Audio Video / Editorials
8 Ohm vs. 70V Audio By Scott Pisani, Audio Product Manager
8 Ohm (or constant impedance audio), is the most popular wired format for transmitting audio from an amplifier or receiver to speakers within a home. However, constant impedance audio is not the only way to send audio to your speakers.
Constant voltage audio is another popular method of broadcasting audio, though its use in the home is limited. Constant Voltage audio is also known as 70V audio, and the vast majority of commercial installations utilize this format.
Both 70V and 8 Ohm audio have areas in which they excel.
70V.audio.allows.for.many.more.speakers.to.be.wired.
along.a.single.run,
.and.also.allows.the.speakers.to.be.run.
a.much.longer.distance..Of.course,
.this.also.means.that.
70V.speakers.tend.to.be.lower.priced...Also,
.almost.all.
70V.amplifiers.are.only.single.channel,.meaning.you.would.
need.two.separate.amplifiers.if.you.want.to.create.
stereo.sound.
8 Ohm speakers are ideal for very short speaker runs.
Ohms.refers.to.the.impedance.of.the.speaker,
.and.the.
speaker.should.always.be.matched.to.the.amplifier...In. other.words,
.you.should.never.use.an.8.Ohm.speaker.with.
a.70V.amplifier.as.you.could.cause.damage.to.your.equip-
ment...Also,
.if.your.amplifier.is.at.a.different.impedance.
such.as.4.Ohm.or.16.Ohm,
.you.could.still.use.an.8.Ohm. speaker,
.but.if.you.don’
t.wire.the.speakers.in.such.a.way.
to.match.that.impedance,
.you.would.not.be.getting.the.
optimal.sound...8.Ohm.speakers.tend.to.be.more.expensive.
since.better.components.are.often.used.to.take.advantage.
of.the.stereo.capability.of.most.8.Ohm.amplifiers.
70V speakers are primarily used in commercial settings.
Schools,.offices,.restaurants,
.hotel.and.ballfields.frequently.
rely.on.70V.speakers...It.is.not.uncommon,.however,
.to.find.
70V.speakers.used.in.the.home,
.especially.outdoors...Since.
most.backyard.applications.don’
t.allow.for.stereo.music,.
and.sometimes.the.wire.runs.can.be.very.long,.it’
s.become.
more.popular.to.use.a.70V.wall-mount.or.rock.outdoor.
speaker.in.a.residential.setting...70V.would.also.work.well.in.
long.hallways.or.small.rooms.where.there’
s.no.reason.to.have.
two.speakers.or.a.single-point.stereo.speaker.
8.Ohm.speakers.(
or.another.constant.impedance.variant.
such.as.4.Ohm.or.16.Ohm)
.are.used.almost.exclusively.in. home.applications,
.though.the.speakers.in.your.car.are.
also.most.likely.running.at.8.Ohms...These.speakers.can.
be.used.in.home.theater.settings,
.or.as.part.of.a.whole.
house.audio.set.up.where.audio.is.broadcast.to.each.room.
individually.through.a.home.audio.distribution.amplifier.
70V is not the only format of constant voltage audio.
25V.is.used.in.many.jurisdictions.around.the.country.over.
70V.because.there.are.cities.and.counties.that.consider.
70V.high.voltage...Also,
.100V.is.the.standard.in.much.of.
the.rest.of.the.world.outside.North.America.
There.are.other.methods.of.broadcasting.audio.such.as.
wireless.2.4ghz.transmission.or.IP.audio,
.by.far.constant.
voltage.and.constant.impedance.remain.the.most.popular,.
and.understanding.the.benefits.and.differences.of.each.can.
go.a.long.way.to.maximizing.your.audio.business.
www.adiglobal.com
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