Two Channel AMP running four speakers

[toobryant]

Is it possible to get a two channel amp to safely power four speakers? I'm just trying to get an idea of what I can do with my four cerwin vega cls-215's. I don't want them to be in a surround set up just yet, I just want stereo sound from all four speakers... any suggestons on amps and wiring? I am going to be using a Marantz SR5002 receiver.

Thanks for the help

 

[toobryant]

Any advice?

 

[markw]

You can't wait half an hour for a response?

You think we get paid to answer questions?

I can't find the impedance listed for them. Perhaps you could provide that info?

 

[oppman99]

Not the best idea

You basically have two options: Series or parallel.

Series would be a wire from the positive terminal on the reciever to the positive on one speaker, a wire from the negative terminal on the first speaker to the positive of the second and a wire from the negative terminal of the second speaker to the negative terminal of the reciever. This effective add the impedence of each speaker, so if they are both 8 ohm, the total load on the amp would be 16 ohms. Repeat for the other pair.

Parallel would be a wire from the positive terminal on the amp/avr to each positive binding post and the same for the negative. Again, repeat for the second pair. In this configuration the load is half of the individual impedence of a single speaker. In other words, two in parallel would be a 4 ohm load.

Either way, I wouldn't recommend it. From what I've read, either choice creates problems with frequency response of the speakers. I think you would get comb filtering also (Do a search if you aren't familiar with this). The parallel setup is especially risky if you have 4 ohm speakers as this would produce a 2 ohm load and likely to cause your reciever to go into protect mode.

 

[Seth=L]

His speakers are very efficient, and impedance sits comfortably at 8 ohms.

 

[toobryant]

I didn't mean to insult anyone, I know it isn't your job to answer my questions. I meant that last comment as a bump (I couldn't just say bump because it is under 10 characters)... I really appreciate all of the advice everyone has given me.
Again, sorry for offending you, those were not my intentions, I will learn to be more paitent.

 

[toobryant]

Okay, so it is possible but not a good idea. So I guess I need to do something else. Would it be cheaper to buy two two channel amps or one four channel amp? Any reccomendations for either?

Thanks guys

 

[Seth=L]

Okay, so it is possible but not a good idea. So I guess I need to do something else. Would it be cheaper to buy two two channel amps or one four channel amp? Any reccomendations for either?

Thanks guys

I don't know why you are stuck on amps. The receiver's internal amplifiers are more than sufficient to power those speakers, undoubtably it has more output capability than the Pyle you currently have.

It's not that it's a bad idea to connect an external amplifier to the SR5002, it just isn't likely it will be necessary. You don't want to be deaf do you? I ask that in all seriousness. At the sensitivity rating those speakers claim it will achieve around 120dB with less than 100 watts, which is louder than it should ever be (I'm being serious, you would do damage to your ears at that level of output). I suppose if you just don't think the Marantz has enough power you can eventually add amplication if you should choose to, the Marantz would work very well as a preamplifier for some amplifiers.

 

[toobryant]

I don't know why you are stuck on amps. The receiver's internal amplifiers are more than sufficient to power those speakers, undoubtably it has more output capability than the Pyle you currently have.

It's not that it's a bad idea to connect an external amplifier to the SR5002, it just isn't likely it will be necessary. You don't want to be deaf do you? I ask that in all seriousness. At the sensitivity rating those speakers claim it will achieve around 120dB with less than 100 watts, which is louder than it should ever be (I'm being serious, you would do damage to your ears at that level of output). I suppose if you just don't think the Marantz has enough power you can eventually add amplication if you should choose to, the Marantz would work very well as a preamplifier for some amplifiers.

That is exactly what I wanted to hear... thanks for saving me some $$$. I don't want it to be that loud, I just want to make sure that I don't overstress the receiver and damage the speakers.

 

[toobryant]

And the Pyle is long gone, thanks for that advice as well.

 

[MatthewB.]

You could always buy a speaker selector switch to run both pair of speakers with full power and keep the impendence at 8ohms. I used this trick to drive three pairs of surrounds along a half moon couch with a simple 60wpc Adcom stereo amp for years this way.

 

[agarwalro]

Is it possible to get a two channel amp to safely power four speakers? ... I don't want them to be in a surround set up just yet, I just want stereo sound from all four speakers... any suggestons on amps and wiring? I am going to be using a Marantz SR5002 receiver.

Thanks for the help

The SR5002 may not be the best solution for what you want to do. Assuming you have a player that has analog outs and you dont need the receiver to do any processing, all you need is a stereo amp that has ability to run 4 speakers in a A, B, A+B configuration.

Here are two cost effective options;

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=623060

http://www.htd.com/amplifiers/A-2106-Stereo-Amplifier

Later when you are ready to get surround, the either of these two amps will be perfect for Zone 2 duty also.