How to match amps to speakers

What are the important considerations? And check out our newest KZbin channel / @octaverecordsanddsdst... Octave Records.

[@jm374]

These are the masters, who rocked the 70s .....

[@Brainwealth]

Your simple, yet in depth explanations was very much highly appreciated. Thank you!

[@DeeTeaDee]

Where does it say ANYWHERE what an amps “efficiency” level is tho???

[@piotrsalanowski8337]

😊

[@irish7460]

Probably the most important video in Home Theatre tbh. This is a must watch.

[@Mtts28]

Just stumbled upon this video while trying to figure out how much power I need for a set of speakers. Perfectly explained.

[@rev420official5]

Same

[@Kevin-mb4xf]

Paul, thank you so much for this video. It took a bit of the magic out of all those specs of speakers and amps!

[@RadioHamGuy]

That was great Paul, I never really understood that before, makes sense now. I keep following your posts and am sure learning a lot about audio and I thought I knew a lot before, ha. Learning all the time and it is fun! Sure appreciate your videos here.

[@mikeb359]

Many videos and many google searches and finally watch a single video with a pure,precise answer to my question. Thank you.....Very much!

[@yelamolur]

Thank you paul for the insight on speaker matching with AMPS. I have recently purchased a Pylon Audio Amber MK2 speakers for stereo and have also purchased a Marantz Pm7000N 60watts at 8ohms and 80 watts at 4ohms. My speakers are 97db and nominal power of 300watts at 4 ohms. I am very happy with the setup and all my doubts clarified . Thank you for enlightening us

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

Paul covered this in another way in another video. A small amp driven to clipping is more harmful to speakers than anything short of just a ridiculous power missmatch. Here's what you do. Get an amp that modestly exceeds the speaker's power handling capability and has it's own gain presets. Turn them all the way down. Turn your main volume full up. Ease the preset gains to the highest level that you will reasonably use within the speaker's linear region. Turn down the preamp to the currently desired level. Done. Speakers fully matched to the system and protected from amp clipping and over excursion.

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

You should calibrate using pink noise at -20dB as the signal. And you can for instance measure at listening position at 85 dB. Then you know that you will never play more than 105dB at listening position. You can of course calibrate using 70, 75. but you must not exceed the max SPL of the speakers ( which sometimes is documented ). There are several videos on youtube that covers how to calibrate studio monitors, and you can do this in the same way. But to be able to do it you need a volume knob on each channel on the power amplifier to be able to do this. And if you can do this, you will be sure, as you said. But I would not try to calibrate while listening to music. Because different music has different loudness levels. Pink noise is controlled.

[@izzeystarz7578]

"I can see clearly now the rain has gone". Thanks for clearing up something that so many people have confused. I wish i had you as an uncle or neighbour.

[@Turtleback8024]

😂@uncle

[@robertobarros9946]

Thank you so much!! No one else is really explaining it like you do!!

[@alexisgutierrez5863]

I have being trying to learn this for the past 3 months thank you so much

[@eagleeatsmonkey3621]

no body can explained these type of things better than you .... love your videos

[@tovarasulsecretargeneral2822]

finally somebody who knows how to explain

[@restlessascension3260]

Tell me about it 😒

[@ekimandersom4478]

@@restlessascension3260 he just told you

[@Mranirbansur]

He could explain this to a 5 yr old....

[@petercamacho1462]

paul i truly like watching your videos you give plenty of information on most questions when explained clearly keep them coming we enjoy all

[@vivianmagloire3945]

Wow! Thanks Paul, this is the best explanation I have heard on this particular subject. I clearly understand now.

[@luissaavedra5948]

Awesome explanation thanks for posting and greetings from the ancient megalithic city of TIAHUANAKU BOLIVIA 🇧🇴

[@melarcilla8105]

Hi Paul Thank you very much for the info. I'll keep that in mind. Appreciate it. Have a nice day 😊

[@manuel_II]

Four years late, but i pick up something new on this, thanks.

[@carrow2250]

Just installed my first car audio system and made some mistakes. This channel has been so helpful.

