Question about ohms&s - probably a dumb one

[Triangle]

If you have an amp that allows the choice between 4,8, and 16 ohms, does it matter to the amp (or it's sound) if you run it at 4 ohms with two 8 ohm speakers in parallel, or at 8 ohms with two 16ohm speakers in parallel. Jusy wondering if it matters, meaning should I get two 16 ohm or two 8 ohm speakers.

[7 Dying Trees]

It won't matter to the amp at all. As long as the impedance is correctly matched. Now the sound of the speakers, that's an entirely different matter

[Triangle]

The sound of the speakers?? Are you saying that 8 ohm speakers sound better than 16 ohm speakers. I'll be getting Vitage 30's BTW.

[7 Dying Trees]

Just went and had a quick look at the celestion site,

http://www.celestion.com/pro/pro.htm to find out the exact difference, and here's what they say:

What’s the difference between 100W at 16 Ohm of impedance and 100W with an impedance of 8 Ohm?

100W is still 100W whether the load is 8 or 16 Ohm. The voltage and current will change according to the load impedance and the amplifier design, but 100W into 8 Ohm is the same as 100W into 16 Ohm. You will probably find that your amp will deliver more power into 8 Ohm than into 16 Ohm.

All this stuff and a bit more is under their guitar loudspeakers/technical faq page.

It doesn't really answer the question directly though, but as it says, 8ohm's worth of speakers will have more power running through them overall (and correct me if I am wrong) this should lead to quicker speaker distortion. (but I may be totally wrong there, and if so will edit reply once someone comes and puts me straight!)

James
James