8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
- Thread starter Xeromus
- Start date
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
When I ordered my Ear Candy BuzzBomb, Tim emailed me some diagrams that really explained things in terms of resistance in a cab. They're for a 2x12 cabinet, but basically it's like this: If the speakers are wired in series (and all the same resistance obviously), take the resistance of a speaker, and multiply it by the number of speakers to get the total resistance. If they are wired in parallel, take the resistance and divide it by the number.
So,
Series Resistance = (Resistance of 1 speaker) x (# of speakers)
Parallel Resistance = (Resistance of 1 speaker) / (# of speakers)
Not sure how much it helps because again they're just 2x12 diagrams but here...
So to answer your questions, assuming I'm right, 4 x 4ohm speakers in series = 16 ohm 4x12 cab.
To get a 16ohm 2x12 you would need either 2 x 8ohm speakers in series, or 2 x 32ohm speakers in parallel.
When I ordered my Ear Candy BuzzBomb, Tim emailed me some diagrams that really explained things in terms of resistance in a cab. They're for a 2x12 cabinet, but basically it's like this: If the speakers are wired in series (and all the same resistance obviously), take the resistance of a speaker, and multiply it by the number of speakers to get the total resistance. If they are wired in parallel, take the resistance and divide it by the number.
So,
Series Resistance = (Resistance of 1 speaker) x (# of speakers)
Parallel Resistance = (Resistance of 1 speaker) / (# of speakers)
Not sure how much it helps because again they're just 2x12 diagrams but here...
So to answer your questions, assuming I'm right, 4 x 4ohm speakers in series = 16 ohm 4x12 cab.
To get a 16ohm 2x12 you would need either 2 x 8ohm speakers in series, or 2 x 32ohm speakers in parallel.
Last edited:
marvar
New member
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/features/drdecibel/index.asp
It can go either way, depending on what the mfg is trying to do- most marshall 4x12 are series/parallel- using 4 16ohm speakers, making a load of 16ohms!Xeromus said:
http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/features/drdecibel/index.asp
Last edited:
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
I prefer speakers in parallel. With a parallel wiring, everything is divided up equally. You won't get the added resistance down the line that you do with series wiring.
I prefer speakers in parallel. With a parallel wiring, everything is divided up equally. You won't get the added resistance down the line that you do with series wiring.
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
Apparently parallel wiring has a bigger sound with more sustain and "less stuffiness", at least according to Tim from Ear Candy.
Apparently parallel wiring has a bigger sound with more sustain and "less stuffiness", at least according to Tim from Ear Candy.
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
Check out www.thegearpage.net sign up and do a search. Alot of information there. If I rember correctly, series with similar speakers will bring out the highlights or lowlights of the speakers. For instance a speaker with alot of upper mids will sound like it has more upper mids wired in series then in parallel. But if I recall right it doesn't make much of a difference when the speakers are the same, but with mixed matched speakers it can. Not really sure, but I do recomend doing a search no the gear page.
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=22409&highlight=series
Check out www.thegearpage.net sign up and do a search. Alot of information there. If I rember correctly, series with similar speakers will bring out the highlights or lowlights of the speakers. For instance a speaker with alot of upper mids will sound like it has more upper mids wired in series then in parallel. But if I recall right it doesn't make much of a difference when the speakers are the same, but with mixed matched speakers it can. Not really sure, but I do recomend doing a search no the gear page.
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=22409&highlight=series
Last edited:
Sludgenutz
New member
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
I would generally agree with that statement. Composite AC frequencies are complex, and the parallel wiring scheme would seem to allow each speaker more freedom to run on its own, rather than be strapped to a "weakest link in the chain", as in series wiring.
Perhaps Marshall got it right a long time ago with series/parallel wiring.
Metalman_666 said:
I would generally agree with that statement. Composite AC frequencies are complex, and the parallel wiring scheme would seem to allow each speaker more freedom to run on its own, rather than be strapped to a "weakest link in the chain", as in series wiring.
Perhaps Marshall got it right a long time ago with series/parallel wiring.
Sludgenutz
New member
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
Oh god, can of worms time...
