Speaker Impedance
Combine speakers in series, parallel or series-parallel and I compute the total impedance, the power each one receives and whether the load is safe for your amplifier (minimum stable).
Impedance by count
| Speakers | Z total | vs minimum |
|---|
your current configuration · in parallel the impedance drops as you add speakers.
How it is computed · series, parallel and safety
1. Series: impedances add up.
Z = Z₁ + Z₂ + … + Zₙ. With n equal speakers of
Z → Z·n. Example: 2×8 Ω = 16 Ω.
2. Parallel: reciprocals add up.
1/Z = 1/Z₁ + … + 1/Zₙ. With n equal → Z/n.
Example: 4×8 Ω = 2 Ω.
3. Series-parallel: you build
G groups in parallel, each with N speakers in series.
Zgroup = N·Z and Ztotal = Zgroup / G. Example:
4×8 Ω in 2 groups of 2 in series = (2·8)/2 = 8 Ω.
4. Power: the amp delivers
P into the total impedance. The voltage across the load is
V = √(P·Z). With equal speakers the power splits evenly:
each one gets P / n.
5. Safety: if the total impedance
falls below the amplifier's minimum stable load, current rises and the
amp can overheat, go into protection or fail. Always keep the load
≥ the manufacturer's minimum.
Resistive model (nominal impedance, equal speakers). Real impedance varies with frequency; use the nominal value as a design reference.
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