pair at a time is available on the selector ("A or B," not "A and B"). One shop told me they could have one modified for me to be able to play 4 speakers, at only a small cost.

Another shop told me that playing 4 speakers at once, even on my current old Luxman, which has the "A and B" option, overburdens the amp and shortens it's life.

I wonder - can't we wire-up 4 speakers, say two on each side in parallel, like in so many car stereo setups?

Am I really limited to only 2 speakers with a 2-channel amp?
Jimthewebguy  (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-27-10
  Responses (1-27 of 27)
Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

01-27-10   With those two speakers running paralleled,the combined resi ...   Hifitime

01-27-10   There are a number of speaker selectors (niles comes to mind ...   Loomisjohnson

01-27-10   I found this on the net.one last thing,0 ohms is a direct sh ...   Hifitime

01-27-10   A much better solution would be to get a second power-amp or ...   Kirkus

01-28-10   Hifitime - yes, in parallel that looks bad. i suppose that ...   Jimthewebguy

01-28-10   Heat does shorten transistors life.running two 8 ohm speaker ...   Hifitime

02-01-10   Thank you all for the facts n ideas. it sure cut out a lot o ...   Jimthewebguy

02-04-10   I am running 18 separate speakers, that are "passive&qu ...   Bjpd57a1

02-05-10   Find a used david hafler dh-200, dh-220 or dh-500. all can ...   Rodman99999

02-05-10   Re connecting speakers in series: 1)to the extent that the ...   Almarg

02-05-10   Besides what almarg mentioned about running speakers in seri ...   Hifitime

02-05-10   with much respect, hifitime, i don't think that is true. i ...   Almarg

02-05-10   Re: series connection- anytime components are added to a si ...   Rodman99999

02-05-10   Re;series ...   Hifitime

02-05-10   Hello mr h- the highs that pass through the inductor of a s ...   Rodman99999

02-06-10   Hmm, actually hifitime's statement about highs passing throu ...   Almarg

02-12-10   Thanks all you ppl for this insightful thread. i had initial ...   Jimthewebguy

02-14-10   The bottom line: 1.respect ohms law! 2.use a "real&qu ...   Bjpd57a1

02-15-10: Renjy651
Jimthewebguy -

Only very high-end integrated amps offer two pairs of speakers. The Luxman L505U offers two pairs of speakers, which allows you to utilize A+B. This is achieved through employing Takasina capacitors, which are custom-made capacitors that Luxman uses in all of its amplifiers. These capacitors are used in parellel circuitry - and thereby permits the bi-wiring of a single-set of speakers.

I completely agree with Bjpd57a1. Without two pairs of speakers, even the highest-quality amps cannot achieve the highest levels of quality that quadrophonic systems can. However many high-end companies (such as Bryston and Krell) do not offer two pairs of speakers because it entails extra production costs (due to the added circuitry). When you use A+B, make sure that the speakers are 8-ohms.

Jimthewebguy, you used your old Luxman L507 with four speakers without problems. I used my old Luxman1120 for 29 years without any problem. There is no sound that can beat a four-speaker system.

Renjy651  (Threads | Answers | This Thread)


03-16-10   Thank you renjy651 for that last comment. i can't agree more ...   Jimthewebguy

04-16-10   Just an update in case anyone is interested i listened to th ...   Jimthewebguy

04-16-10   Al - i would never connect speakers in series but i believe ...   Kijanki

04-16-10   Jim -- thanks for the update. enjoy! kijanki -- that's an ...   Almarg

04-18-10   Thanks kijanki . . . a good explanitation of why it can be a ...   Kirkus

04-19-10   Kirkus - i remember seeing large bass guitar stacks that had ...   Kijanki

04-19-10   actually, just about every instrument cabinet i can think of ...   Kirkus

05-08-10   I have had fantastic success in running speakers in series. ...   Astralography


  Post your response
Subject


Your response

No html, but you may use markup tags


Username
Members only

Password