Speakers in of themselves are not the end of the chain as you might expect with simple DC electrical theory (like a flashlight). The energy delivered by an amplifier to a speaker is "used up" by sound (of course), and heat (yup, mostly)...but a sizeable amount of the energy built up on each half of the wave collapses back into the voice coil and impedes the next half-wave of the amp's current (back EMF). This collapsing energy field protects the speaker from damaging push-pull travel (speaker cone excursion).
This is easier to understand on paper, than it is with the human experience of creating music. Beyond all theory, the ear matters most.
Since a pair of speakers wired in-series is more directly limited by the strengths/weaknesses by the response of each speaker...the common ground between speakers wired in series will be in each speaker's midrange. This is more apparent when two dissimilar speakers are wired is series.
If you look in my gear list, you will see that I list a single EVM-12L. This speaker is loaded into an open back cab (unsupportive). The Sunn amp is rated at 150 watts clean/180 distorted. The EVM-12L is rated at 200 watts. However, the deal with this combo is the 14 pound magnet that generates lots of oomph, YET holds the amplifier's current in check with "back EMF".
Oh god, can of worms time...
Speakers in of themselves are not the end of the chain as you might expect with simple DC electrical theory (like a flashlight). The energy delivered by an amplifier to a speaker is "used up" by sound (of course), and heat (yup, mostly)...but a sizeable amount of the energy built up on each half of the wave collapses back into the voice coil and impedes the next half-wave of the amp's current (back EMF). This collapsing energy field protects the speaker from damaging push-pull travel (speaker cone excursion).
This is easier to understand on paper, than it is with the human experience of creating music. Beyond all theory, the ear matters most.
Since a pair of speakers wired in-series is more directly limited by the strengths/weaknesses by the response of each speaker...the common ground between speakers wired in series will be in each speaker's midrange. This is more apparent when two dissimilar speakers are wired is series.
If you look in my gear list, you will see that I list a single EVM-12L. This speaker is loaded into an open back cab (unsupportive). The Sunn amp is rated at 150 watts clean/180 distorted. The EVM-12L is rated at 200 watts. However, the deal with this combo is the 14 pound magnet that generates lots of oomph, YET holds the amplifier's current in check with "back EMF".
Last edited:
James Rock
Active member
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
One question does Ohmage (different between using different Ohmage in different combos to make the same ohmage) for example in a 2 x 12 (2 4 ohm speakers in series vs 2 16 ohm in parrellel) will they sound different if they r the same speakers (just different ohmages)
One question does Ohmage (different between using different Ohmage in different combos to make the same ohmage) for example in a 2 x 12 (2 4 ohm speakers in series vs 2 16 ohm in parrellel) will they sound different if they r the same speakers (just different ohmages)
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
I prefer parallel for 2 reasons.
1. It sounds more "airy" and open to my ears
2 (much more important) Should one driver fail, the others will still run AND at the same time the impedance of the cabinet will RISE, guaranteeing that I don´t fry my output tranny if I have to continue playing or just plain don´t notice
I prefer parallel for 2 reasons.
1. It sounds more "airy" and open to my ears
2 (much more important) Should one driver fail, the others will still run AND at the same time the impedance of the cabinet will RISE, guaranteeing that I don´t fry my output tranny if I have to continue playing or just plain don´t notice
T
TheArchitect
Guest
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
Actually most 4x12 are both. They have to be to get four 16ohm speakers to become a 16ohm cab. Each pair of spkr are wired in series which equal 32 ohm. The two pairs are then wired together in parallel bringing the load back to 16ohm
Xeromus said:
Actually most 4x12 are both. They have to be to get four 16ohm speakers to become a 16ohm cab. Each pair of spkr are wired in series which equal 32 ohm. The two pairs are then wired together in parallel bringing the load back to 16ohm
T
thucydides
Guest
Re: 8ohm 2x12 = 2 16 ohm speakers?
#2 is an especially good point.
Zerberus said:I prefer parallel for 2 reasons.
1. It sounds more "airy" and open to my ears
2 (much more important) Should one driver fail, the others will still run AND at the same time the impedance of the cabinet will RISE, guaranteeing that I don´t fry my output tranny if I have to continue playing or just plain don´t notice
#2 is an especially good point.
