PA Speaker Impedance/ Wiring Questions

[KMT15]

I just ordered a Uniden Bearcat 980 CB Radio and plan on ordering two PA speakers (one for the front and one for the back). I want to power them with an amp and the speakers are 100w max at 8 ohms. How would I wire these to an amp? What would the best amp configuration be? I'm guessing a 200 watt mono channel and just wire them in parallel which would end up being 4 ohms. Or is there a better way?

Also, the PA function of the CB is a 3.5 mm aux jack so I can hook it up to the amp with an RCA to 3.5mm cord but would there be a way that I could also somehow wire it to allow me to plug in my iPod to play music outside on the PA system when camping and tailgating?

[ember1205]

Personally, I would NOT wire them in parallel. Amps are designed to work with specific resistance loads, and dropping the resistance could cause the amp to fail or to blow the speakers (or both).

 

Additionally - You have to look at the THD of the signal you are feeding to the amp. Using an amplified output from the CB to feed the amp means you will be sending a driven and partially distorted signal. When amplified, you will be amplifying the distortion and adding more from the amp as well. You can completely toast a speaker, regardless of its wattage rating, with about 1W of pure distorted signal. You have to be careful.

 

If the CB has line out signaling, use that to feed the amp. And use a dual-channel amp, or at least an amp that can support two loads wired to it.