The first question to ask yourself is “do I wish to power the speakers with my amplifiers, or will I need separate amps for each set of speakers?” You may not need separate amps for each set of speakers because they may be inherently different, such as a subwoofer and two front arrays.
If you already have two separate and distinct amplifiers and want to use them all at once for the same purpose, then there is no reason that you should not be able to connect them together to give you an extra amplifier. However, there are several complexities that arise from this situation.
Table of Contents
Connecting 2 Amplifiers to one Set of Speakers:
1. Parallel Connection:
A parallel connection is a good choice when you have two similar amplifiers that will be powering the same set of speakers. For example, if you already have a 100W amplifier and want to add another 100W amplifier to power another speaker array, then this is the best way to add the extra power by connecting them together in parallel.
To do this, simply remove one speaker from each channel and replace it with a jumper wire. Now both amplifiers will see the same load and each see half of one speaker instead of one whole speaker. The resulting sound will be an exaggerated example of the sound coming from the two amplifiers in parallel.
However, this solution is not feasible if you currently do not have this type of amplifier. If you only need to add 50 watts to your system, then using a regular 2 channel amp and using it in parallel with your current setup may be the best solution after all.
2. Series Connection:
If you want to power a single set of speakers and do not need extra power or frequency range, then connecting two amplifiers together in series is quite adequate for the purpose. If you have two identical amplifiers, then connecting them in series will give you the same power as giving each one half of a single speaker.
In the case of equal power, this solution will sound just as good as if you were to connect them in parallel. In fact, it is often better because the two amplifiers have symmetric power capability between each other. The resulting sound from a set of speakers connected this way will be a more pleasing result than a set of speakers connected across a single speaker with an equal amount of power going to each half.
This solution is also feasible if you do not have two different amplifiers. If you already have one amp, then you can either remove the speaker from the first channel and replace it with a jumper wire or simply remove one speaker from each channel. You will now be able to power the same set of speakers with both amplifiers.
3. Stereo Connection:
If you want to use two separate sets of speakers, then connecting them in stereo is highly recommended. This way, each set of speakers will see half of one amplifier and half of another amplifier. The resulting sound will be an emphasized version of both amps in stereo mode instead of the summing process that happens when they are connected together in parallel.
This solution may be necessary if you do not have two different amplifiers available. If you already have two amps that are identical to each other, then connecting them together in stereo will give you the same result.
However, this often works better than parallel connections because it will give you an emphasized version of both amps instead of the summing effect that happens when they are connected together in parallel.
4. Single Channel Mode:
This is a good way to connect your amplifiers together in mono mode, but it is not particularly easy or practical. First, remove one speaker from each channel and replace it with a jumper wire to connect the channels together.
After this, your amplifier will have two speakers hooked up to the same channel. To make this work properly, you must ensure that both speakers are wired in phase with each other.
This connection will allow your amplifiers to appear like they draw twice their power from the same set of speakers. The resulting sound may be louder and more distorted than you would like, but it will also be twice as loud and cover twice the distance. This connection is often used when you want to connect one amplifier to a pair of subs without losing any real power in the process.
5. Direct Connection:
The ideal solution to connecting two amplifiers together is to use one amp and connect it to a power combiner. This way, the combined sound will be louder and clearer than if you were simply using the power from each amplifier independently.
The power combiner will then allow each amplifier to provide equal power into one channel and equal power into the other channel. The resulting sound will be as if both amps were providing twice as much power as they really do, but without any extra effects such as noise or unwanted distortion.
You can also use a 2 channel amp with a subwoofer driver instead of the subwoofer itself. This will allow you to add a lot of power to your system without having to add another set of speakers.
Conclusion:
A lot of people do not consider the fact that they should use more than one amplifier when they install a new audio system in their car. They often use one amp and a pair of identical speakers and figure that they have a great sound system.
However, this type of setup is going to cause the sound to sound flat and will not offer true stereo separation or frequency range.
If you want a better sounding audio system, then you need to install higher quality components from the start.
FAQ:
Q: How to wire four speakers to one amplifier?
A: There are two ways to wire four speakers to a two channel amplifier: in series or in parallel. Which one to choose depends on both the speakers and the amplifier, specifically their impedance levels and limits.
Q: What is the best amplifier for speakers?
A: McGary Audio SA-1 ($3,985 USD) First Watt SIT-3 ($4,000 USD) Audio Hungary Qualiton APX 200 ($4,700 USD) Merrill Audio Thor monoblock amplifier ($4,800 USD) Odyssey Audio Kismet ($4,900 pair USD) Pass Labs XA25 ($4,900 USD) Linear Tube Audio ZOTL40 ($6,800 USD) McGary Audio SA-2 ($7,985 USD) Manley Labs Snapper monoblocks ($8,400 pair USD)
Q: How to connect speakers using speaker wire?
A: – Use a knife or wire strippers to strip away a half-inch from the ends of each wire. – Twist the copper wire ends to eliminate any loose strands. – Unscrew each banana plug cap and thread it onto each wire. – Insert the bare wire into the plug’s hole and screw it securely. – Screw the cap back onto the plug.
Q: How to properly Power Your Speakers?
A: Make sure your amplifier can handle your speaker’s impedance. Check the spec sheets and match up your speaker to the matching amp channel. Buy an amplifier that suits your power needs. … Triple check your impedance math when connecting speakers in serial or parallel. Avoid cable snake oil,stick with what’s in the box.