How to Run the Bose 802 in Parallel

One of the best and most compact speaker options for live music venues is the venerable Bose 802 series. Bose started in 1968 with home stereo speakers (the model 901). Soon, musicians started using them for live acoustic music and Bose developed the 802 model for live sound reproduction (for both permanent installation and mobile use). All 802 speakers have a native impedance of 8 Ohms, which makes them ideal for connecting in parallel to most sound reinforcement amplifiers.

Bose 802 Series I and II Parallel Connection

• 1

  Purchase or make a 1/4-inch plug terminated speaker cable long enough to reach between the rear panels of the speakers you are connecting in parallel.

• 2

  Plug parallel connection speaker cable into one of the 1/4-inch jacks on the back of the first speaker and repeat with the second speaker at the other end of the cable.

• 3

  Plug a second speaker cable into the amplifier's output. Plug the other end of the second cable into the remaining speaker input of either speaker.

• 4

  Turn on the amplfier.

Series III Parallel Connection

• 1

  Purchase Speakon-terminated speaker cables to interconnect your speakers, or make them with your favorite speaker wire and Speakon plugs.

• 2

  Insert the Speakon plug on one end of your interconnect cable into one of the Speakon receptacles on the first speaker. Push it in and twist it into a locked position. Connect the other end to the second speaker.

• 3

  Connect another speaker cable to the amplifier and plug the Speakon plug (on the speaker end) into the remaining Speakon receptacle on either speaker.

• 4

  Power up the amplifier.