How To Wire/Connect 4 Speakers To A 2 Channel Amp Diagram?
By Robert Jones · 2020-08-26
You can easily connect 4 speakers to a 2 channel amplifier just
## So, You Want to Run Four Speakers Off a Two-Channel Amp, Eh? Right, let's get straight to it. This is a question I get asked all the time. People buy a two-channel amp, maybe they've got a couple of speakers, and then they think, "Hold on, I've got another pair," or "I want some sound in the kitchen as well." It's completely understandable. We all want to make the most of what we've got, don't we? Now, before we dig into the nitty-gritty, a quick word from me. I've been messing about with speakers and amps for longer than I care to admit – probably since some of you reading this were just a twinkle in your dad's eye. I've seen plenty of blown amps and toasted speakers because folks haven't quite understood what they're doing. So, pay attention, and we'll get this sorted out properly. ### Why Four Speakers on a Two-Channel Amp Can Be a Bit Tricky Think of your amplifier like a heart. It's pumping out power to your speakers, which are the muscles. If you ask that heart to pump blood to too many muscles, it's going to struggle, isn't it? Amps are designed to work within certain limits, specifically regarding impedance (measured in ohms). Most car audio amps and many home audio amps are happy running at 4 ohms per channel. Some can handle 2 ohms, but that's pushing it for many entry-level or mid-range models. When you add more speakers, you change the total impedance the amplifier "sees." Get this wrong, and you're asking for trouble – overheating, distortion, and eventually, a puff of smoke and a rather expensive repair bill. Not ideal, is it? ### The Series Connection: A Simple Solution (Sometimes) One way to connect four speakers to two channels is by wiring them in series. Imagine you have two speakers, and you connect the positive terminal of the first speaker to the positive output of the amp. Then, you connect the negative terminal of that first speaker to the positive terminal of the second speaker. Finally, the negative terminal of the second speaker goes back to the negative output of the amp. You do this for each channel. Here's why it works: If you have two 8-ohm speakers wired in series, the amp sees a total impedance of 16 ohms for that channel. This is generally a very safe load for most amps. The downside? The power output to each speaker is often reduced, and you might find the overall volume isn't as high as you'd like. The sound can feel a bit thin, too. I've done this for background music in a workshop before, running a couple of smaller speakers, and it's perfectly fine for that. For critical listening or anything that needs a bit of grunt, it