[@Masterlowen21]

Thank you for making that clear, I almost made a fatal mistake, you really know what your talking about...

[@mmt8263]

Samee

[@ahmedmabrouk6942]

Excellent explanation! Simple and straight to the point!

[@FURIOUSRIDEMOTO]

Thank you about this very important detail, I had the same question and got it now. God Bless!

[@maaxsxzone2914]

Another very helpful video, thank you Paul.

[@mw0i0]

Such a simple explanation, I am one of those that did not know but now i do.

[@mattjohnson8357]

Thanks for what you do. Very well exsplained. 👌

[@mixedpawlh1850]

This is so helpful. Thank you so much

[@cwm7930]

Thanks for the lesson, you're doing God's work.

[@jhob22]

Great info Paul,Thanksfor the well explained topic most people wanted to know

[@dmxlucian]

Thank you very much Paul for the explanation!

[@yancylent]

You're a great teacher.

[@arieraziel5202]

A very long and detailed answer to a very short question, and the correct snswer should have been : "YES. YOU SHOULD USE AN AMP OF 300 WATTS OR LESS". Paul said that on minute 3.50 of the video: "do not acceed the rated power handlig capacity of the speaker in order not to harm it". All the rest of the information is just nice to have. Note that the data of speaker's efficiency is not always indicated, certainly if you buy it second hand.

[@user-zz7rf5zg7o]

Thank you! I've been struggling with how to pair a receiver with the speakers and speakers to the receiver, this was very helpful

[@mathieud4770]

Thanks so much for clarifying that point!

[@freestylerjpartner6270]

Such a good explanation!Thank you for info👍

[@andrewslaunwhite7885]

That was a very good video and explanation. Thank you very much.

[@ksmithreps1]

Thanks for your insight on this very difficult issue!

[@antoniobaskerville6823]

Paul Thank You so Much this issue was driving me Crazy.

[@ChrisEllul87]

Very interesting video. Well explained. Got to find that high dB set of speakers now!

[@gereral1_jackofalltrades]

I run klipsch r35 at 125w per speaker powered by 80w denon amp x7. Over 10 years low and no problem

[@sipiesipie2877]

Great insight as always

[@TheBinaryWolf]

After a kitchen hand took off with my Bose 800 speakers at an officers's club in W. Germany, I had to perform my show with borrowed bookshelf speakers that were driven by a 200W RMS amp. They began to distort at a very low setting on the mixer. So a powerful amp can be used with even 20W speakers as long as the output is kept below clipping level.

[@TheAboriginal1]

Awesome video extremely helpful!!

[@aro-rat]

Thanks you for the information ... very useful !!

[@sammyorta]

Great video i have learned so much from watching your videos like ohm matching and so on I have a 90s stereo integrated amp technics SU-G95 Rack Sytem speakers model SB-A55 3 way speaker sytem 260 watt impedance 8 i wanted louder speakers 300 watts i kind of know what to look for matching after watching this video still learning once u think u learned something something else pops up. 5:11

[@watchdog005]

Also keep in mind a speaker can handle much higher short term busts of clean power than its conservatively rated power. Music is peaks and dips. A lower powered amplifier driven into distorted clipping can damage a speaker much easier than an amplifier with more clean power and clean headroom.

[@bigwogosong]

Thank you so much!! now i know how much watt i need for the speakers.

[@ericamador8297]

Thanks for a very informative topic

[@tonykingsley7872]

Wow that definitely helped a lot thank you very much.

[@minnesotajack1]

This dude is the Oracle of sound engineering for newbies

[@cassiee3106]

Thanks so much for the info

[@JonRiveraCSI]

best explanation, thank you

[@TheJmh19]

thanks! this helped a lot.

[@nc3419]

For bookshelf speakers, the range is typically 82 to 92db at 1watt/meter. With the Avg I see at 85-86. Alot of Amps under 100 watts are typically used to drive these speakers...with varying results but usually good. Maybe an Amp with more current output, headroom, would be better for discussion as some 100 watt amps can't beat some 50 watt amps. Also, hundreds of watts? Doubt it, at least for home music listening for most people.

