Expert: Cleggsan - 11/2/2010

Question
I have built a stereo system in my daughter's jeep, and would like to add a center channel pyle audio 3.5 inch speaker. Can I wire off the two front door speaker's positive post to the pyle speaker connecting one lead to + and one to -? If so would I have to use an Electrolytic Capacitor?? I have the front and rear door MB quart speakers wired to an MB Quart DSC 480 4 channel amp. If so could you give me the reccomended value of the inline capacitor? Speaker specs are as follows, power handling 25w RMS 50 peak, 65-20,000 Hz Response, 4 ohm.

Thanks,

Rick

Answer
According to the spec you gave on the center speaker you wish to add it is listed as a full range speaker - but a small one. So, you needn't add a capacitor unless you wish to limit the bass frequencies getting into it.

You can add it as a parallel speaker off the amplifier so long as the impedance matching is ok.  Since the speaker is 4 ohms it will be in parallel with the other speaker connected to the channel you select from the MB.  Thus you must look at that issue. If the other speaker is also a 4 ohm impedance then the resulting impedance with the new one added would be a 2 ohm load.  Therefore, the amp must be specd to drive a 2 ohm loading.  Check the specs on it.

Hope this helps.