Speaker Impedence questions

[ECLIPSEONYA]

I purchsaed a Carver TFM-6C and I want to pick up some outsdoor speakers. The question I have is do I go with one pair or two. The stats on th amp are this:

65 watts RMS per channel into 8 ohms with both channels driven, 20Hz-20kHz with no more than 0.1% THD. It will also supply 100 watts RMS per channel into a 4 ohm load, both channels driven, 20Hz-20kHz with no more than 0.1% THD, and 160 watts dynamic power into 2 ohms.

So with that I am looking at 1 set of speakers that w/5 1/4" drivers that are rated 20-50 watts at 7 ohm and another pair that have 6" driver rated 20-60 watts and are 6ohm.

Can I get away with two pair of either of these speakers and if so which. If not, should I get the 6" drivers?

 

[MidnightSensi]

Advertised impedence values can be a good guideline, but they are averages over a curve, and rounded (generally up). Your amplifier is 4-ohm stable, but both of those speakers would be below that if you run two per channel. Indoors, for background music in a kitchen or living room, this might be fine, but the outdoors sucks up volume like crazy, and you end up turning it up much more to compensate, so you want to leave a big safety factor for an outdoor amplifier.

Therefore, short answer, is I'd just run one per channel.

 

[XEagleDriver]

Go with 6"

. . . I am looking at 1 set of speakers that w/5 1/4" drivers . . . and another pair that have 6" driver . . . should I get the 6" drivers?

Eclipse,

For outdoors, unless you plan on adding an outdoor subwoofer, I would go with the 6" speakers all else being relatively equal (quality, appearance, etc.)

I have both, 5" (TIC ASP60) outdoor speakers for a front porch (to keep them hidden under some eves) and 6.5" (TIC ASP 120) speakers for a back deck. The 6.5"s have noticeably better bass, as you would expect, and IMO are well worth the extra cost and size. FWIW - I have been very pleased with and would recommend either set

Link to TIC is: http://www.ticcorp.com/patio_speakers.htm

Cheers,
XEagleDriver