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4 Ohm Speaker with an "8 Ohm Minimum" Reciever

I recently put together a small system consisting of a NAD L54 receiver and a pair of Totem Dreamcatchers. The Dreamcatchers are a 4 Ohm Speaker. The NAD Manual states that the speakers should be 8 ohm minimum. Of course, I did not now this until I purchased everything and had all the components delivered. I would hate to sell the speakers, but I am worried I will damage the receiver.
If I use the system, am I risking damage ? The room that the system is in is very small, and the system will be played at low levels. Thank you.
red68
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Stanwal...AWG 20 wire is 0.0119 ohms per foot.
150 ft of such wire (75ft round trip) would be 1.78 ohms.
Not really a problem, especially if the speaker is 8 ohms.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
8,673 posts
 
I well remember a "Professional" sound man using at least 75' of 20 gauge wire.

LOL!

Of course, Stan and El are BOTH right. The added resistance of speaker cables which are too small a gauge and/or very long would make life easier for the amplifier, by virtue of increasing the load resistance it sees, but would waste power and degrade sonics, particularly by reducing damping factor.

Regards,
-- Al
drew_eckhardt
394 posts
 
>Stanwal...AWG 20 wire is 0.0119 ohms per foot.
150 ft of such wire (75ft round trip) would be 1.78 ohms.
Not really a problem, especially if the speaker is 8 ohms.

Sure, but that "8 Ohm" speaker can drop to 6 Ohms at some frequencies and increase to 32 at others.

Attenuation will vary from -.47dB to -2.25dB at others, and a 1.8dB difference in total power response is going to completely change the speaker's voicing.
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