The calculator below is useful in determining the total impedance of speakers in parallel. It also calculates how the power is shared between the speakers.
If all the speakers have the same impedance, the calculation is relatively easy.
Simple Impedance Calculation for Speakers in Parallel
If all the speakers in parallel have the same impedance, then simply divide the impedance by the number of speakers in parallel.
Example 1: Four 8 ohm speakers in parallel: 8 divided by 4 = 2 ohms.
Example 2: Two 4 ohms speakers in parallel: 4 divided by 2 = 2 ohms.
Not so Simple Calculations for Speakers in Parallel
For calculations involving speakers in parallel with different impedance, the following formula is required (it can be used with speakers of similar impedances too).
If you have a calculator with 1/x button then this calculation is not too difficult. If you don’t have that function on your calculator, or if you don’t like formulas, check out the calculator below.
Using the Calculator
The calculator can be used for 2, 3 or 4 speakers wired in parallel.
Simply type the impedance of each speaker into the white boxes (or use the drop-down values). Use N/A for unused speakers in this calculator. The total impedance will be calculated for the entered speakers.
Also calculated for each speaker is its percentage share of the amplifier’s output power. This is useful as power sharing is a consideration when using speakers with different impedance.
“Power Differential” is the final calculation. This calculates in dB (decibels) the power level difference between the highest and lowest power as it is shared across the speakers. This shows the power level difference when using speakers with different impedance.
Amplifier Power Calculator
The bottom section of the calculator helps in matching the speaker combination with your amplifier. This is not necessary if you only want to know the total impedance and/or the power ratios.
However if you are connecting these speakers to your amplifier, it may be helpful to input the amplifier power and the associated speaker impedance. In the specifications for your amplifier, it should say something like:
Amplifier power: 80 watts continuous average power @ 4 ohms (2 channels driven, THD 0.08%, 20Hz-20kHz)
This tells you the maximum continuous power the amplifier will deliver into a 6 ohm load is 80 watts. In the calculator below, for this example, you type in 80 for the power and 6 for the impedance. Be advised, some specifications state RMS power rather than continuous power. These are effectively the same.
The calculator will display the effective power of the amplifier for the calculated total impedance of the speakers in parallel. Also displayed (under each speaker’s power %) is the actual maximum power the amplifier will supply each connected speaker. A comment on the suitability of the calculated total impedance for your amplifier is also provided.
Note: the calculator is best viewed in landscape mode on phones and small screens
| Download Calculator as Excel File |
Prices in US$ |
Note: the calculated output power for the amplifier is based on a theoretical “ideal” amplifier. In practise, your amplifier may produce slightly more or less power.
Need to know more?
This calculator will help you understand the total speaker load on your HiFi amplifier. For a better understanding of this and what to do about it, read the articles How do I Connect Multiple Speakers to my HiFi Amplifier and How to wire four HiFi speakers or How to connect 2 speakers to one amplifier or watch the video in the article Understanding Speaker Impedance.Also see How Multiple Speakers Share Power for further details about the percentage power calculations. For more details about the effective amplifier power at higher impedance loads, see How Impedance Changes Amplifier Power.
If you need to calculate the impedance and power sharing of speakers in a different configuration, you can use my Speakers in Series Calculator, or the Speakers in Series/Parallel Calculator.
Please Note: all these calculations are for connecting manufactured speakers (boxes). They are not used when building your own speaker boxes and connecting multiple speakers in a cabinet using a crossover circuit. A crossover splits the signal into different frequencies for each of the speakers and makes the total impedance calculation complex (as impedance is frequency dependent). That is why speaker designers get the big money, and as installers we benefit from their expertise.
If you need further advice on connecting speakers (boxes) in parallel, please read the FAQs before submitting your question. You may also find an answer in the comments below.
