160w head into 140w cab

[emilio]

I know this is not recomended, BUT let's say the amps impendance is 4ohms and the cab's is 16 ohms. Doesn't that mean that the power would be cut down by de quotient of 16 over 4? Wouldn't this mean that the amp wil be cut down to 40w, or somehting like that? I'm getting a 4ohm 200w cab, the manufacturer is still working on it though. Can I do this on the meantime? It's a Peavey Roadmaster

 

[Demanic]

Re: 160w head into 140w cab

If it's solid state, running into a higher impedance cab should cut the output. As long as you don't run it into lower than minimum recommended impedance, you should be ok.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[emilio]

Re: 160w head into 140w cab

It's a tube amp.

 

[jeremy]

Re: 160w head into 140w cab

you can do it and it may sound fine. i wouldnt run the amp very high though since thats a big mismatch, you should really use it with a 4ohm cab

 

[Demanic]

Re: 160w head into 140w cab

From what I know of tube amps, running a mismatch like that isn't healthy for the output transformer.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[jeremy]

Re: 160w head into 140w cab

or tubes since they have a relationship with the speaker through the output transformer. at low volume i doubt youd hurt anything but its still not something i would do

 

[emilio]

Re: 160w head into 140w cab

I want to use it for band practice for about two hours just to try it out since I just got it today. I should go past four. I should have my cab by next week though. That one runs at 4 ohms and takes 200w. I maybe if that risk is too big, I'll wait. Thanks a lot for your input. People here at SD forums alway have great tips with very quick responses.

 

[DankStar]

Re: 160w head into 140w cab

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: 160w head into 140w cab

I had one of those amps back in the late 1980s. It was a beast! Really enjoyed it.

I don't think you'll have too much problem with a 16 ohm speaker load and a 4 ohm amp out. The amp will not put out its full rated output...there's too much "push-back" (resistance) from the cab.

Where you run into problems with a 4 ohm output is running it into a 2 ohm load. In this case, the amp will run free and wild and will put out more than its rated power. It will get hot and you can easily damage the amp...and transformers aren't cheap.

Bill

 

[jeremy]

Re: 160w head into 140w cab

theres actually a 2 ohm tap on that transformer