Impedence rating

[gellor]

(sorry if this has been posted before, but I didn't see anything on it when I searched)

I was looking at some speakers online last night (PSB T65 towers) and saw something I hadn't noticed before. The specs said that they had a nominal impedence of 6 Ohms, and a minimum impedence of 4 Ohms. What's the difference, and which should I be more concerned about when looking at speakers?

(for reference, I have a Yamaha RX-V2500)

 

[MDS]

'Nominal' means 'named'. A typical 8 Ohm speaker will be 4 Ohms or lower for at least some of the low frequencies and far higher for the high frequencies and the nominal impedance is the average over the whole frequency range the speaker can reproduce. (Impedance varies with frequency).

When you see an impedance rating of a speaker it is the nominal impedance unless specifically stated otherwise. The specs you are seeing also tell you the minimum which, if accurate, means that at no time do they dip below 4 Ohms. That is a fairly constant impedance curve because usually the lower the nominal rating, the lower the minimum.

The Yamaha should have no problem driving those speakers.

 

[3db]

I'm using a crappy old technics receiver

(sorry if this has been posted before, but I didn't see anything on it when I searched)

I was looking at some speakers online last night (PSB T65 towers) and saw something I hadn't noticed before. The specs said that they had a nominal impedence of 6 Ohms, and a minimum impedence of 4 Ohms. What's the difference, and which should I be more concerned about when looking at speakers?

(for reference, I have a Yamaha RX-V2500)

to drive my PSB Image T45, Image 8C Center and Image 1B surrounds and its got no problem handling them. PSB are a fairly efficient, your Yamaha is way more robust than my Technics . Verdict is Your good to go!

As much as I'm a PSB fan, please take time to listen to them and make sure they are for you. Personanlly, I like the Image sieries better than Axiom or Paradigms' monitor series.

When audtioning, bring along music with you that you are familair with and if possible bring a Sound Pressure Level Meter and make sure the speakers you are audiioning are set so that they are playing at the same volume level.

 

[gellor]

'Nominal' means 'named'. A typical 8 Ohm speaker will be 4 Ohms or lower for at least some of the low frequencies and far higher for the high frequencies and the nominal impedance is the average over the whole frequency range the speaker can reproduce. (Impedance varies with frequency).

When you see an impedance rating of a speaker it is the nominal impedance unless specifically stated otherwise. The specs you are seeing also tell you the minimum which, if accurate, means that at no time do they dip below 4 Ohms. That is a fairly constant impedance curve because usually the lower the nominal rating, the lower the minimum.

The Yamaha should have no problem driving those speakers.

Thanks. Now if only I can find some place to audition them. (Most dealers in this area are the "custom installer" type, not store-front type...so its hard to find anywhere to demo products sometimes)