Difference between 2Ohm, 4Ohm, 8Ohm, 16Ohm, etc?
- Thread starter Biu
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Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Difference between 2Ohm, 4Ohm, 8Ohm, 16Ohm, etc?
First, a couple of quick basics:
Voltage: electrical "pressure". Like how much water pressure is in a pipe.
Current: the amount of actual electrons, or electricity, thats being "pushed" by the voltage, (pressure).
A water pistol would have very high pressure, (voltage), with very low quantity, (current/amps). A sewer pipe might have very low pressure, with very high capacity. The two might be flowing the same amount of water, just in two different ways. (wattage).
Ohms, is simply a measure of the resistance to that electrical flow. It takes voltage to overcome resistance so that there will be current happening over a time period, watts.
A lower amount of ohms, will "resist" less, thus allowing greater current flow - which is not always a good thing. A properly designed electrical circuit requires a delicate balancing act to acheive desired results, while maintaining the longevity of the parts.
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In a typical amplifier, using say, an 8 ohm speaker, the voltage will push a certain amount of current through it. Lower the speaker load to 4 ohms, and you potentially push twice the current. If the amplifier output stage is designed to handle that load, no problem. If it isn't, you get smoke.
So - ultimately, you want to stay within the design parameters of the amp, but even if the amp is designed for say, a 4 to 16 ohm load, which one of those you select can effect the sound characteristics of the amp, because you altering the operating conditions of the amp. That can only best be found by experimenting.
First, a couple of quick basics:
Voltage: electrical "pressure". Like how much water pressure is in a pipe.
Current: the amount of actual electrons, or electricity, thats being "pushed" by the voltage, (pressure).
A water pistol would have very high pressure, (voltage), with very low quantity, (current/amps). A sewer pipe might have very low pressure, with very high capacity. The two might be flowing the same amount of water, just in two different ways. (wattage).
Ohms, is simply a measure of the resistance to that electrical flow. It takes voltage to overcome resistance so that there will be current happening over a time period, watts.
A lower amount of ohms, will "resist" less, thus allowing greater current flow - which is not always a good thing. A properly designed electrical circuit requires a delicate balancing act to acheive desired results, while maintaining the longevity of the parts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a typical amplifier, using say, an 8 ohm speaker, the voltage will push a certain amount of current through it. Lower the speaker load to 4 ohms, and you potentially push twice the current. If the amplifier output stage is designed to handle that load, no problem. If it isn't, you get smoke.
So - ultimately, you want to stay within the design parameters of the amp, but even if the amp is designed for say, a 4 to 16 ohm load, which one of those you select can effect the sound characteristics of the amp, because you altering the operating conditions of the amp. That can only best be found by experimenting.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Difference between 2Ohm, 4Ohm, 8Ohm, 16Ohm, etc?
Stereo and mono: Stereo, generally refers to having two distinctively different signals. When you "hear" anything, your two ears will get slightly different information, thus creating the effect of depth and dimension.
Sending a guitar signal out two cabinets, is not, by itself, stereo. Its just two speakers. For true stereo, you'ld need some sort of pedal, or device, that creates some kind of signal processing so that the two signals are different.
Keep in mind, this requires two separate amps as well. (Thats is, unless the amp has "stereo" capabilities built into it.)
Stereo and mono: Stereo, generally refers to having two distinctively different signals. When you "hear" anything, your two ears will get slightly different information, thus creating the effect of depth and dimension.
Sending a guitar signal out two cabinets, is not, by itself, stereo. Its just two speakers. For true stereo, you'ld need some sort of pedal, or device, that creates some kind of signal processing so that the two signals are different.
Keep in mind, this requires two separate amps as well. (Thats is, unless the amp has "stereo" capabilities built into it.)
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Difference between 2Ohm, 4Ohm, 8Ohm, 16Ohm, etc?
Great explanation of the whole issue, Artie!
I have two cabs, each different impedence ratings. My Rivera cab is 8 ohms, but my Hiwatt is 16 ohmns. None of my heads have had a problem driving both cabs at once, but for rehearsal, I have found the best results when I use my Engl pre + Marshall power amp. I link Channels A + B, so that each cab has its own 100w monoblock, and then I adjust the gain of each amp channel so they're the same volume. I also adjust each channel so that it is set at the correct impedence. This gives me slightly better dispersion, even tho I only did it as an experiment. Sorry if this is a bit OT ... It seemed relevent when I started typing it!! lol
Great explanation of the whole issue, Artie!
I have two cabs, each different impedence ratings. My Rivera cab is 8 ohms, but my Hiwatt is 16 ohmns. None of my heads have had a problem driving both cabs at once, but for rehearsal, I have found the best results when I use my Engl pre + Marshall power amp. I link Channels A + B, so that each cab has its own 100w monoblock, and then I adjust the gain of each amp channel so they're the same volume. I also adjust each channel so that it is set at the correct impedence. This gives me slightly better dispersion, even tho I only did it as an experiment. Sorry if this is a bit OT ... It seemed relevent when I started typing it!! lol
