Standard Clubman sound, front/rear swap implemented, speaker upgrade to Polk db691 in rear, Polk db6501 2-component set up front.

Install notes: I took signal for the fronts from the lower speaker to the Polk crossover, then from the crossover to the tweeter and "woofer" (mid-range). This leaves the wires to the original upper 4" speaker unplugged. Original system sees a pair of 4-ohm(?) loads in parallel on each side; new set-up sees a single 4-ohm(per mfr specs) load.

Question is this: do I need to install a 4-ohm load aross the now-open upper connector, or OK to leave it open?

Thanks to the NAM gurus for all the various investigational threads in this arena,
Tom

 

No,

You are perfectly okay with it the way you have it. IF it was the othter way around where is was 4 ohms and you now had 2 ohms that would be a problem.

 

Thanks, schatzy62, for helping educate me.

So, if I've got it right through all this, originally, the head expected <4-ohms load up front (each, left and right) (two 4-ohm speakers wired in parallel<4-ohm load), and 4-ohms rear (l&r). With the channel swap, the "front" channels are playing through the rear 4-ohms, the "rears" through <4-ohms, but that doesn't seem to be an issue ('cause if it was, lots of us would have fried something by now?).

Now with my new setup (includes front-rear swap), all channels are playing through 4-ohm loads. Seems as though I should expect the new rear speakers to be quieter at neutral fade, since the head was expecting a <4-ohm load there and is seeing 4....right? Though I guess relative speaker efficiencies and other characteristics may render this fader thing moot, and I should adjust to my ear preference.

 

efficiency has a lot to do with it

also id be willing to say with the stock speaker setup it see just under a 4ohm load honestly.

leaving it the way u have it wired is the way to do it

no just need a 4 channel

 

as pentavolvo said the speaker efficiency aslo has a lot to do with it. speakers are rated at form 80 to 95db efficiencies. the higher the number the more volume they produce.

There are also many other factors that make up part of the equation, but it would take me more thant eh space allowed to explain it all.

Just remember just because the Ohm rating is lower does not mean that it will play louder. I have designed some speaker systems that use 8 ohm driver that are more than twice as loud as other 4 or 2 ohm systems.

 

Thanks much, guys. Listening more, worrying less.