To get the best from your loudspeakers, it's important to make sure the amplifier you are using is up to the job. Several factors have to be considered, and it's worth clarifying what they mean and how they affect the performance of a loudspeaker.
Loudspeakers tend to be quantified using Watts, but this is purely a measure of the amount of power a loudspeaker can take at its input over time, and not necessarily a measurement of how loud it might go.
Optimal Audio loudspeaker power handling is therefore quoted as Watts (AES) and Watts (Peak); AES is a standard measurement of average power handling over time, and Peak represents the transient power handling capability of the loudspeaker.
So for an Up 4 the AES power rating is 30 Watts, which will continuously deliver 102dB at 1m distance from the loudspeaker - transients however will momentarily reach 105dB if you drive it with an amplifier capable of producing enough power to do so.
However, this only applies when the loudspeaker is running in low impedence mode (8 or 16 Ohms).
All Up series are cable of running at 70 volt - 100 volt line, and Up 4O can only be run this way. What does this mean?
An amplifier that can produce this level of voltage, either via a transformer on the output or through bridging of channels would normally damage a loudspeaker. Transformers that step the voltage down to suitable level are fitted into the loudspeakers, and the voltage is maintained along the chain.
Each loudspeaker can be 'tapped' to receive a specific voltage, making individual control of the loudspeaker output possible. Take care to use the correct tap setting for the output voltage of the amplifier you are using. In the case of SmartAmps, which can drive either 70 or 100 volt lines, the 70 volt setting is recommended.
The total number of loudspeakers it is possible to connect to a single amplifier channel is determined by adding the total wattage of the loudspeakers together. For speech systems, where low frequency response is not critical, these systems can offer extremely good value for money.
A 100 Watt amplifier running at 100 volts can drive 100 loudspeakers tapped at 1 Watt, 50 loudspeakers tapped at 2 Watts, or 2 loudspeakers at 50 Watts and anywhere in-between. Up series loudspeakers have a wide range of transformer taps to choose from.
| Up Model | 70V taps (Watts) | 100V taps (Watts) | Low Impedence (Ω) |
| Up 3 | 15, 7.5, 3.8, 1.9 | 15, 7.5, 3.8 | 8 |
| Up 4O | 6, 3, 1.5, 0.75 | 6, 3, 1.5 | N/A |
| Up 4S | 8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5 | 8, 4, 2, 1 | 8 |
| Up 4 | 25, 12.5, 6.3, 3.2 | 25, 12.5, 6.3 | 8 |
| Up 6O | 60, 30, 15, 7.5 | 60, 30, 15 | 16 |
| Up 6 | 60, 30, 15, 7.5 | 60, 30, 15 | 16 |