Hi all,
I'm thinking about changing the standard TN 51 Utopia tweeters from my Focal front stage to a pair of Phass silk dome tweets.
The tweets will be crossed-over actively via the sound processor in my Eclipse HU, and run off their own amp (2 x 35W @ 4 ohms).
However, the Focal TN 51 tweeters are 4 ohms, whilst the Phass tweeters are 8 ohms.
What exactly will this mean from a practical perspective, in terms of sound quality?
Am I likely to need a 'meatier' amp to make the Phass tweets sound as good as the Focals?
Thanks in advance!
Full Version: Changing to a higher impedance tweeter...
if you're running them 'actively', it'll be fine. cos running them off a passive xover will affect the xover point; that is, the xover frequency with a passive xover is dependent on the impedence of the speaker. changing the impedence changes the xover point.
'active', all else being equal, they will require twice the power to produce the same volume. but then you have to factor in the 'sensitivity' of the tweeters; they could be more sensitive, so it could balance out.
one theoretical advantage is that the higher impedence will be an easier load on the amp, and therefore improve (double) the damping factor, which means better control over the tweeter. not really an audible advantage though.
most tweeters don't require much power to go really loudly. so i doubt you will need a more powerful amp. you may need to readjust the gains on all the channels: if there's 'room' to up the gain on the tweeters (without clipping at full volume), or drop the gains on the other speakers to compensate for any lower volume these new tweeters offer.
'active', all else being equal, they will require twice the power to produce the same volume. but then you have to factor in the 'sensitivity' of the tweeters; they could be more sensitive, so it could balance out.
one theoretical advantage is that the higher impedence will be an easier load on the amp, and therefore improve (double) the damping factor, which means better control over the tweeter. not really an audible advantage though.
most tweeters don't require much power to go really loudly. so i doubt you will need a more powerful amp. you may need to readjust the gains on all the channels: if there's 'room' to up the gain on the tweeters (without clipping at full volume), or drop the gains on the other speakers to compensate for any lower volume these new tweeters offer.
my mids are 8 ohm, but the higher sensitivity means they only need 50% more power - still further, as the frequency range is reduced (mids play only 600Hz to 2kHz) then the same amp runs them just fine.
for a while i was running my sub 4+4 @8ohm and it went well with only 80-140wmrs
better run them active
8ohms is not a bad thing for a tweeter. tweeters really dont need massive amounts of power to get them going (unless its a dyn esotar).
8ohms is not a bad thing for a tweeter. tweeters really dont need massive amounts of power to get them going (unless its a dyn esotar).
QUOTE (f3nr15 @ Mar 5 2006, 08:53 AM) 
Hi all,
I'm thinking about changing the standard TN 51 Utopia tweeters from my Focal front stage to a pair of Phass silk dome tweets.
The tweets will be crossed-over actively via the sound processor in my Eclipse HU, and run off their own amp (2 x 35W @ 4 ohms).
However, the Focal TN 51 tweeters are 4 ohms, whilst the Phass tweeters are 8 ohms.
What exactly will this mean from a practical perspective, in terms of sound quality?
Am I likely to need a 'meatier' amp to make the Phass tweets sound as good as the Focals?
Thanks in advance!
I'm thinking about changing the standard TN 51 Utopia tweeters from my Focal front stage to a pair of Phass silk dome tweets.
The tweets will be crossed-over actively via the sound processor in my Eclipse HU, and run off their own amp (2 x 35W @ 4 ohms).
However, the Focal TN 51 tweeters are 4 ohms, whilst the Phass tweeters are 8 ohms.
What exactly will this mean from a practical perspective, in terms of sound quality?
Am I likely to need a 'meatier' amp to make the Phass tweets sound as good as the Focals?
Thanks in advance!
are you sure they are 4 ohm?
my Focal TN52 is 8 Ohm...
Juls
QUOTE (Juls @ Mar 6 2006, 12:41 AM)
are you sure they are 4 ohm?
my Focal TN52 is 8 Ohm...
Juls
my Focal TN52 is 8 Ohm...
Juls
Hmmm, the Focal TN 51 is 4 ohms, and the TN 52 is 8 ohms.
I thought that the TN 51s were standard with the Utopia component set-ups, whilst the TN 52 was an optional purchase, though I could be wrong. Better go back and have a look at my Focal tweeter...
QUOTE (f3nr15 @ Mar 6 2006, 10:11 AM)
Hmmm, the Focal TN 51 is 4 ohms, and the TN 52 is 8 ohms.
I thought that the TN 51s were standard with the Utopia component set-ups, whilst the TN 52 was an optional purchase, though I could be wrong. Better go back and have a look at my Focal tweeter...
I thought that the TN 51s were standard with the Utopia component set-ups, whilst the TN 52 was an optional purchase, though I could be wrong. Better go back and have a look at my Focal tweeter...
Yeh, when used with the Passive X/Over in the set, they present 4ohm load,
but if you use them on there own, they are 8 ohm.
Juls
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