Can I run 4 REV 8's into a 4 channel bridged amp?

[valleywine]

Looking to boost my power somewhat. Can a bridged WS SD4 run 4 rev 8's safely? Can I get 342 watts to each speaker this way? The SD4 makes 685 watts x 2 in bridged mode. Or will this setup tax the amp too much?

Can any amp do this?

Any suggestions to get 300ish watts to each speaker with one amp?

I currently have an HT2 to each pair. It sounds good, but I want better if I can.

[jmvotto]

Probably have to run an sd2 to each pair, the sd4 won't run at 1 ohm .
The audio gurus will chime in shortly

[MLA]

Any suggestions to get 300ish watts to each speaker with one amp?

This is the shorter of the two answers, trade out for the SD-2.


The SD4 makes 685 watts x 2 in bridged mode.

This is true, but, thats when bridging a 4 ohm load. The SD-4 cannot run any lower then a 4 ohm load bridged, and bridging a higher load = less wattage.


Can a bridged WS SD4 run 4 rev 8's safely

Technically, yes, you can bridge two pair of speakers on a 4 chnl amp. The trick is, you would have to wire the two Rev-8 in series = 8 ohm, in order for the amp to run safely. In this configuration, the amps bridged output would net the speakers the same wattage as if they were wired directly to their own chnl, which would be 185W rms. The Rev-8 is a 4 ohm speaker. There are only two configurations to wire a pair. Parallel nets you 2 ohm and the amp wont run with that low of a bridged load, and series, which nets you 8 ohm. So no way to bridge a pair of 4 ohm speakers and get the 685 x 2 wattage.

[jmvotto]

Damn I am pretty good at predictions:cool:

[David Analog]

As Mike (MLA) pointed out, you normally can't cheat by a combination of bridging and paralleling.
4-ohm stereo and 8-ohm bridged yield the identical power....just as 2-ohm stereo and 4-ohm bridged yield the identical power.
The Wetsounds SD2 is the answer and IMO an ideal match for two pair of Rev8s. The single SD2 will be a bigger upgrade over the two HT2s than the power difference would suggest. The SD series amplifiers are special.

[valleywine]

If I'm reading the specs right the SD2 would net me 310 watts to ea of the 4 REV 8's w/ a 2 ohm load (speakers wired in parallel). Is this correct? Just want to confirm. Thanks for all the input.

I kinda knew you couldn't split a bridged amp, but it would be nice if you could.

[MLA]

Correct, 310W rms to each speaker.

[valleywine]

Just as good. Thanks again everyone.