4 Ohm vs. 8 Ohm Speakers: Which Are Better? | SoundGearLab

When people talk about their speakers, whether it’s a 4 ohm or 8 ohm speaker, they generally talk about the speaker’s impedance. Speaker manufacturers produce speakers with different impedance ratings, and matching the appropriate impedance rating to your amplifier will allow you to listen to louder and better sound quality music.

When you are just looking for a good-quality speaker, the speaker’s impedance rating might not be the first factor you have to consider; however, when it comes to professional audio systems, the appropriate impedance rating makes a huge impact.

There are different impedance ratings for speakers. However, we will tackle the two types of speaker impedance ratings, specifically the 4 ohm vs. 8 ohm speakers. If you are on a tight budget, you can opt for 8 ohm speakers as they don’t require as much power to function and will save you tons of money from buying a more expensive amplifier.

In this article, we will tackle the speaker impedance rating, whether to choose 4 ohm vs. 8 ohm speakers, their difference, how to select the best speaker for your home audio system, and many more.

Let’s get right into it.

What is speaker impedance?

If you are looking for a speaker for your home audio system, you might see that most speakers are rated between 4 and 8 ohms. In simple words, a speaker’s impedance rating talks about electrical resistance.

Impedance is the voltage resistance provided by speakers when they are connected to the terminals. It comes from the interaction between the speakers’ coil and other electronic components. A lower impedance rating means fewer transmission losses and may also cause a greater amplifier power to be required for adequate volume.

A speaker’s impedance can range anywhere between 1 to 10,000 kilowatts per watt in an audio system. The lower the impedance, the higher the power needed to achieve adequate volumes. Most home speakers have an impedance between 6-8 ohms. In simple terms, 4-ohm speakers are more power-hungry than speakers rated at 6 or 8 ohms.

In a simple analogy, imagine a water hose not being turned on at its maximum. Hence, the water flow from the hose is reduced; the same can be applied to most speakers as turning the volume up requires more power, negatively affecting the overall audio quality.

Why do people complain about speaker impedance ratings?

Most consumers are genuinely concerned about purchasing the appropriate speaker with the correct impedance rating, but the truth is, purchasing 8 ohm speakers already means that impedance matching for your amp is made more accessible.

Most speaker and amplifier impedances are rated at 6-8 ohms, so it’s better if you purchase a speaker with an impedance rating of 8 ohms so that you won’t need to worry about anything when designing your audio system in your home or car.

Suppose you have a speaker with a 4 ohm impedance rating. In that case, you might encounter problems with your home theater setups playing movies or songs at their maximum audio level because they demand a more significant power rating to reach the adequate volume level.

Why is speaker impedance important for speakers?

Matching a speaker and amplifier impedances is essential to better-sounding audio at louder volumes. If you purchase a party speaker or a karaoke speaker that does not match the appropriate impedance, then they won’t be able to achieve their best sound quality as power will be lost in its transmission.

A speaker’s impedance rating directly affects the speaker’s input, output, and volume. Suppose your speaker and amplifier impedances do not match, and your speaker’s impedance rating is less than that of your amplifier. In that case, it can create audio distortion and will negatively perform at louder volume levels.

And if you have a speaker’s impedance rating higher than that of your amplifier, sustained notes will be clipped due to the insufficient signal levels from the amp.

Amplifiers (and even headphone amplifiers) also have the same impedance rating, just like speakers do, and you should always aim to use 4 ohm speakers with 4 ohm speakers that output from an amplifier; the same can be applied to 6 and 8 ohm speakers.

It could damage the amplifier’s circuits if you don’t match the same impedance between the two devices. And this is why a speaker’s impedance matching with your amplifier power is crucial in producing the best audio quality.

4 ohm speaker

A 4 ohm speaker is generally more expensive, requires more power, and demands many additional factors to consider when purchasing an amplifier. 4 ohms speakers tend to be engineered better and sound better than 8 ohms speakers, allowing you to customize your home studio fully.

