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Which speaker post to use: 4 ohm or 8 ohm?

OK, this is hardly an emergency, but I have an ARC VSi60 intergated amp connnected to Green Mountian Audio Continuum speakers and I'm not sure which of the amp's speaker posts to use. It has 4-ohm and 8-ohm available. The speaker's designeer told me the speakers were 6-ohm virtually across the spectrum. Right in the middle.
I know John Atkinson's measurement column in the Stereophile review of the VSi60 stated that the speaker impedance should be higher than the terminal, implying I should use the 4-ohm terminals. But I've tried it both ways and I'm not sure I hear any difference. So I guess it doesn't matter.
But i would like to hear your thoughts on the subject!
achilles

Showing 1 response by jeffreybehr

jeffreybehr's avatar
jeffreybehr
805 posts
 
Strong accent, huh? It's 'integrated'. ... :-)

The answers are 'either' and 'try it again and listen carefully, back and forth'. You'll get more* Voltage gain (= loudness) from the 8-Ohm tap, but the bass drivers will be damped better from the 4-Ohm tap.

* 'More' until the amp clips.
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