What controls Ohms?

[Mr. Clark]

I have seen on several amps I have looked at something like 500Watts @ 4 ohms, 1000 Watts at 2 Ohms... but none of the amps had any type of switch, so what controls 4 vs 2?

Thanks

 

[BensonRacing]

The drivers used and the # of drivers you use will regulate which rating the amp will run at. You can get around the ohms by wiring the subs in a different pattern to acheive the final load you want.
BB

 

[yakmar]

For STRAIGHT FORWARD applications, usually the speaker or subwoofer you buy will tell you what the resistance to electrical flow is (in the specifications).
For example, if your speakers are rated at 2ohm and the ratings on the amp is 500W @4ohm and 1000W @2ohm then the amp will supply up to 1000W to the speaker.

For more complicated systems, in which you get into SERIES or PARALLEL wiring of speakers, you better off speaking to ENKEIAV, DS, or KODIAZ (if I left someone out, its not intentional!)

 

[azfun]

Mr. Clark,

Ohms is controleed by OHM's law.
See http://ohmslaw.com/

V=IR
Voltage = Current (I) x Resistance
Watts is a power measruement P=VI
Power (Watts) = Voltage x Current (I)

Hope this helps

Azfun

 

[sperry]

Mr. Clark,

Ohms is controleed by OHM's law.
See http://ohmslaw.com/

V=IR
Voltage = Current (I) x Resistance
Watts is a power measruement P=VI
Power (Watts) = Voltage x Current (I)

Hope this helps


Azfun

It!

Physics & Math!

 

[Mr. Clark]

Thanks all, very helpful. So a related question, if the speakers control the impedance how come 4 ohm speakers can't just be dropped into the GM's with Bose?

 

[jmeador74]

From my experience in the past and dealing with Bose... Bose tends to stick with 8 Ohms imp. thats why its difficult to just drop in a 4 Ohm speaker. Bose enjoys the amount of quality they put behind each speaker thats why they run a higher imp. to get the better clarity in the sound of music.

 

[DS]

From my experience in the past and dealing with Bose... Bose tends to stick with 8 Ohms imp. thats why its difficult to just drop in a 4 Ohm speaker. Bose enjoys the amount of quality they put behind each speaker thats why they run a higher imp. to get the better clarity in the sound of music.

I've seen a lot of Bose speakers that were very low impedence.....1 and 2 ohm drivers, each with individual amps, like in older Maximas. As for Bose "quality", I have yet to hear a Bose system that could outperform even a modest aftermarket install that has had a little thought put into it.

The impedence of a driver has absolutely nothing to do with its sound quality as well. It does determine how resistive of a load the speaker will be to the amp driving it, and that's it.

I think the two best factory option systems that I've heard would have to be the Nakamichi system offered in the older Lexus GS300 and the Dynaudio system offered in the Volvo coupe (don't remember the model....) several years ago. Both of these systems were far better sounding than any Bose system that I've ever heard.

 

[zuhl555]

Agree with DS, Bose is crap. Sure they are clear and sound decent enough, but I would rather have an aftermarket that can really kick some a$$.

By the way, what this forum is really about is impedance (which in this case is the variable resistance of an inductor - the speaker - at various frequencies) The 4 ohm rating is measured in its optimal bandwith. I know, I know, damn engineering nerds.

If you want to drop aftermarkets into a bose that currently has 8 ohm speakers, get some good quality home speakers. They are generally rated at 8 ohms.