However, with this, you do have to pay a hefty price for them, and that’s without having to look for a sturdy and high-quality amplifier that will be able to work with your 4 ohm speaker.

Do 4 ohm speakers sound better?

For the average person, spotting the slight audio differences between 4 ohm vs. 8 ohm speakers is almost impossible. However, 4 ohm speakers tend to sound better than higher impedance-rated speakers for trained and professional ears.

Although lower impedance speakers tend to sound better, it’s not always the impedance that will determine excellent audio quality. Other variables like the driver size, brand, and design contribute far more to producing better audio quality.

Put it simply, a poorly designed home studio using 4 ohm speakers won’t come close to the audio quality of the best in-home studio using an 8 ohm speaker.

Do 4 ohm speakers consume more power?

Yes, a lower ohm speaker will tend to consume more power than compared to a higher impedance rated speaker, and this is the main problem why average homeowners prefer to use 8 ohm speakers because once your lower impedance rating speaker exceeds its power rating, it might damage the amplifier’s circuits causing it to shut off.

In addition to a speaker’s impedance, you should also consider its power rating, further solidifying the importance of matching the impedance of your amplifier with your speaker.

In addition, 4 ohm speakers also tend to have a higher sensitivity than high impedance speakers; however, they can play music at a slightly higher volume level and be able to play sound that people tend to find clearer, crisp, and detailed.

8 ohm speaker

8 ohm speakers are the most readily available type of speakers on the market. They are less expensive, require less power to operate, and will work conveniently with your other audio equipment like multi-speaker setups without much hassle.

Since most speakers have an 8 ohm rating, looking for amplifiers that can work with them is easy.

4 Ohm Vs. 8 Ohm speaker

Suppose you are looking for ways to improve your current home sound system. In that case, you should always look for a speaker’s impedance matching your amplifier power, but if this is not possible, look for a speaker impedance rated higher than your amp.

A lower impedance speaker will most likely require an amplifier with a higher voltage output capability. While higher impedance speakers only need an average voltage output to work correctly as long as the wattage ratings are matched, this is why top speaker manufacturers use 4 ohms for their flagship products.

Although 4 ohm speakers require more power to function, they boost audio quality incredibly. They will sound natural without distortion if paired with a high-quality amplifier like Accuphase, Macintosh, or Rogel.

But if you are on a budget, purchasing 8 ohm speakers might be the second-best thing as they don’t require as much power to function as 4 ohm speakers, and you won’t need to worry about purchasing an expensive amplifier.

What to do if I prefer a 4-Ohm speaker for my setup?

Suppose you are an audiophile and still prefer to use 4 ohm speakers for your setup. In that case, you might need a more expensive amplifier with more significant power to deliver the high-end sounds that will not negatively affect their sound quality.

Purchasing a speaker with a lower impedance means you can achieve clearer and better sound quality in its full audio resolution. In addition, a lower impedance means you can have more opportunities to tweak your audio system to suit your listening needs.

A lower impedance allows you to customize your audio system compared to the plug-and-play design of higher ohm speakers.

Although 6 or 8 ohm speakers don’t have worse sounding audio quality and are relatively easier to be connected to most amplifiers, they are not designed for sound engineers. For people who genuinely want to listen to music or watch movies with the best sound quality, I suggest getting a 2.1 speakers (if you have the budget).

However, with this, you have to spend a lot more money to purchase 4 ohm speaker and the appropriate amplifiers to connect them.

Series and parallel connections

Series and parallel connections are terms that most of us might have heard of when we were back in high school. Series and parallel connections can also be applied in personalizing your home audio system. When you connect two or more speakers, you change the overall impedance of the setup.

In a series-connected speaker set up, where the hot wire of the first speaker is connected to the cold wire of the other, the total impedance is calculated by adding each impedance of the speakers. Suppose you have two speakers with a rating of 4 ohms; you simply add the two ohm speaker impedance rating, resulting in 8 ohms.

