Need help with outdoor speakers and amp

[Surfnsnowboard]

Hey guys, I need your help. I bought the following 4 speakers, amp and selector switch:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010U5EGKE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_T9FODbSWNDB8J

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000A5S926?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Amazon.com: Magnadyne C45-3800A: 3 Position Speaker Selector Switch for RV or Home : Electronics

Buy Magnadyne C45-3800A: 3 Position Speaker Selector Switch for RV or Home: Selector Switch Boxes - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

I had an electrician install the items on my outdoor patio. He told me the following: With the selector switch installed, the Pyle amp would NOT go into Bluetooth pairing mode (unknown why). When the selector switch was removed, the Pyle paired fine. So I ended up just telling him to remove the selector switch. Anybody ever heard of this?

Secondly and more importantly, when I crank up the volume on the Pyle amp, at about 50-60%, the audio completely cuts out. The electrician thinks “you may need another amp.” But couldn’t explain further why this was happening. Any help on this?

Thanks guys

 

[Dan]

The selector switch is perhaps a bit on the cheap end?

And the amp is underpowered?

(I'm not a sparky - although not sure this is even sparky territory?)

 

[Surfnsnowboard]

The selector switch is perhaps a bit on the cheap end?

And the amp is underpowered?

(I'm not a sparky - although not sure this is even sparky territory?)

i don’t know? I’d just like to fix it.

 

[shaun1]

I cand find the amp specs now but i think I saw them the first time I opened it and it states a minimum impedance of 4 ohms. Your speakers are also 4-6 ohms, so 2 in parralel will be 2-3 ohms. This is probably overloading the amp and causing it to shut down when turned up.

Re the bluetooth, not sure whats going on there. The speaker selector would be an ideal way to have only one pair of speakers at a time. It shouldnt affect the bluetooth at all. Perhaps look for an AV installer or someone with experience in this area.

 

[Surfnsnowboard]

I cand find the amp specs now but i think I saw them the first time I opened it and it states a minimum impedance of 4 ohms. Your speakers are also 4-6 ohms, so 2 in parralel will be 2-3 ohms. This is probably overloading the amp and causing it to shut down when turned up.

Re the bluetooth, not sure whats going on there. The speaker selector would be an ideal way to have only one pair of speakers at a time. It shouldnt affect the bluetooth at all. Perhaps look for an AV installer or someone with experience in this area.

Thank you. Do you know how to prevent the overloading?

 

[Deleted member 105166]

In the absence of any meaningful spec data for the equipment, as @shaun1 has stated above, an impedance mismatch is the likely cause. Depending on how the four speakers have been wired, you may be presenting a 1.0 - 1.5ohm load to the amplifier, which it won't handle.

 

[shaun1]

Thank you. Do you know how to prevent the overloading?

You could connect the speakers in series. But you may find that they are then far too quiet as they will be operating at a much lower level. Although if it is only a single channel amp you could have two series pairs in parralel. If you arent familiar with how this stuff works, your best bet would be to find an audio specialist to recomend you a system as it's not sometjjng most electricians have experience of, or not in the UK at least.
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You could connect the speakers in series. But you may find that they are then far too quiet as they will be operating at a much lower level. Although if it is only a single channel amp you could have two series pairs in parralel. If you arent familiar with how this stuff works, your best bet would be to find an audio specialist to recomend you a system as it's not sometjjng most electricians have experience of, or not in the UK at least.

But if you can tell us if the amp is single channel or dual channel that will help. Do you have a spec sheet in the manual?

 

[Surfnsnowboard]

I cand find the amp specs now but i think I saw them the first time I opened it and it states a minimum impedance of 4 ohms. Your speakers are also 4-6 ohms, so 2 in parralel will be 2-3 ohms. This is probably overloading the amp and causing it to shut down when turned up.

Re the bluetooth, not sure whats going on there. The speaker selector would be an ideal way to have only one pair of speakers at a time. It shouldnt affect the bluetooth at all. Perhaps look for an AV installer or someone with experience in this area.

Here are the specs for each:


4 speakers installed total , specs for 2 speakers only:

Manufacturers Specifications: 2 Speakers Included Frequency Response: 100Hz-20kHz Woofer: 4" Polyelite PVA Surround Midrange: 1.6" Polypropylene Cone Tweeter: 0.78" Piezo Dome Sensitivity: 85.5 dB Nominal Impedance: 4-6 Ohms 100 Watt Peak Power - 50 Watts RMS

Specs for amp:

• Power Output: 100 Watt Peak, 40 Watt RMS x 2 Ch. @ 4 Ohm • Mic Input Type: Dynamic
• Power Amp Type: Stereo Class-T
• Minimum Load Resistance: 4 Ohm
• T.H.D.: 0.06% (8 Ohm, 1 kHz)
• Power Draw: 2 Amps
• Power: AC 100-240V, 50/60Hz (12V DC Adapter)

 

[Dan]

i don’t know? I’d just like to fix it.

I thought if I replied somebody else might.

 

[Surfnsnowboard]

You could connect the speakers in series. But you may find that they are then far too quiet as they will be operating at a much lower level. Although if it is only a single channel amp you could have two series pairs in parralel. If you arent familiar with how this stuff works, your best bet would be to find an audio specialist to recomend you a system as it's not sometjjng most electricians have experience of, or not in the UK at least.
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But if you can tell us if the amp is single channel or dual channel that will help. Do you have a spec sheet in the manual?

looks like the spec sheet shows 2 channel. See above for a copy/paste of the spec sheet. I also attached it to this post. The model is PWA15BT
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I thought if I replied somebody else might.

Lol thx. Still hoping
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Here is a photo of the speakers wires plugged into the amp. I don’t know if you can tell from this photo if it’s wired in series or parallel? Can you? I’m still waiting for my landscaper to get a hold of the electrician with that question.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

The amplifier is grossly underpowered for the load. It is designed to see a 4 ohm load and outputs 40 watts per channel.
As a guide when specifying an amplifier, somewhere in the region of 1.5 to 2.0 x the RMS value of the load is good.
With two speakers attached, I.e. One per channel, it should work provided you don't push it too hard and clip the amplifier. Four speakers isn't going to work for very long, as you have already proved.

 

[Dan]

Any excuse to get a bigger amp and I'd be on it.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

Any excuse to get a bigger amp and I'd be on it.

Unfortunately for the OP, in this case there’s little point, since the speakers only play down to 100Hz, therefore the “powerful bass” referred to in the specs is at best, dubious. It’s likely the roll-off starts much higher, therefore at 100Hz will probably be -6dB or even -10dB

 

[Surfnsnowboard]

I can’t get a “normal size” amplifier as it has to fit in the post of an alumawood patio. Attached is a photo of where it has to fit. Does anybody know an amplifier that would fit here?


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The amplifier is grossly underpowered for the load. It is designed to see a 4 ohm load and outputs 40 watts per channel.
As a guide when specifying an amplifier, somewhere in the region of 1.5 to 2.0 x the RMS value of the load is good.
With two speakers attached, I.e. One per channel, it should work provided you don't push it too hard and clip the amplifier. Four speakers isn't going to work for very long, as you have already proved.

are you saying even if I keep it at 50% volume (up to where it cuts out), the amp is going to break or stop working? Or will it work fine at that 50%?

 

[Deleted member 105166]

You should be able to hear when it starts to strain, then back it off a little. It is much easier to destroy a loudspeaker with an underpowered amplifier pushed too hard, than with an amplifier with plenty of headroom.