Amplifier for 4 Ohm Speakers?

[Andrei]

I have a friend who is presently amplifierless. She has told me some of her woes in trying to get a suitable amp, but there is typically some problem with each one that she has tried - usually not enough grip on the speakers. She tells me that she has been advised that 4 Ohm speakers are not as easy to accommodate as 8 Ohm speakers. I do not know too much of the rest of the system but it includes Thiel 1.6 speakers. They are a two-way speaker. ( According to the Stereophile review the specs include "Nominal impedance: 4 ohms, 3 ohms minimum. Recommended Power: 50-300W.") The source is a Wadia 301.

At this stage an integrated amp may be the way to go but she is not averse to a pre/power combo. No particular preference for valve or solid state, but as she would like to run the TV into the amp as well SS may be better. As far as I know the only sources would be CD TV and Tuner - so all single ended.

££? Not sure. I suspect like me cost is not so important - inasmuch as if she finds the right product she is prepared to wait a bit till she can afford it.

[daytona600]

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[The Grand Wazoo]

Gosh, I was trying to think of an anagram of 'amps', when up you popped, Scott!
Got it now thanks.....

http://crackberry.com/sites/crackberry.com/files/u7860/spam-300x300.jpg

[trio leo]

I use 4 Ohm speakers and my amp drives them beautifully, they almost double in power going into 4 Ohms, they will drive ANY speaker, though I appreciate they are not cheap. Good luck in your search.

enjoy your music

regards Al

[Andrei]

Albarry not available in my neck of the woods but I think the idea of and amp that doubles down from 8 to 4 Ohms may be a good flag.

[walpurgis]

They may exist, but I've never come across an amp that had trouble with 4 ohm speakers. If the quoted minimum is 3 ohms, I wouldn't worry. Modern amps are nowhere near as load fussy as vintage units.

Valve amps will generally drive just about any speaker (assuming there's enough power) without distress, but may sound best with the appropriate output tap (using the matching speaker load terminals, if there's a choice).

I'd be inclined to just choose whichever amplifier you want. You are unlikely to have problems.

[The Grand Wazoo]

As far as I remember the Thiel 1.5 was a rather brutal thing to drive. However, I think they made this model rather more sensitive - I could be wrong though.
People tell me that most modern speakers are a 4 ohm load anyway. I wouldn't know, not having owned a modern speaker since 1992.

[walpurgis]

Anybody ever noticed how nice old 15/16 ohm speakers tend to sound?

[Naughty Nigel]

Anybody ever noticed how nice old 15/16 ohm speakers tend to sound?

I cannot say I have listened to any 15Ω loudspeakers recently, but in theory, loudspeaker cables should be half as important as they are with 8Ω speakers, and a quarter as important as they are with 4Ω speakers!

Perhaps your observations have more to do with the other equipment connected to the loudspeakers, such as amplifiers containing thermionic valves rather than integrated circuits? :)

Nigel.

[Yomanze]

Any amp designed for everyday speakers will be fine with 4 Ohms, it's the ones with severe dips at 2 Ohms and below where problems start. :)