I have an AMC3100a amplifier rated 100watts per channel at 8 ohms.I am currently running a pair of B&W DM310 speakers.They are rated 100w 4 ohms.Am I safe with this set up.I have had no problems but want to make sure.I dont go beyond 12 0'clock on the volume either as there is enough power at that volume for my ears
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Answers & Comments
Ideally you really should be running speakers that are rated at 8 ohms to keep from straining the amp.
An omh is the measure of electrical resistance that the speakers have.
The amp is designed to put out 100 watts at 8 ohms. When you use a 4 ohm speaker, the amp still tries to push 8 ohms but the speakers will only accept 4 which can cause the amp to overheat.
One solution would be to run two 4 ohm speakers in line on each side thereby giving you 8 ohms on each side.
Think of it this way, if effect what you are doing by using a 4 ohm speaker with an 8 ohm amp is like pouring 2 gallons of hot water into a 1 gallon bucket. The extra hot water (or in this case, electrical current) is going to overfill and spill back out. So when 8 ohms reach the 4 ohm speaker, the extra current spills out and backs up into your amp.
It will probably work at 1/2 volume fine for a while, but your amp is still being strained and will certainly not last as long as it would if you had properly matched speakers for the amp.