doubling amp resistance

Is this amp OK?
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Rich4349
Posts: 855
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:18 am
Location: Kankakee, IL

doubling amp resistance

#1 Post by Rich4349 »

If an amp is rated for 2,4, and 8 ohms, will you harm it by running it at 16? Or running a 4 ohm amp at 8?
2 DR250s, 2 27" Lab15 T-60s, 2 30" Neo Titan 39s, 1 Autotuba...and looking for more!

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dswpro
Posts: 314
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:17 pm

Re: doubling amp resistance

#2 Post by dswpro »

Running a higher impedance should not be a problem. There could be exceptions and I wasn't around during the hey day of large tube amps but a higher impedance load is usually OK. If you think about it, an open connector ( no load) has an extremely high (near infinite) impedance while a dead short has a zero impedance. Dead shorts and really low impedance loads cause more current to flow and can burn out parts or if you are lucky, only cause an amp to go into "protect" mode.

CoronaOperator
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Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:07 pm
Location: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Re: doubling amp resistance

#3 Post by CoronaOperator »

Tube amps are picky on the impedance. Solid state amps, the higher the impedance the happier they are, just don't go below the minimum or else they will overheat/over current and thermal out.
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