Minimum recommended amplification requirements and amplifier matching

If it’s a "recommendation" and a "requirement" at the same time, I’d consider this "unusual". Typically this should be something like "recommend amplifier power", etc.

To this end generally speaking, an 8 ohm speaker will sound better that 4 ohms and a 16 ohm speaker better than that, all other things being equal. This is simply because no matter the amp, it will make less distortion into higher impedances, and that is audible because the amp will sound smoother and more detailed.

Hello @atmasphere

Please excuse me for asking, and I believe you already know my question comes with the utmost respect for your subject matter knowledge, but given your statement quoted above, aren’t you contradicting what you’ve stated in at least one other thread here on the forum?

It was/is my understanding that you’ve stated (paraphrasing) that *all* amplifiers have a "zone" within which they must operate to achieve lowest distortion. In other words, it was/is my understanding that what you’ve stated elsewhere is that if an amps volume is *to low*, that also creates unwanted and excessive (relative to its least possible) distortion. If that is true, then it seems conceivable that a 16 ohm load could cause an amplifiers volume control to be *to low* and create more distortion than it otherwise would if operated into a lower impedance.

Thank you.

The volume (power) level and the impedance of the speaker are different. For a given impedance regardless of the power, if the impedance is raised the distortion will be lower. So ideally the speaker would be of the efficiency and impedance that you can take advantage of both.

Very appreciative of the clarification @atmasphere 

One last question on this if I may. You mentioned in your 12:16pm post "...all other things being equal". Am I correct that you are also speaking of the *sound pressure level*? I ask because if so, again it would seem to me that higher speakers impedance (say 16 ohm instead of 8) would mean that one would need to raise the volume/power to achieve the same SPL, and hence in so doing could increase distortion if the amp is not operating in its "comfort zone".

Thanks again, atmasphere.

Thank you
@atmasphere

If a speaker manufacturer has the following specs; do they mean the recommended power in 8 ohms or 6 ohms?

Neither. I'd imagine the particular speaker manufacturer is providing a spec for minimum amplification because they are wanting to avoid clipping, which occurs more easily when lower powered amps are driven hard (played loud).  

You're welcome, celo.

IMO there is a little more to it than the numbers you've mentioned. For instance, how loud do you typically listen? The efficiency of the speaker would also play a role as to an accurate answer to your question. The fact that the wattage output capability is doubled when the impedance is halved is usually a sign of a high quality and power (current) capable device. The idea though is simply to avoid clipping. In general, if you're not listening at loud levels you would be fine.