Advice needed for mini HIFI speakers

Backbiter

Came home last night with a bargain £25 mini HIFI for the kitchen - last in the shop, old model (Philips). Unpacked it to discover one of the speakers is kn@ackered. I could return it for a full refund, but I have an oldish pair of Philips mini hifi speakers that I could use. They work fine, but the manual says the new system should only use speakers of the same 8 ohm impedance - the ones are 4 ohm.
I have trawled the net for advice, which seems contradictory.
Is it OK to use them or will the new system burn out in no time? Or should I take it back for a refund?
I don't intend playing music at anything like full volume.

rogerramjet

You could try and place the speaker in but remember it will mean your warantee is invaludated, however, if one of the speakers is faulty you have a good reason to return the unit and who would know if you have connected the wrong speaker to the system (it maybe someone has already pulled a scam to get a new speaker and that's why they sold it cheap)

You don't state what is wrong with the (knackered) speaker, can it be repaired? maplins sell a lot of components (speakers, etc) which may help you repair the faulty unit

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Generally it is important not to exceed the ohm rating of the system. So if it says it needs 8 ohm speakers then you shouldn't use 4 ohm speakers as this would overload the amp causing damage.

drlight_2

Like they say you should use 8ohm speakers
The good thing about speakers is that you can tell if the Amp is being overloaded because you'll hear obvious distortion, and know when your knackering your amp, if the sound is good at a bit more than your normal volume then it'l be ok.

Backbiter

rogerramjet wrote:

You don't state what is wrong with the (knackered) speaker, can it be repaired? maplins sell a lot of components (speakers, etc) which may help you repair the faulty unit

It's irreparably damaged - the casing has been broken in transit. Maplins couldn't fix it, honest!
The point is, if I returned it I couldn't exchange it, and I'd be minus a hifi system at a ridiculously low price (it was £80 down to £25).
I've read that the 4ohm sopeakers could overload the amp, but I've also read that most amps can cope with 4ohm speakers unless you use it at near full volume, which I wouldn't.
I think that money back is my best option. Let's hope Somerfield don't think it was me who caused the damage!

Just had a thought. Don't some supermarkets replace the goods and give you your money back if they're faulty/ substandard?!

Donnie

There'll be no problem using them together. Just don't overload the amplifier by turning it up too loud.

fairenoughclough

Use both of your 4 ohm speakers wired in series to replace the knackered speaker, this will then act as one 8 ohm speaker.

i.e. amp positive to speaker 1 positive/speaker 1 negative to speaker 2 positive/speaker 2 negative to amp negative.

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fairenoughclough wrote:

Use both of your 4 ohm speakers wired in series to replace the knackered speaker, this will then act as one 8 ohm speaker.

i.e. amp positive to speaker 1 positive/speaker 1 negative to speaker 2 positive/speaker 2 negative to amp negative.

Well that's true but the side with two speakers will sound louder (about 3 decidels) becuase of the combined SPL (Can't remeber what that stands for).

marka87uk

Sound Pressure Level... I think!