Running w/4 speakers simutaneously

Is this a bad idea..?
I want to hook up 4 speakers to my receiver- placing them in the corners of the room-

Is this a no-no?
Or is it just about halving the wpc.....

So long as they are nominally 8-ohm, you should be fine.

First, due to possible interactions between the four speakers, it may not sound as good a you might hope.

Second, and more important, a lot depends on the speakers, the driving amp, and the levels at which you ntend to play them.

Markw said:

a lot depends on the speakers, the driving amp, and the levels at which you ntend to play them.

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Thanks..and yes, I can see why it would depend on the speaker.
I've discovered that realm of possibility the first of the year.
I'm considering 2 pair of Optimus T-120...fed either by 60 or 80 watts receivers at the moment. I'm still waiting for a sx3900-which I hope would be ample to drive 4 speakers.

Try it, what have you got to lose?

I just wanted to be absolutely sure that it was permissible.
I could have assumed this, then reality would have shown that the options of A/B speaker switches didn't mean to 'engage' them together.

I know there are a few newcomers that would find this thread helpful as they acquire audio equipment.

More is not always better.

I'm currently running A + B, A being a pair of Genesis 1+ and B is comprised of Klipsch Synergy 3 bookshelves...all on the same side of the room (to avoid messy wiring), with a Marantz 2252 and it sounds fabulous. As mentioned, other speaker combos might not mesh as well together. I listen almost exclusively to classical on vinyl in that room, and the combination works out very well .

Here's the deal:

Most consumer-grade gear is designed to SAFELY run with an 8-ohm speaker load at FULL POWER draw. The problem with connecting multiple sets of speakers (in parallel, keep reading) is that it lowers the load "seen" by the amp. Two 8-ohm speakers in parallel is the same as a 4-ohm speaker. Now, pretty much any amp can handle driving a 4-ohm speaker at low volumes, but many of them will have trouble at higher volumes. The problem is that half the impedance (4 ohms vs. 8) draws twice the current. Pulling double the current through the output devices (the big transistors on the large heatsink) makes more heat. Heat is the killer of all things electronic. If the amp has output devices rated for the high current that will be developed by using 4-ohm speakers, OR if the amp has current-limiting circuitry to protect said output devices, AND if the heatsinks are able to dissipate the increased heat, you are fine. If not, the output devices fry... literally.

Some cheaper designs hook up the second set of speakers IN SERIES with the first, rather than in parallel. This configuration presents a nice easy 16-ohm load to the amp, but at 1/4 the power output so you won't get much volume out of either set when they're both turned on.

Pretty much all pro gear is designed to handle low-impedance loads and have power ratings at 4, 2, and sometimes even 1 ohm, with many amps able to handle a dead short on the outputs, which would instantly kill a consumer amp.

Take off the cover of the receiver and monitor the temperature of the heatsinks, that'll tell you how your amp is doing. You should be able to put your hand on the metal and keep it there for a few seconds without pain... any higher and you're in the danger zone. The Marantz 22xx line isn't rated at 4 ohms, but I've run my 4-ohm Magnepans with my 2250 and it handled the load no problem although I didn't really crank it.

Hope this helps.

Dave

Excellent post, Dave!:thmbsp:

I'm currently running a pair of New Large Advents and a pair of KLH Model-5s together off my Yamaha CR-1020 with no problems. The receiver doesn't even get warm. Both of the speakers are fairly effecient and played together the really compliment each other and sound fantastic.

Thanks a whole bunch. As you mention the heating issues and what to look out for...
My 3800 runs hot and I've never had its volume passed the 9 o'clock.
The STA runs cool enough that would lead one to ask if a refrigerant is installed inside the unit.

More is not always better...

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That pretty much sums up my code of ethics...Less Is More.
But I have to admit that I'm giddy as a school kid with my audio these days.

Try it, what have you got to lose?

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If I get careless, I could lose a nice receiver or two.
I'd hate to do that being that it was some effort locating the two that I have.