3-way Speakers

 
Forgive me for posting yet another thread but this subject is far too complex to continue on one thread. Each thread deals with a separate question of the same topic.
 
Let's say you buy a 3-way speaker cabinet that has a rating of 150 watts @ 8 ohms and there's an 8", 3", and 1" speaker in the cabinet.
 
Does this mean that the individual impedence rating for each one of the installed speaker cones in the cabinet is actually higher than 8 ohms so that *combined total of the 3 speakers in the cabinet is 8 ohms?
 
 
*By combined total I mean by using this formula...
1/R(total) = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ...for as many resistors you have.
 
Pete

 
Thanks for the response. I don't really understand all the different types of wiring techniques yet, nor do I understand crossovers. I have not yet begun to research those things.
 
In addition to just being curious...The reason I'm asking my above question is because I have an amp that has 6 available outputs at 130 watts each @ 8 ohms. (Actually only 4 outputs plus a sub-woofer in the flat EQ stereo mode.)
 
Instead of using the original speakers that came with the amp I'm thinking that I could purchase some older, used home stereo speaker cabinets with a maximum wattage of 120 - 150 and an impedence rating of 8 ohms. I could then connect these to the amp thereby producing a sound that would be better suited for the purpose for which I would be using them. I want to install them into the body of an electic piano in an attempt to give it a more realistic sound. I think this would help fill out the mid-high and high frequency ranges better. I can pick up a couple pair of floor speakers fairly cheap and install them into the piano.
 
If I am on the right track with my thinking then I believe there would be no danger in doing this. Am I correct?

 
OK, thanks Herb. That sounds good to me and I think that's what I'll do since craigslist is full of folks trying to sell their 1980's and 90's stereo systems for really cheap because there's just no demand for them anymore. These days everyone wants smaller systems in their homes.

As I pointed out in your earlier thread, impedance is not a constant, but varies across the frequency spectrum.

Here is an example.  The impedance in this case is quoted my the manufacturer as: "8 Ohms (4.2 Ohms min)".

Guitarhacker


Kev's right but for most of us non-engineer types, if you make sure the load and source match you're OK. 

Thank the Lord for that my Marshall head only has 16 ohm & 8 ohm jacks. No 'variable' ohm jacks anywhere.

tlw

 
As do my Oranges. Only being Orange, the pair of inputs labelled "8ohms" means "connect two 16ohm cabinets here, one to each socket" not the obvious "connect one or two 8ohm cabinets here".
 
Nowadays Orange point this out. Once upon a time they just let you find out by word of mouth if you were lucky - or the hard way if you weren't.

I so wish that Apple would start making guitar amps. And if they did, it would be so cool if they were comparable to Orange.

3-way simply refers to the array drives the speaker to produce sound. It is generally considered the best driver there is more dedicated, but the quality of the speaker's manufacturing and design will also be a decisive factor in the speaker's performance.

Interesting comparison, Sven ....

The very loud "minimum" volume (and it's age) is why I stopped using my 50watt plexi and the big Orange Overdrive years ago. These days if I want that sound it's a Tiny Terror set to 15 watts and 1x12" with a mic in front of it as required.
 
Powerful enough to handle drummers and small gigs on its own, and not so loud that it can't be cranked when mic'd into a PA.
 
Still too loud for sensible home use though :-/