8 ohm into 16 ohm

[spauldingrules]

Okay - I now have a Celestion Vintage 30 laying around. I also have a Vox Valvetronix AD50vt (which is a "hybrid" amp). The speaker is 16 ohms, the amp is 8 ohms. Can I use the 16 ohm speaker in this type of amp? I've looked around a lot and am finding conflicting information. Thanks!

- Mike

[boomboomba]

You can safely drive a higher impedance speaker, but not a lower value. So an 8 ohm amp will not be damaged with 8 or 16 ohm speakers but you can blow the output transformer with a 4 ohm speaker. And whatever you do don't accidentally run the amp with *no* speaker connected.

[manbearpig]

I used my Dr Z 8 ohm output through a 16 ohm cab for several months. Dr Z himself told me that it was perfectly fine (as in, it won't harm the amp at all). I believe he said something to the effect of, "you will not have optimal volume, and tone won't be the same, but some like it that way."

[guitarman_nebr]

16ohm speaker driven by an 8ohm amp is good. the difference is a loss of volume (in most cases) of a few db.

you are good in your case. never put a lower ohm speaker to your amp, that causes bad things that overload your amp.

the ohm rating of an amp is simply where the amp is at its best and it is the lowest ohm rating you can safely run your speaker outs.

[spauldingrules]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for the input!