Understanding speaker impedance

[bumpy]

I understand that if one is creating a 3 way speaker using a tweeter, mid-range and woofer then it is advisable to select drivers of near equal impedance. My question is:

If the tweeter and woofer are 8 ohms and the mid-range is 16 ohms what are the consequences?

[Firebottle]

You can mix them, I have fitted 4 ohm tweeters in an 8 ohm speaker, you just have to calculate the crossover values accordingly.

With a 16 ohm mid you will have slightly limited max power from the power amp, but doubt you will be playing at max power :eyebrows:

[bumpy]

You can mix them, I have fitted 4 ohm tweeters in an 8 ohm speaker, you just have to calculate the crossover values accordingly.

With a 16 ohm mid you will have slightly limited max power from the power amp, but doubt you will be playing at max power :eyebrows:

Thanks Alan, that all sounds quite straight forward.

Not sure the right words to ask this, but being a higher impedance will the 16 ohm driver be more difficult to drive and therefore quieter than say an 8 ohm version of the same driver in the same speaker?

[Firebottle]

The output level is going to be down to the sensitivity of the unit, you may have to adjust the levels to the other units to match.

Best to use units of matching sensitivity if possible.

[anthonyTD]

Keeping the sensitivity of each driver the same does simplify the situation, but the more drivers you use, obviously the more complicated the cross-over, but still very doable if you understand the drivers your going to use, [Driver spec sheets are very useful ] and therefore how to utilise them, to cover the frequency response they are best suited at!
Good luck with them.
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