How do I connect midbass drivers and tweeters to a four-channel amplifier?

You can use a four-channel amplifier to drive both midbass drivers and tweeters. Two channels drive the tweeters and two drive the midbass drivers.

This example assumes four midbass drivers and two tweeters, each with an impedance of 4 ohms. Different speakers or quantities require adapted wiring.

What should I check before starting?

Disconnect power to the system before changing connections. Check that the power supply, cables and fuses are sized for the installation and that the ground point makes good contact.

All connections must be secure, with no loose strands that could cause a short circuit.

Which channels should I connect the speakers to?

Connect as follows:

Amplifier channel	Speakers	Load per channel
Channel 1, Front	One 4-ohm tweeter	4 ohms
Channel 2, Front	One 4-ohm tweeter	4 ohms
Channel 3, Rear	Two 4-ohm midbass drivers wired in parallel	2 ohms
Channel 4, Rear	Two 4-ohm midbass drivers wired in parallel	2 ohms

The amplifier must support 2 ohms per channel for this connection. Check its manual.

How do I wire the midbass drivers in parallel?

For each pair, connect:

• Both speakers’ positive conductors to the same channel’s positive output.

• Both speakers’ negative conductors to the same channel’s negative output.

Two 4-ohm speakers wired in parallel give a total nominal impedance of 2 ohms.

How do I set the tweeter crossover?

Tweeters need a high-pass filter, HPF, to attenuate low frequencies. Set the filter before playing.

The correct crossover frequency depends on the tweeter model and filter slope — how strongly frequencies below the crossover are attenuated.
3,000 Hz (3 kHz) can be a starting point where suitable for the tweeter’s specifications, but must be adjusted for its characteristics.

Follow the speaker manufacturer’s recommendations and check that the amplifier’s filters can meet them. If not, use a suitable passive crossover or a separate active crossover solution such as a DSP.

Should the capacitor on the tweeter wire stay in place?

Keep the supplied capacitor or passive filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The capacitor is often in series with the tweeter’s positive wire and helps attenuate low frequencies.

An amplifier high-pass filter does not automatically mean the capacitor can be removed. The capacitor also does not replace correct settings and a suitable power level.

How do I set the midbass crossover?

Use HPF on channels 3 and 4 to reduce deep bass sent to the midbass drivers.
Approximately 100 Hz can be a starting point, but adjust it to the speaker specifications, mounting and listening volume.

If the amplifier has a band-pass filter, BPF, you can limit both the lowest and highest frequencies reproduced by the midbass drivers. Set the upper crossover to suit the transition to the tweeters.

How do I set Gain/Level?

Gain/Level matches the amplifier’s input sensitivity to the stereo’s signal level. It is not an extra volume control.

Start with gain at minimum and neutral tone controls. Follow the amplifier’s instructions to find the stereo’s highest clean signal level and set gain. Use any CLIP indicator according to the manual.

Setting the stereo to approximately 75% of maximum volume is only a rough rule of thumb. It does not guarantee a distortion-free signal.

Reduce the level if the sound becomes distorted. An installer can check settings with measuring equipment.

Can BRL help me with the connections?

Yes! Tell us your amplifier, midbass and tweeter models and how many speakers you want to connect. We can then help find suitable wiring and settings for your system.

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