[@jamesma909]

that helped me out so much

[@pankajjaiswal6498]

A Gem of knowledge.

[@bobsnocks3656]

Thankyou so much sir, simply put

[@donmarcel9167]

Thank you sir....I learned something today

[@FriendM2010]

Excellent info for my brain.👍👍👍

[@edwarddelacruz9474]

Good info, thank you.

[@macorourke2222]

Thanks for sharing Your knowledge 😀👍♥️💯💯

[@maurodegiorgi63]

spot on. thanks a lot

[@markjisonbigtasin7745]

Thanks it helps alot

[@snuffpappy]

QUESTION: I have a system that I'm VERY happy with except for the bass and treble controls on the stereo amp. They don't add much. I'd like to add a non powered mixer between the CD player and the CD input on the amp. ( the mixer has nice preamps and good bass/treble pots) As long as I keep the output to a minimum, do you see any danger of burning out the CD input on the amp? Thanks (Scott, Halifax Nova Scotia)

[@georgegrubbs2966]

I understand that what you explained is "sensitivity" not "efficiency," although the two are related.

[@hectorgonzalez5030]

Power isn't everything! Thanks for clearing this up! All my speakers are 93+ so I don't have to pump them so much {200/250 Watts)

[@henrysollysangma3522]

It helps a lot.

[@The_Great_Won]

Thank you! Thank you!

[@immeasurablymore]

Thank you!

[@einarht21]

Hello Paul! What about the impedance? Many 8 Ohms Speaker can go down to about 3 Ohms at certain frequencies and it will influence some amplifiers performance, resulting in a “bad match” experience for the listener

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

It is also another problem that the impedance of some speakers are very skewed. So it can vary all the way from 3 to 8 which means that for some frequencies, it might put out many more watts than for other frequencies. And it might be that the efficiency of the speaker is measured at a frequency that is 8 ohm.... it makes a bit more complicated.

[@tomfreeman9521]

any modern speaker suggestion to match vintage sansui receivers?

[@ChiCan76]

I like plain English technical explanations. Thanks!

[@melarcilla8105]

Thank you for explaining that clearly. It was educational.

[@SGhiacy]

what is watts per channel and watts per speaker. in my av manual, it says it is a 90 watts per channel and gives 140 watts for front, left, right and rear speakers. i am confused. can you please make a video on that?

[@332ARA]

Is sensitivity similar enough to efficiency to use the terms interchangeably? I just bought some speakers that have a Sensitivity rating of 90dB. Is that more less equivalent?

[@ofthechase8783]

thank you sir

[@chrisgagnon2942]

Thank you 🙂

[@MrMrtommie]

hey there, just found some old speakers in the loft, these are the specs for them. I have 6 of them in total but don't have a clue what sort of amp I need for them? I've watched the vid but am still struggling a bit lol: Main confusion is with multiple speakers... Does multiple speakers affect what amp I need? Power Handling: 300 Watt RMS System Sensitivity: 91 dB Impedance: 8 Ω

[@mervinb6916]

Hello Paul, I love watching your You Tube videos. You have taught me so much. I have a RCA RT2280 Would it be worth getting it fixed its something small not to big a problem. Also do yall work on amps or receivers thats not yalls brand ?

[@jimilove7773]

Thanks!

[@damien6685]

I didn't know that, thanks

[@M1Anut]

Thank you

[@philipvesterlund1253]

Right now i have a pair of Polk es20 hooked up to a Fosi Audio V3 amp and the volume produced is well enough for me but the thing i dont understand is why i would buy a bigger more expensive amp if it puts out the same wattage? I dont have any other amp to compare to so i dont know if the sound from the amp could improve or if the things i find "lacking" in my setup comes from the speaker or the amp

[@TheMadComposer]

omg this explains so much. damn!!

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

I just got a used Sunn beta bass 105 cab out of nerd purchase and I got a Peavey mini max 600w bass. Low volumes, sounds amazing. But at a show, will it blow out the 15" speaker?

