Small inexpensive "bookshelf" speaker help needed

[ebinmaine 75,874]

I have a set of speakers that I've been using in the past but they're too big to practically fit in my workshop.

 

I'd like to get a set of inexpensive small speakers that could potentially be wall-mounted above the doors on each end and not take up too much space. Maybe another set fore and aft of the workbench...?

 

The receiver is a mid to late 90s Yamaha that's pretty powerful. Exact wattage unknown but I'm sure it's over 100W per channel.

 

I'm not necessarily trying to create a rock concert environment but I would like to have at least two, maybe four speakers that would be able to keep up with the unit and have them spread throughout the workshop.

 

What is it that I need to know as far as ohms, watts, resistance, Etc?

 

 

 

[Kenneth R Cluley 632]

I have a Pioneer set up in my shop with Bose 101 "outdoor" speakers. Four speakers total for two different areas. They work and sound good. Find them used fairly cheap @ yard sales, craigs, marketplace, etc. The issue i had was signal, Metal roof and fluorescent lighting wreaked havoc on signal. Installed "Rabbit Ears:" antenna rated for FM inside at peak of roof and fiddled with until i got reception i desired for local station. I went with outdoor speakers due to environment, 

[Handy Don 15,277]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

What is it that I need to know as far as ohms, watts, resistance, Etc?

Typical speaker outputs for the 70’-90’s sound systems (I don’t have any experience with later sound systems 😁) expected 8 ohms per speaker. Putting two speakers in parallel on the same output would halve the resistance and potentially blow out the amp. Putting them in series doubles the resistance with poor sound results. Some amps had outputs for two sets of speakers (a good friend once joked that “the ohms get all jammed up in there”). Some amps have provisions for two sets of speakers. 

 

Around here, CL and tag sales are great sources for used but good sound systems. 

 

All the above said, since I use ear protection almost continuously in the shop, I’ve gravitated toward a set of retired-from-traveling noise-cancelling bluetooth over-the-ear headphones linked to my phone or tablet. Podcasts and audiobooks mostly. 

[Bar Nuthin 1,825]

6 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

What is it that I need to know as far as ohms, watts, resistance, Etc?

 

On the back of your receiver, it should list the recommended ohms rating.

Some receivers will handle low impedance setups (4 ohm) while others (rated and 8 ohms) can be stressed to failure if too low impedance.

You can manipulate the ohms depending on how you wire your speakers (series or parallel).

 

I have a couple nice Polk studio speakers that I might be willing to part with. I'll have a look when I go out to my garage in a bit.

 

Edit: You can buy speaker switches (for selecting multiple sets of speakers) that have built-in impedance control

Edited 2 hours ago by Bar Nuthin
additional thought

[ebinmaine 75,874]

1 hour ago, Bar Nuthin said:

 

On the back of your receiver, it should list the recommended ohms rating.

Some receivers will handle low impedance setups (4 ohm) while others (rated and 8 ohms) can be stressed to failure if too low impedance.

 

Makes sense. I have two receivers I could wire up. I know at least one of them can do 4 or 8 ohms. 

 

1 hour ago, Bar Nuthin said:

You can manipulate the ohms depending on how you wire your speakers (series or parallel).

 

I have a couple nice Polk studio speakers that I might be willing to part with. I'll have a look when I go out to my garage in a bit.

 

Definitely interested. Thanks! 

 

1 hour ago, Bar Nuthin said:

 

Edit: You can buy speaker switches (for selecting multiple sets of speakers) that have built-in impedance control

 

Back in the late 80s I did a little DJ-ing for a teen organization. I used a set of switches to choose which Disc player  was on. 

Never seen a speaker selector. 🔊 

I'll check that out too.