[l008com]

I found the perfect stereo for my boat. It's a very small boat and I don't have much space. This stereo isn't a car-style one. It's electronics are in a blank box that you mount under the dash, and it's "faceplace" is a separate waterproof box you can mount anywhere. It has no CD player, it's perfect. Well nearly perfect. It's a 4 channel amp but it can't be run in a bridged 2 channel mode. And, my boat is very cramped. So fitting 4 speakers will be a real challenge. So then I was thinking, if I hooked up the two left and the two right together, and hooked them to a pair of 8 ohm speakers, wouldn't that work perfectly? Assuming I can find a pair of nice, yet affordable, 8 ohm marine speakers. I don't want to just go with 2 speakers unbridged because its only 17 watts RMS per channel. Using just 34watts RMS total might be a little weak.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by l008com 

I found the perfect stereo for my boat. It's a very small boat and I don't have much space. This stereo isn't a car-style one. It's electronics are in a blank box that you mount under the dash, and it's "faceplace" is a separate waterproof box you can mount anywhere. It has no CD player, it's perfect. Well nearly perfect. It's a 4 channel amp but it can't be run in a bridged 2 channel mode.

What's the difference between bridging and what you're suggesting?

So then I was thinking, if I hooked up the two left and the two right together, and hooked them to a pair of 8 ohm speakers, wouldn't that work perfectly?

Do you have a manual/data sheet for your amp?

Here's what my latest amp says are wiring options, you might have something similar:

[l008com]

Yes, those diagrams are showing bridging. When you bridge an amp, you get more power through one speaker. My stereo's amp doesn't support that.

And the "bridging" I suggested is a totally different thing. Each channel on the amp would still be outputting it's normal power, it would all just be going to one speaker. But if I do that with a 4 ohm speaker, it will suck twice the power and blow the amp most likely.

[Doofy]

I'm far from an expert in mobile audio, but it sounds a bit dodgy to me.
I'd be going 2-channel and looking to grab some really high sensitivity speakers. 17w RMS/side can do some serious damage with the right speakers. Sony XSMP1620W look reasonable (sensitivity above 90).

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by l008com 

Yes, those diagrams are showing bridging. When you bridge an amp, you get more power through one speaker. My stereo's amp doesn't support that.

And the "bridging" I suggested is a totally different thing. Each channel on the amp would still be outputting it's normal power, it would all just be going to one speaker. But if I do that with a 4 ohm speaker, it will suck twice the power and blow the amp most likely.

I still don't get what you're trying to do.

[l008com]

I don't know any different way to say it. The plan I'm speaking of would be to wire both the front and rear channels together to one speaker. But being an 8 ohm speaker, each channel would still see 4 effective ohms. That way, each pair of speakers would get the amp's full power, without risk of blowing the amp . . . I assume. Unless something here doesn't add up?

[Laminar]

And why can't you copy the top right wiring in the diagram?

[l008com]

Because thats not a standard thing. The amp has to support bridging it's front and rear channels, and like I said, mine does not.

[Laminar]

Based on its manual/data sheet?

[l008com]

Based on talking to crutchfield and the manufacturer.

[l008com]

Here's the manual. It doesn't mention anything about bridging. And like I said, crutchfield said this unit specifically does not support bridging to two channels. Unfortunatley.
http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchf...20/020CMS1.PDF