posted
I've read that running at 2 ohm sacrifices sound quality. Is this true? I'm asking this question about component speakers, not subwoofers.
I own 2 sets of Image Dynamics CXS62 (2ohm) and finally have a vehicle worth installing them in. The amps I'm looking at to push them are on the high end ... Audison LRx 4.5, Arc 4150XXK, Arc KS300.4, JL HD600/4, Nakamichi PA-4100 or Zapco I-4100.
Will I loose SQ if I run these 2ohm speakers using one of these high quality amps? Should I ditch the 2ohm and go for the 4ohm speakers/amp?
posted
Nope, shouldn't hurt a thing provided the amp will run them.
-------------------- Team Image Dynamics/Zapco/Werewolf/JK Lab Team Kinetik Sick Bastard Audio SQ Who feels it knows it Posts: 7993 | From: Charlotte,NC USA | Registered: May 1999
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posted
no personal experience with the other amps, but the JL HD600/4 is awesome. sold and installed a few of those here at the shop.
Posts: 5494 | From: Columbus, OH - formerly FL | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
As I understand running an amp at a lower impedance yields a lower damping factor (ability for the amplifier to control movement of the speaker).
Case in point, on JL's website they have the damping factor listed for the 600/4 as:
300 @ 4 ohm per ch. / 50 Hz 150 @ 2 ohm per ch. / 50 Hz
With a halved damping factor at 2ohm, the amplifier is less able to control the movement of the speaker.
Less control = lower sound quality? Is this problem relevant to 6.5" midbass components, or only to >10" subwoofers?
Posts: 161 | From: Missouri | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
Well, you have to look at the system damping factor, not just the amp's. A system Q of over about 10 is pretty good...and you can't really hear much improvement. I wouldn't be too concerned with DF as a single spec.
-------------------- Team Image Dynamics/Zapco/Werewolf/JK Lab Team Kinetik Sick Bastard Audio SQ Who feels it knows it Posts: 7993 | From: Charlotte,NC USA | Registered: May 1999
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-------------------- Team Image Dynamics/Zapco/Werewolf/JK Lab Team Kinetik Sick Bastard Audio SQ Who feels it knows it Posts: 7993 | From: Charlotte,NC USA | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Not sure about those speakers, but I run a lot of pro audio stuff in my setups and 8 ohms are louder and cleaner then 4 ohms on the same amp. You should get an extra 3db by dropping the impedance in half but you don't. not sure if its a power compression issue with the speaker coils or what, but for sq the higher the impedance the better the sound form my experience.
Oh......also, Damping factor is only in the 200 - 300 area under a few hundred Hz. And Winslow is right. A Damping factor of 10 is good enough. BUT above 400hz the damping factor on all amps goes to crap. Its goes way below 10 in the high frequencies. But, its ok because a good speaker will behave like a purely resistive load at higher frequencies.
bottom line, depends on the your amps internal feedback control loop design. Personally I go with higher impedance on everything above a few hundred hz even if Im getting less power out of my amps. 8 ohm mids and tweets are way more efficient and way better sounding. Thats just me........
Actually I just realized I assumed your talking about midbass or higher........If your talking about subs Its just depends on the setup. If you want good sq sub, buy what ever speaker has the lowest Qes specification. go for about 0.3 or lower. find a light cone, with a big magnet and tight magnet gap......edgewound coils are always a sign you've entered into the SQ area too.........
Posts: 1269 | From: Fullerton. CA ,USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
well you will double the THD rating as well so you will need a very clean amp
Posts: 128 | From: Evansville, Indiana | Registered: Aug 2008
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I replaced my 4 ohm polk audio mids with 8 ohm audax and they didnt get any quieter, they just sound better. Im in the process of doing the same to the tweets. Good luck with what ever u end up doing.
-------------------- -93 Prelude- cmpx2 15" Autotek mm4000.1 Zapco AG750 (on fronts) Audax 6.5" mids M&K domes Alpine CDA-7894 redtop up front 2 bluetops in trunk Posts: 257 | From: SACRAMENTO | Registered: Jul 2007
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i like the audax speakers. I have a few of the aeragel's, 4" and 6.5" i believe. good spks.
Posts: 5494 | From: Columbus, OH - formerly FL | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Yup I run audax speakers before and they are really good.
-------------------- 95 GMC SAFARI [ASTRO]4 MMATS JUGGS 15'S 4 MMATS D3000.1 24 CUBES 240 SQUARE INCH OF PORT @35 HZ 155+ TL ON THE DASH IN A STREET SETUP Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment. Rita Mae Brown Posts: 103 | From: British Virgin Islands | Registered: Sep 2008
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