Which Speakers Can I Use.

[bruce5755]

Hi all.
I have just purchased a new 120 watt Hi-Fi mini system that came with 3ohm speakers and 1.5 metres each of cable. Can I use my current 6ohm speakers that are approx 7m and 3m away from the main unit. And do both cables have to be the same length?

Many thanks in advance.
Bruce.

[gingejbee]

Ideally, the cables should be similar lengths...but you aren't going to notice any audible difference...so, that's OK.
I suspect that your new 120w system is 120w maximum output and not 120w RMS. The 6ohm speakers will be fine...you'll get less volume than from 3ohm speakers. I just hope the combination of amp and speakers sounds good.

[Zacs-Master]

If you connect your amplifier to the wrong speaker impedance, you risk damaging the amp. In tube amps, too high a load impedance (or a disconnected load) can result in damage to the output tubes or output transformer, while in solid state amps, if the speaker impedance is too low, the amplifier will tend to overheat and more power is used up in the amplifier than is delivered to the speaker. Too many speakers on a solid state amp can burn up the power output section.

[TheChair]

Ignore ZM's post, which is completely irrelevant to your situation. Everything that gingejbee says is correct.

[Hymie]

While what Zacs-Master says about valve amplifiers is true (that with the output open circuit or too high an impedance) will destroy the amp, no such problems exist with solid-state electronics.
I doubt very much that your new 120W hi-fi system will employ a valve amplifier – otherwise there will not be much ‘mini’ about it.

Doubling the speaker impedance will half the output power for a given input voltage. So your 60W per channel into 3 ohms will be delivering 30W per channel into 6 ohms.

So it could be that you will notice a significant reduction in sound output delivered into the 6 ohm speakers – but this is not the whole story since much will depend on the sensitivity of the speakers (the sound pressure level generated for a given input power).

There should be no issue with the lengths of wire connecting the speakers, providing that it is of sufficient cross sectional area. Make sure that the 6 ohm speakers can handle half the power of the speakers supplied with the mini hi-fi system.

[FizzTheFish]

cable lengths make no difference, only blind audiophiles says differently. But they will also say that your wires supposed to be made of gold, and an angle of floor where you system stands must be strict 180degrees

[Togo]

Just a quick in and out, increasing the impedance of the speakers will not damage the amp but will as others have stated reduce the volume levels (not much to the human ear). But always be wary about reducing the speaker impedance as this can indeed damage an amp if full volume is wanged up for long periods. Oh to have my push pull valve amp from the late 60s back.