[@Justforfun-td7uq]

Hi Paul! I have old Bose pls1210, its said 85w. I connect it with my Sennheiser hd6xx through 6.3mm and its sound pretty nice. Is 85w too much, i mean if there is any chance it harm my headphones? Thanks for reading ❤❤❤

[@sauravnarsaria7705]

Hi, I am setting up a marantz sr6015 with 5.1.2, where I am using thx504L for centre ch and thx 502L for front leg and right. Rp 402s for surround and cs18 C for the atmos ceiling speakers.. Here I am not too sure abt the centre speaker, if it is appropriate for this amp or I should go with thx 502-L? Because in the description it is recommended for 150w amp?

[@uddorangsby]

Respect 🙏 from Indonesia 🇮🇩

[@brendanhoffmann8402]

I got some new speakers last week. They're big and should sound really good but they're a bit lacking with my Aiyima a07 class D amp. I think my amp delivers about 130 watts at 6 ohms but these speakers are rated at 250 watts, the speakers are 89db efficient (Yamaha NS-777 floor standing). I ended up wiring up a second pair of 6 ohm speakers to fill out the sound and make it sound richer. It sounds pretty good now but am shopping for a bigger amp, probably a class AB amp next time.

[@bassmanwell1255]

Does wiring my 4ohm dvc sub at 2 ohm increase bass?

[@irmaverdoza8783]

I have a question about a line 6 iv head 150 watts 8 ohms right and left, I was wondering if I could connect with a guitar cable to a speaker that plugs into the wall it has four speakers each are about 8inch to 10inch and has option to 120v to 240volts can I connect it without harming or overheating anything ?

[@nirmalkumarshanmugam5528]

Hi Paul, I have a Denon AV Receiver 6700, currently it is set up as 5.1.4 with all 6ohms speakers and now I would like to add 2 rear surrounds to make it as 7.1.4. I have pair of Denon Speakers that came along with my Denon CEOL RCD-N8 Receiver, it's a 6ohms 60W RMS and 120W Peak. My question is to know whether I shall connect it with my Denon AV Receiver or not, because the Surround output is mentioned as 175W + 17W at 6ohms with 2 channels driven. Could you please advise. Thank you.

[@michaelswitzer3186]

I just purchased the Graham ls 6 speakers and am planning to pair them with a NAD C399 amplifier. The speakers are 8 ohm with an impedance of 87 db’s and recommended amplifier power of 50-150 watts. The NAD C399 has continuous power of 180 watts per channel into 4/8 ohms. Would that pairing work even though the speakers’ recommended amplifier range (50-150 watts per channel) is lower than the NAD’s (180 watts)?

[@KidsWBRippleVerse]

Hi just want to ask , can i connect my 1300 watts jbl active speaker to a different brand passive speaker like kevler with 300 watts only? thank you in advance sir.

[@gbrm6077]

It's best to stick to neutral or basic black colors when matching. Avoid stripes and plaids, unless you intend to match your room treatments as well.

[@ashboy7968]

sarcasm might be lost on many !

[@snidjantha]

When connecting from powered amp to active speaker, is it safe to use microphone xlr cable?

[@player--zero]

This is what's tripping me up right now. I'm currently looking into a surround sound set up and was looking at the Sony str-dh790 recevier. It says it puts out 145 watts per channel. But the speakers I was looking at say 70watts Max and I'm worried they might go BANG. Should I be looking for bigger speakers in the 100-150watt range?

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

I'm not seeing any efficiency rating or DB on the speakers I'm looking at. Is this different for guitar amps?

[@TBonerism]

Damn, giving you guys a subscription now. Didn't really realize that the speaker impedance mattered on a receiver. Having hooked up a set of JBL 2800 tower speakers to a cheap little sony radio/cd/tape player and it working, didn't think before I bought a new set of speakers. Should have checked my receiver first. Thank god they fall in the impedance rang, but the range seems a little high at 8-16 ohms. Is that just because of how old the receiver is or are there variations on receivers that I should be aware of.