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4 ohm vs 8 ohm rear 6x9's?

mngtp

mngtp

New member
We have a 1999 grand prix gtp. Im sure this has been discussed before. Our grand prix doesnt have the bose system. The rear speakers work sometimes but most of the time they dont. Currently there are 2 4 ohm 6x9's the rear. What is the difference between the 4 ohm speakers and the 8 ohm speakers? I picked up 2 8 ohm speakers from a junk yard grand prix se. I was wondering if I could still use these or if they will sound like crap or hurt something?
 


Well, the main difference here is that the lower the ohm's the more wattage output is possible.

Example:

Current 4-ohm factory speakers may be able to output 18w RMS at a stable load.
Junkyard 8-ohm speakers may only be able to output around 9w RMS at a stable load.

In the end, you may replace sh*tty speakers, but you will sacrifice sound quality/volume with a stock 8-ohm compared to a 4-ohm.
 
8 ohm speakers with a stock head unit is going to sound crappy. Your cutting your power in half. You will be under powering them and they will be quiet. Be wary about turning up the volume as they will distort easy as they are underpowered. Distortion will lead to another dead speaker.
 
8ohm drivers are typically more efficient *wink wink* What's the sensivitivty with 1watt 1meter? Subtract 3db for the 4ohm driver if they used voltage.
 
madpat said:
Well, the main difference here is that the lower the ohm's the more wattage output is possible.

Example:

Current 4-ohm factory speakers may be able to output 18w RMS at a stable load.
Junkyard 8-ohm speakers may only be able to output around 9w RMS at a stable load.

In the end, you may replace sh*tty speakers, but you will sacrifice sound quality/volume with a stock 8-ohm compared to a 4-ohm.
Click to expand...

Speakers outputting wattage in single digits is rare enough so how would they get to the doubles? :D

speakers are around 99.7% inefficient.

So 1000 watts in, 30 watts out in musical output.
 
matt5112 said:
Speakers outputting wattage in single digits is rare enough so how would they get to the doubles? :D

speakers are around 99.7% inefficient.

So 1000 watts in, 30 watts out in musical output.
Click to expand...


I would actually say that because music is so dynamic that it's more like 30 watts into the speaker when you're cranking the volume. For a fraction of a second it might spike to 200 watts but speakers typically don't even handle 20watts of continuous heat very well.

Ever heard those stories about 20w solder guns ruining speakers because they didn't clamp heat sinks? I certainly have a hard time believing that our amplifiers ACTUAL heatsinks can wick away 1000w of heat continuously.


Here's an example where watts are being used to heat.

Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
Incandescent bulbs are only about 2.3 - 2.7% efficient, I think?
"Efficient" depends on what you are measuring: 5% efficient when used for lighting, but 95% efficient when used for heating
Good for a laugh: Heat Balls.

Random: Look for heatbulbs, which emit radiation at an even higher heat-to-light ratio (making them more "efficient" for heating).
 
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I don't disagree at all :) I'm really interested in figuring out the break down. I honestly only think that subs really get the power vs. mids and tweets. It takes much more to reproduce waves below 200hz
 
Yet... its 200-5000 that matters most...

Hell for a month or so I had nothing under 400 and I was still loving it.
 
I found two factory 4 ohm 6x9's with bigger magnets than mine in a '97 grand prix gt none bose system. It also had two smaller speakers (im guessing they were tweeters) and the speaker grille had places for them too. Im wondering if the magnet size matters? If these 6x9's will work in my stock system? Is there a way to wire in those tweeters? Why would this '97 gp gt have tweeters and my '99 gp gt doesnt? Thanks, brad.
 
My guess is the '97 had premium sound package and your '99 doesn't?

So it came with more speakers including tweeters -- I believe most of the premium package amps (Bose/Monsoon) send a different load to the tweeters than the 6x9's.
 


I just realized you said the '97 didn't have Bose either. Maybe it did have the premium sound but the owner took the amp out? Unlikely tho....hmmmm.
 
The only amp in the 97's was the low pass amp by the glove box. It boosted the low frequencies for the 6x9's.
 
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