Increase total Speaker Impedance Question

Thank you all for your response and help. Yes, all of the speakers are different models and hence each have its own unique crossover that I ordered from Parts Express. As a results the only way to make it sonically plausible is to wire them in a parallel. However, the current parallel wiring has reduced the total Ohm to 1.6, too dangerous for the amplifier to handle. I have ordered two 3 ohm wirewound resistor rated at 200 watt. It will be placed between the receiver and the speakers. Would that seriously damage sound quality? I'll try it either way and let you know how it turns out. Thanks!!

By the way the receiver is rated at 125 watt each channel, so 200 watt resistor should be sufficient?

Hi Bill and Almarg,

Thanks again for your detailed explanation. I understand the power loss in this setup. However, I am still having difficulty grasping why the sound quality would also take a turn for the worse. Will the frequencies be improperly passed or cut off by the resistor? If not, then, all frequencies will still be passed to the speakers, but at lower power, and that shouldn't affect the sound at all theoretically isn't it?

Thanks!!

Thanks again Bill and Al,

So in short, there's no way to rectify my current situation with a resistor. Is there possible to redesign a 4 way crossover so that the speakers can be wired as a series or series-parallel? Or, as a last resort, to use separate amplifiers for each channel.....

Hi Al and Bill,

Thanks again for all your inputs. Once the resistors arrive, I'll let you know how it goes.

A challenge with using multiple amps for a speaker is that the pre-out connection on the pre-amp cannot be split. If I use a splitter, i.e. a Y analogue splitter, the sound becomes super muddy and awkward. I would need a device that has a single channel input but have several binding posts.

Thanks!
Ryan

I'm thinking something like the Henry Engineering PatchBox II Stereo Output Multiplier may work. It's got a balanced input with multiple balanced and unbalanced outputs. If that works it actually solves all the problems.

Hi Bill and Al,

I would like to thank you for all your invaluable inputs. After thorough testing, I cannot tell a difference (besides loudness) between using a 3 ohm resistor vs splitting the speakers (tri-wiring). Therefore, I would like to say the idea of adding a resistor is a success. Although like you said, there maybe theoretical sonic differences, such difference is probably too small at this level to be perceived by my ears. As I don't have such good ears, I will settle with a resistor in the middle. Again, Thanks for everyone's great inputs.

Ait, thanks for letting me know the Speltz Zero Autoformer as I never knew such stuff exists. However, at $1140 a pair, I am happy to settle with a $26 pair of US-made resistors. When my boss gives me a raise in the future, I'll definitely consider them : )

Thanks,
Ryan