8 Ohm Speakers
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 307
Likes: 2
From: Port Orange Fl
8 Ohm Speakers
Is anybody using the stock AM/FM mono radio with 8 ohm speakers? I currently have 10 ohm speakers but one is starting to to rattle. I have an 8 ohm speaker on the shelf that I would like to use.
TIA,
Mike
TIA,
Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 8
From: Illinois
The less ohms the greater the tendancy for the radio to overheat. I am having my radio restored and was told stick with the 10 ohm. I would purchase two 10 ohm speakers. Don't put speakers in the kick panels--sound is bad, if necessary have an input line and an output line put in the radio--that way you could connect it to an amp and other speakers if you want or hookup a ipod/mp3 player and run them through your existing dash speakers. The sound will probably never be great bu in the small volume of space of the 71 it will sound ok. Just my 2 cents.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
Unless your amplifier transistors have been upgraded I would stay with the 10ohm speakers. You run a risk of destroying the transistors with a power impedence speaker. I just bought 2 new OEM speakers from Wilcox for my AM/FM Stereo radio not cheap at $80 but they are what GM wanted in the Vette.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,465
Likes: 0
From: Orange Park Fl
Yes, lower ohm speakers work the amp, but the difference between 8 and 10 ohms is nothing. Amplifiers have a working range that you must stay within. Professional amps (not stereo systems) usually run from 4 to 16 ohms (some go to 2) and pro speakers are usually 4-16 ohm. Aftermarket car stereo stuff often runs 2 ohms or less and the speakers are in that range. Car makers use odd ohm ratings (7, 10, 12, ohms). I would not hook a one ohm load to your stock head unit, but, as I said before, 8 should be fine. Don't pay alot of extra money for crappy OEM speakers just to get that oddball 10 ohm rating.
God bless, Sensei
God bless, Sensei
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
You won't have any problems using 8 ohm speakers in place of the 10 ohm units. You may experience excessive sound distortion at higher volume levels, but there was sufficient safety factor designed into the Delco head so that it won't 'burn up' with that amount of increased current. I installed two series-wired 4 ohm speakers on each side of my original Delco stereo unit (8 ohms total for each side instead of 10 ohms) and have never had a problem.