However, for parallel connections, where the hot wire of the first speaker is connected to the hot wire of another and the ground wire to the other speaker’s ground, the combined impedance is calculated by multiplying the impedance of the two speakers and dividing it with the sum of the two impedances.

Suppose you have two 8 ohm speakers. To calculate the total impedance, simply divide 64 by 16, which results in a total impedance of 4 ohms.

How do I change 4 ohm speakers to 8 ohm speakers?

The best and most efficient way to change your 4 ohm speakers to 8 ohm speakers and vice versa is to get them connected through parallel or series connections. If you have two speakers with an impedance of 4 ohms and connect them via a series connection, you have effectively turned your set up to a total impedance of 8 ohms.

If you want to achieve a total impedance of only 2 ohms, you can connect your 4 ohm speakers in parallel. However, if you turn your 8 ohm speakers to 4 ohms, then simply connect your 8 ohm speakers via a parallel connection.

You can achieve any impedance rating by simply meddling with the formulas.

2 ohm speakers vs. 4 or 8 ohm speakers

Impedance can vary from speaker to speaker and from one manufacturer to another. And despite most companies creating speakers with an ohm rating of 6-8, some still have an ohm rating of just 2.

A lower impedance means that your amplifier can overheat badly, damaging the amplifier’s circuits, which could also lead to fires. A 2 ohm rating on your speaker means it has to work twice as hard as a 4 ohm speaker to attain the same loudness.

However, theoretically, a 2 ohm speaker creates a far more powerful and cleaner bass at any given volume. However, you must purchase a much more expensive amplifier to run this setup.

Are higher or lower ohms better speakers?

A higher ohm or lower impedance speaker does not generally translate to better sound quality. In contrast, they talk more about a speaker’s efficiency to achieve the same loudness of differing ohm ratings.

A crucial factor that will affect the overall sound quality of your audio system is whether you match the impedance of your speakers and amplifier. If you do this successfully, you can play music at its maximum volume without affecting its clarity.

In addition to this, a matching impedance between your speaker and amplifier will also mean that you get to have a better-sounding bass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do manufacturers create 4 ohm speakers?

Manufacturers create 4 ohm speakers because some audiophiles or sound engineers much prefer to use them. After all, it allows for customization, improving the overall sound quality.

Can I use multiple speakers with only one amp?

Yes, you can use multiple speakers with only one amp, and this is where impedance becomes a significant factor to consider if you want not to damage your amplifier. Generally, it’s best to connect your speakers in series connections to keep you safe from fires.

Am I able to use a 4-ohm speaker with an 8-ohm amp?

Although you can use a 4 ohm speaker with an 8 ohm amplifier, this is not recommended. Low impedance speakers are also known as amp killers, and that is because you could experience significant problems if your speaker does not provide enough resistance for your amp.

Always look for an amplifier that matches your speaker’s impedance, but if this is not possible, look for a loudspeaker impedance rated higher than your amp.

Is a 4ohm speaker louder than 8ohm?

Yes, 4 ohm speakers can play music at a slightly higher volume if connected properly to the appropriate amplifier.

Can you connect different impedance rating speakers together?

If you plan to have multiple speakers for your studio, you can mix different impedance-rated speakers. The overall impedance rating for your speakers will vary heavily depending on whether they are connected through parallel or series.

So be sure to keep this factor in mind.

Conclusion

Speakers are indeed a fantastic addition to your home theater or home recording studio. Aside from the brand, power rating, and price, the impedance rating is also a crucial factor you have to consider. A good thing to remember is that lower impedance-rated speakers tend to have higher demands for power. And higher impedance speakers are more readily available but will not allow for customizations.

We hope this informative article has helped you become more aware of the difference between 4 ohm vs. 8 ohm speakers.