Powering 6 speakers with 4 Channel Amp?? How?

(jeff_t) · (jeff_t) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 02-11-2007, 11:04 AM

I have 6 deck speakers that I'm trying to power. They are cheap 50w rms/100w peak (4 ohm) clarion speakers. I have NO clue how to go about doing this or how to mach up an amp to power them correctly. I have heard mention of running speakers in parallel. I have also heard about bridging and then splitting power out. I don't know anything so ANY advice is huge.

Thanks!!

(dldunn) · (dldunn) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 02-11-2007, 11:25 AM

What about your head unit? You could power one per channel on the amp, and power 2 off of the head if that is an option.

If not, the best I could come up with is:
wire 2 pairs in series giving you 2 8 ohm loads
run the remaining 2 speakers on the other 2 channels.

I'm assuming that your amp is not stable at 1 ohm per channel, if it is, you would have more options. Also, I haven't seen many 4 channel amps that are bridgeable to 1 channel....but I could be wrong. What kind of amp and what are it's specs?

(jeff_t) · (jeff_t) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 02-11-2007, 11:50 AM

I haven't decided on the amp because I don't know what to look for at this point.

(boarder_x) · (boarder_x) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 02-11-2007, 2:00 PM

You could get a fairly powerful 2 channel amp, and then have the three left speakers in parallel, and the three left in parallel. If you have 200X2, that would give you about 67W to each speaker. Just about perfect.

(jeff_t) · (jeff_t) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 02-11-2007, 2:35 PM

What would that do to ohm load?

(mikeski) · (mikeski) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 02-11-2007, 6:15 PM

I run my 6 speakers on a 4 channel amp. Two channels to the bow, the other two channels the rear four (parallel wiring).

(dldunn) · (dldunn) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 02-11-2007, 9:31 PM

Three 4 ohm speakers in parallel will give you 1.33 ohms, so you would basically need a 2 channel amp that was stable to one ohm per channel...there are some out there. The only drawback to this type system is that you would have no way to adjust volume between front and rear speakers.

(jeff359) · (jeff359) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 02-12-2007, 5:33 AM

If you have cheap speakers, and are looking for a easy set up, the three 4 ohm to 1.33 ohm probably isn't the set up for you. Any amp that goes under 2 probably draws a lot of current. Like someone said above, my idea is run some off your head unit, others off an amp. Maybe a 4 channel for four, then another pair of the head unit.

Also you lose the ability to fade your speakers/system if you parallel three speakers to one channel. I like to have fading, so I can keep volume low in one section so I don't blow out my little one's ears.

(kgoings) · (kgoings) **Join Date: Apr 2005** 02-12-2007, 5:59 AM

what about serial/parallel wiring. You can wire all four to once channel and keep the load rating.

http://termpro.com/articles/spkrz.html

(roughrivermike)

If you haven't bought an amp yet, why don't you just get on of these JL's.

http://marine.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=262