Adding Extra Speakers ~ Can I do this?? :)-gctid376354

[Guest]

hi

Since rock n roll is an important concern of mine, and my boat being sooooo big I'd like to add 2 speakers to the very back of my boat. I currently have a typical stereo with Front & Back speakers. I just want to add the 2 extra speakers to the Back channel making that one run 4 speakers while the Front runs 2. I do realize that each of the 4 speakers will lose volume but is this bad for the stereo, to connect 4 speakers?

thanks for any info on this and long live rock 'n roll

Sarah

[carguy]

To answer the question, you have to know a little about ohms law. Basically, an amplifier has a minimum load as expressed in ohms. If you operate under that load, the magic smoke can come out (bad). Most car stereos are rated at 4 ohms per channel though some are rated as low as 2 . If you currently have 8 ohm speakers, you could connect another pair. The corresponding load would be 4 ohms. If your current speaker are 4 ohms, adding another pair would drop the load below the spec of the amp.

To find out what your amp is rated at, just google whatever model you have and it should be in the specs. As for your speakers, if you pull one out and look at the back, it's generally stamped on the magnet.

[Guest]

The information from carguy is correct.

Please post the model number of your speakers and your receiver.

While it is frequently okay to connect two pairs of speakers in-parallel when connected to an amplifier, many (all?) receivers have a 4 ohm minimum impedance, so two 4 ohm speakers in-parallel will be 2 ohms and WON'T be okay for the receiver. Also remember that the amplifier will be working LOTS harder.

When I was setting-up my 2,500 watt stereo system I found that my 500 watt salon amplifier fan turned-on immediately when driving 2 ohms, but not when driving 4 ohms.

[Guest]

wingless wrote:
The information from carguy is correct.

Please post the model number of your speakers and your receiver.



While it is frequently okay to connect two pairs of speakers in-parallel when connected to an amplifier, many (all?) receivers have a 4 ohm minimum impedance, so two 4 ohm speakers in-parallel will be 2 ohms and WON'T be okay for the receiver. Also remember that the amplifier will be working LOTS harder.

When I was setting-up my https://"http://s101.photobucket.com... stereo system I found that my 500 watt salon amplifier fan turned-on immediately when driving 2 ohms, but not when driving 4 ohms.

I'll do that,,,,will hop in the boat and check it out.

thank you guys,,,,,,I appreciate the help

[Guest]

No, you can't do this. All auto/marine type speakers are 4 ohms, and all head units are rated to run into 4 ohms. Only some high-end amps can run into 2 ohms or less (paralleling two 4-ohm speakers makes a 2-ohm load). If your head unit has a line output, you can simply acquire a basic amplifier and run the speakers from that. In fact, I have one that I can't imagine I would ever use and you can have for the cost of shipping.

[Guest]

SwampNut wrote:
No, you can't do this. All auto/marine type speakers are 4 ohms, and all head units are rated to run into 4 ohms. Only some high-end amps can run into 2 ohms or less (paralleling two 4-ohm speakers makes a 2-ohm load). If your head unit has a line output, you can simply acquire a basic amplifier and run the speakers from that. In fact, I have one that I can't imagine I would ever use and you can have for the cost of shipping.

Couldn't you also run the speakers on that channel to a switch and simply select the ones you want on at the time, keeping it to two speakers at the time?

[Guest]

SwampNut wrote:
No, you can't do this. All auto/marine type speakers are 4 ohms, and all head units are rated to run into 4 ohms. Only some high-end amps can run into 2 ohms or less (paralleling two 4-ohm speakers makes a 2-ohm load). If your head unit has a line output, you can simply acquire a basic amplifier and run the speakers from that. In fact, I have one that I can't imagine I would ever use and you can have for the cost of shipping.

Wow, that is certainly a very nice offer! I'm a little stunned. I would have to give you something for it,,,,I wish the Cohibas were still around.

Does it need to mount somewhere visible or does it just get tuned in & turned on and left?

LatAVN wrote:
Couldn't you also run the speakers on that channel to a switch and simply select the ones you want on at the time, keeping it to two speakers at the time?

Yup, the thought has crossed my mind,,,,,logistically tuff tho cuz it would be the fronts that I would switch the new pair with. But possible with enuff wire.

[Spyderweb2]

Sarah,

I had the 1992 version of your boat. After I had it 1 year (1993) I added a pair of speakers to the cockpit. I wanted the ability to have the sound come through just the front (cabin), just the rear (cockpit) or both. I found some devise that allowed me to do that (forward/rear balancer) and wired that in too. Speakers were nothing special, relatively low end marine speakers from West Marine (I think). Everything worked great with no problems.

Paul

[draveling]

Sarah... Where Aft are you thinking about putting them ? I've been thinking about the same thing but haven't figured out where to put them. When we are fishing on the back deck we can't hear the ones way up in the bow. Just looking for ideas.

[Guest]

hi there

I was gonna mount way up in the back, in the upper corners under the over hanging rail these bracket jobs http://www.overtons.com/modperl/prod...3&merchID=4006

2 screws each + a tiny hole and the wires will go down in between the hull walls

I decided that the holes were worth it. BUt first before I drill I will be sure that the speakers rock!

Maybe some Billy Idol

[BLCarl]

I Was able to get around the OHM problem by just installing a A-B switch near the unit. It's just a toggle switch DPDT. 6 connectors two positions. One position (A) has the V birth speakers attached the other (B) has the the rear deck speakers. Since I'm not usually in both places It works for me. This Idea could be expanded by adding a A-B switch to both the stereo front and the stereo rear so you could select from 4 pr . After adding 1 switch I didn't need 2 pr. on my 24 ft yacht.

I also enjoy my loud rock but I choose not to add a 4 channel amp because under way I can't hear the music very well anyway and at anchor I don't need the watts or the drain on the batteries. A neat feature in my unit is the aux input. I can watch movies on the laptop and listen to the sound through the system after the sun goes down. Audio books on CD are also entertaining while puttering around at anchor after I get tired of my music library.