2x12 speaker wiring?

[sombersoul]

One of these days I'm getting a custom-built 2x12 cab and therefore need to decide on the exact configuration. My main question here is whether there's an audible difference between parallel or serial wiring. From what I understand I have the following options:

Serial:
2x 8 Ohm = 16 Ohm
2x 4 Ohm = 8 Ohm

Parallel:
2x 16 Ohm = 8 Ohm
2x 8 Ohm = 4 Ohm

I would like the cab to have either 8 or 16 Ohm overall impedance. Since I have some spare Eminence Governors (16 Ohm), I'm considering using those, unless, of course, I should decide for a different speaker type (V30s, Swamp Thangs, Tonker, Private Jacks, G12H).

Another noteworthy point is the fact that I want to have the option of running two 2x12 cabs together.

So, would there be any difference in the wiring mode or are these truly equal options? Thanks in advance!

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

Serial:

2x 8 Ohm = 16 Ohm ....would be OK but a bit odd.

2x 4 Ohm = 8 Ohm ....don't know of any 4 ohm guitar speakers.


Parallel:

2x 16 Ohm = 8 Ohm....This would be my pick. You can easily add another 8 ohm cab in parallel.

2x 8 Ohm = 4 Ohm....you don't want a 4 ohm cab as you can't easily connect another cab to you amp. You would have to connect them in series which would be a PITA.

 

[Ascension]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

Serial:

2x 8 Ohm = 16 Ohm ....would be OK but a bit odd.

Not odd at all I have several 2/12 cabs wired that way. If you plan on running 2 cabs in paralallel then if your amp will run a 4 ohm load it's ok to go with 2 16's in parallel fo 8 ohms. However if your amp has 8 ohm min load you MUST run the 2 8 ohm speakers in a series set up for the 16 ohm load.
My Fender Prosonics sound better with the selector set at 16 ohms so I wire my cabs that way.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

Since you have 16 ohm spkrs, I'd go w/the 2 16 ohm parallel wiring = 8 ohm cabs. Cabs usually wire together parallel, so you would be running two cabs together at 4 ohms.

I've seen debate on sound differences, but nothing conclusive. I've used 4, 8, and 16 ohm cabs, and I have not noticed any big advantage in terms of the sound. However, that conclusion is reached after yrs of using a jumble of different amps, gtrs, and spkrs. I have never sat down and performed a controlled test.

In the past, I tended toward higher ohm ratings, because I thought a bit more resistance would drive the tubes a bit more. I have no idea how valid that is. These days, I just use whatever sounds good!

 

[Farkus]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

First of all, what impedances does your amp support?

 

[sombersoul]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

Thanks for the helpful replies so far!

I play through a 6505 head, so I can choose any impedance from 4 to 16. I was opting for the paralell wiring anyway, but I just wanted to check if there'd be any drawbacks as opposed to serial wiring. It seems that most ready-made 2x12 cabs come with an 8 ohm input (except the Orange PPC 212, afaik). Yes, so I can run two 8 ohm cabs together with the 4 ohm setting on my head.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

FWIW, with series wiring in a single cab, if you lose one speaker, you lose the sound from all of them.

 

[Ascension]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

I've seen debate on sound differences, but nothing conclusive. I've used 4, 8, and 16 ohm cabs, and I have not noticed any big advantage in terms of the sound. However, that conclusion is reached after yrs of using a jumble of different amps, gtrs, and spkrs. I have never sat down and performed a controlled test.

I can't hear much difference in the different ohm cabs but sure can in most amps! The different ohm loads pull the taps differently off the transformer so it can make a quite noticable difference in the amps tone which tap you use. On the 16 ohm setting the Prosonics have a bigger richer tone and at 8 of 4 ohms seem to loose some life. The bottom and top end just seem to decrease at 8 and even more so at 4 ohms. Try switching your amp at lower volumes through the different ohm settings with the same cab and you will quickly see what I am talking about. Doing that is safer with a 16 ohm cab BTW but as long as you don't run for more than a couple of minuits or crank the amp and allow the transformer to heat running a 8 of 4 ohm cab even on 16 ohms shouldn't damage the amp Try this as it may surprise you.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

FWIW I wired up my 2x12 with 2 8 ohm speakers in parallel for 4 ohm overall impedance and I have no problem with the speakers being wired parallel, still sounds good!

 

[James Rock]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

I'd get a total load of 8 ohm becuase it opens up your options (two cabs in series 16 ohm or parellel 4 ohm) and most amps have 8 ohm outs.

 

[James Rock]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

Try switching your amp at lower volumes through the different ohm settings with the same cab and you will quickly see what I am talking about. Doing that is safer with a 16 ohm cab BTW but as long as you don't run for more than a couple of minuits or crank the amp and allow the transformer to heat running a 8 of 4 ohm cab even on 16 ohms shouldn't damage the amp Try this as it may surprise you.

Doesn't running it mismatched change the tone though so this would show up rather then matched cabs of different ohmages?

 

[sombersoul]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

I'd get a total load of 8 ohm becuase it opens up your options (two cabs in series 16 ohm or parellel 4 ohm) and most amps have 8 ohm outs.

If I were to to run two cabs in series, I would need one output jack and one "thru"-jack at the back, right?

Thanks for all the help! I think I'm going for the parallel wiring = 8 ohm option. This way I can use my spare speakers.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

FWIW you're perfectly safe having twice or 1/2 the speaker impedance for a tube amp. With an 8 ohm cab, you could run the amp set on 4, 8 or 16. However, running a 16 ohm cab at 4 ohms or vice versa for more than a minute or two is a bad idea for the output transformer, etc.

You all probably know this, but it is always a BAD idea to experiment with output impedance on solid state amps. 8 ohm output into 8 ohm cab. Period.

Chip

 

[James Rock]

Re: 2x12 speaker wiring?

You all probably know this, but it is always a BAD idea to experiment with output impedance on solid state amps. 8 ohm output into 8 ohm cab. Period.

I thought Solid States had a min ohmage that you would be fine going above but not below like with Solid State Power Amps in PA systems.