Running Eclipse Amp At 3 Ohms

[Lucas702]

I'm looking at getting a set of boston speakers, and running them to my Eclipse EA4000 amp. It says that the impedience on the speakers is 3 ohms, and it only says the amp is 4 ohm stable. It doesnt say it can run at 2, but nothing about 3. How would I know if it is safe to do or not? Thanks

[uhoh_45]

after imp rise and all that the amp should be seeing around 4 ohms so i'd say its fine but i could be wrong

[banginAltima]

If the amp gets really hot while playing or goes into protect, then you'll know it's not okay.

You may not see enough impedience rise at a "normal" listening level, playing full tilt maybe a different story.

Only way to know is to use a clamp meter and a dmm and do the math.

[Boon]

3 ohms is faiiirly safe.

Just like you see a lot of Wharfedale home speakers are 6 ohms but they run ok off an 8 ohm stable amp.

Basically it shouldn't instantly pop the amp, it might just get really hot.

[Lucas702]

Think it will get really hot if each set only sees about 65 watts rms of power, and each channel on the amp puts out 75 rms?

Also, will an Alpine cda-9855 headunit be able to be 2 ohm stable for a set of infinity speakers?

[Boon]

Headunits are odd ones. I have run a few headunits (even a cheapy Sony one) down to 2 ohms and they got really hot but never blew up... YMMV.

[Lucas702]

Yeah thats what my buddy has a sony headunit with a set of infinities and it doesnt seem to affect it much, thanks

[ryde2idie]

hook the speakers up to that amp and let them play for a little while (but not to loud) then unhook them and right after you unhook them test the resistance in the coil with your dmm and see how many ohms its puttin up if its close to 4 id say f*ck it and just use em.

[Boon]

hook the speakers up to that amp and let them play for a little while (but not to loud) then unhook them and right after you unhook them test the resistance in the coil with your dmm and see how many ohms its puttin up if its close to 4 id say f*ck it and just use em.

Care to explain what that's going to prove?

A 3 ohm resistor is a 3 ohm resistor unless it gets REALLY hot.

If he measured the resistance, it'll probably read about 3 ohms. He could run it for a week at medium level, unhook it and it would still read 3 ohms.

God there's a lot of advice being thrown up on here that's total bunk...

[ryde2idie]

yea because my l5 dvc 4 ohms a piece dont sit at 3.65 ohms when cold once played they rise to about a 4 ohm load. so if he says those speakers are sittin at 3 ohms maybe if he plays them and heats them up the resistance will rise to around 4 which will be fine for the amp he is using. theirs a difference between a resistor and a coil of wire.