Connecting Speakers in Series - Possible to combine Ohm-load to receivers?

[JJ]

I.e., say the Marantz SR-700sreceiver recommends a minimum of a 6 Ohm load for surround/back speakers. If I were to connect two 3-Ohm speakers in series, as such:



Would the Marantz read it as a 6-ohm load, and as thus still be acceptable?

Is there a risk to this? Downsides? Reasons why I shouldn't do it?

Thanks in advance!

[arush5268d]

I'm digging the paint picture!

[mdabb]

what speakers are you trying to do that to???

[JJ]

Originally Posted by mdabb

what speakers are you trying to that to???

Haha, you don't want to know,

I just want to know from an electrical engineering standpoint. If it is possible, if it is not, why; and any downsides to doing this.

[mdabb]

Don't worry just say!!!!!!! It will work but.............. need some info.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by mdabb

Don't worry just say!!!!!!! It will work but.............. need some info.

I plan on using my old Samsung HTiB towers as surrounds, but they have 3-ohm loads each, so I was thinking of combining them until I can upgrade them to Polk Monitor 50s.

A pair of these:



Not as crappy as your usual HTiB speakers,

Good god, imagine them next to the B&Ws I plan on getting,

[mdabb]

You might have some phase/cancellation issues. I would just live without the surrounds until you get the ones you want.

It will work though if you were worried about harming your receiver.

[cravnsn]

Answer here:

http://www.termpro.com/articles/spkrz.html

[JJ]

Originally Posted by mdabb

You might have some phase/cancellation issues. I would just live without the surrounds until you get the ones you want.

It will work though if you were worried about harming your receiver.

Explain a bit more? What does phase/cancellation mean?

And thanks Crav, so it is safe - I just might have some sonic issues?

[cravnsn]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Explain a bit more? What does phase/cancellation mean?

And thanks Crav, so it is safe - I just might have some sonic issues?

It won't hurt the amp to try, then just see how it sounds

[JJ]

Originally Posted by cravnsn

It won't hurt the amp to try, then just see how it sounds

And just to be sure, I use a positive strand of wire to connect the two speakers?

[cravnsn]

There's no such thing as a "positive strand of wire" – your drawing is correct – one wire going to the + of one speaker, the – to the + of the other, and the – to the – of the amp. You do understand though that this will result in both speakers playing the same channel, right?

[mdabb]

Let me see if I can do it justice...................An in depth explanation is likely to be online somewhere.

It is likely to sound off like something is missing.

When I worked at a car audio install shop this was a common problem with multiple woofers/sub-woofers. A solution was to wire them out of phase.

One woofer would be wired normal polarity wise and the other woofer opposite polarity. The woofers wouldn't work against each other. It's kind of hard to explain kind of but not really and it is easier for me to show you.

Give me a minute and I'll see what I can find. It's not really that difficult but I have a hard time putting it into words.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by cravnsn

There's no such thing as a "positive strand of wire" – your drawing is correct – one wire going to the + of one speaker, the – to the + of the other, and the – to the – of the amp. You do understand though that this will result in both speakers playing the same channel, right?

Wait, wait, then why are speaker wires divided into the + strand and into the - strand?!

Yes, I understand that though. And thanks, mdabb.

[mdabb]

This will help better than I can put into words.

http://www.audiocourses.com/article1664.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interference

[JJ]

Originally Posted by mdabb

This will help better than I can put into words.

http://www.audiocourses.com/article1664.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interference

Hmm - something I don't understand - if the same signal is being sent to both speakers - wouldn't it be constructive? Unless there is a delay in the signals, in which case they occasionally will encounter destructive intereference? Since it is safe, I will test it out and see how it sounds.

And Cravn, you still haven't gotten back to me,

[cravnsn]

One wire strand is designated positive to keep the proper phase to that speaker. It’s simply a designation so you know which strand to hook up to the positive and which to the negative. The wire itself is the same.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by cravnsn

One wire strand is designated positive to keep the proper phase to that speaker. It’s simply a designation so you know which strand to hook up to the positive and which to the negative. The wire itself is the same.

Oh - lol. I feel sheepish. Baaaa. Thanks.