Connect 4 speakers to a mini amp

wshuttes

Estimable
Mar 18, 2015
2
0
4,510
Hi

I am wanting to connect 4 speakers (2 in lounge 2 outside) that are connected to a splitter that allows either pair or all 4 to play at the same time.

Would this mini amp be powerful enough as it says max output is 2 x 20w.

If I used 4 x 10w speakers.
here is the mini amp
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SMSL-SA36A-Pro-Mini-Integrated-HiFi-Digital-Stereo-Audio-Amplifier-AMP-12V-Power-/171723154770?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27fb7f6552

and here is the splitter:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-WAY-SPEAKER-SELECTOR-SWITCH-8-OHM-LOUDSPEAKER-128-562-AV-Link-/281633289747?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4192a6f613

thanks.
Regards,
Wesley
 
Solution
it won't be very loud, but presumably it's for background music and not as a dance party thing. you should be just fine as long as you're not expecting chest-thumping bass.

wshuttes

Estimable
Mar 18, 2015
2
0
4,510


Thanks. Appreciate the help.
 

Traciatim

Distinguished
Nov 11, 2006
80
0
18,610
It should work fine that way.

I would be careful about running 4x10 watt speakers if you are going to be running either one set, the other, or all of them. Your speakers should be purchased based on the maximum power they might receive to avoid destroying them, so if you have a 2x20 watt amp and you will be running 2 speakers they should at least be rated to handle 20 watts, or better yet 25+ to avoid any issues.

Look for speakers that can handle the wattage, that are more sensitive (usually rated in dB @ 1w/1m) since you are are using a fairly low powered amp and setup. This way your speakers will still get fairly loud if you want them to while still using a small amount of power. A speaker that is rated at 90dB @ 1w/1m will play twice as loud as one rated at 80dB @ 1w/1m given the same input signal. Small differences like 1-2dB you shouldn't worry about so in that case take the ones that fit your budget or you like the look of . . . but when it gets to a 5+dB difference I'd take the more efficient one every time.