Help needed with determining speaker size and quantity !

EpiphoneSG77

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Hey Folks, I am terrible at determining speaker size, output and ohms ! If I have a 150 watt head with variable impedance and wanted to try a 2x12 cabinet then what wattage and such would I need for this to work ? I know it would be easier to run a 4x12 cab but due to space constraints I would really like a 2x12.. Thanks in advance for any help ..
 
Re: Help needed with determining speaker size and quantity !

Usually, you want to run at least twice the rated wattage of your amp. That would mean finding a 300 watt 2X12. Then just match the rated impedance of the cab to the proper output from the amp.

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Re: Help needed with determining speaker size and quantity !

Or a 2X12 with an Eminence Texas Heat and Swamp Thang. Go with 2 16 ohm versions run in parallel which would give you an 8 ohm cab. Rated 300 watts too if I'm not mistaken.
 
Re: Help needed with determining speaker size and quantity !

Hey Folks, I am terrible at determining speaker size, output and ohms ! If I have a 150 watt head with variable impedance and wanted to try a 2x12 cabinet then what wattage and such would I need for this to work ? I know it would be easier to run a 4x12 cab but due to space constraints I would really like a 2x12.. Thanks in advance for any help ..
Two speakers at 8ohms each will give you 4 ohms if wired in parallel or 16 if wired in series.
Now if you wire two speakers in parallel, the wattage of the amp is shared equally.
Lets say you have two 100 watt speakers, you will get 200 watts capacity, so you will be fine with your 150 watt amp.
If you use two 75 watt speakers you will have 150 watts, and will be operating close to tolerances. It still should be fine tho.
If you use two different wattage speakers, you need take into account the wattage going into it. The best way is to double the wattage of the smaller speaker. Lets say you have a 100w speaker and a 50 watt speaker, you really have a 100w cab, because putting more than 100w into it will risk blowing the 50watter.
Basically, you need to have speakers that can each handle at least half the wattage of the amp, so two 75 watters should be ok, but i prefer to run my speakers so that each speaker could potentially do the job on its own...so if it was my rig, i'd go for two 150watt speakers, giving a maximum rms rating of 300watts for the cab. Plenty headroom, and the spakers will run nice and cool whatever you throw at them.
 
Re: Help needed with determining speaker size and quantity !

Two speakers at 8ohms each will give you 4 ohms if wired in parallel or 16 if wired in series.
Now if you wire two speakers in parallel, the wattage of the amp is shared equally.
Lets say you have two 100 watt speakers, you will get 200 watts capacity, so you will be fine with your 150 watt amp.
If you use two 75 watt speakers you will have 150 watts, and will be operating close to tolerances. It still should be fine tho.
If you use two different wattage speakers, you need take into account the wattage going into it. The best way is to double the wattage of the smaller speaker. Lets say you have a 100w speaker and a 50 watt speaker, you really have a 100w cab, because putting more than 100w into it will risk blowing the 50watter.
Basically, you need to have speakers that can each handle at least half the wattage of the amp, so two 75 watters should be ok, but i prefer to run my speakers so that each speaker could potentially do the job on its own...so if it was my rig, i'd go for two 150watt speakers, giving a maximum rms rating of 300watts for the cab. Plenty headroom, and the spakers will run nice and cool whatever you throw at them.
^^^Mostly agree with this, except I wouldn't insist on two 150 watt speakers...two 100 watts would be OK with me, and is less limiting of your choices. And yes, if you don't dime everything and don't play with major distortion, two 75 watters should do it as well.
 
Re: Help needed with determining speaker size and quantity !

Unless you need the volume of the amp full open you can run whatever you like. You won't blow up the speakers if you don't feed them too much.

Is that a solid state head or a tube end stage? Tube end stages will outperform their watt rating for short amounts of time considerably if you don't mind (or want) power amp distortion.
 
Re: Help needed with determining speaker size and quantity !

Yeah, I was wondering what head exactly. That would help this discussion along nicely. As well as that, what type music do you play? What guitars/pups do you mostly play? I've been away on sabbatical for a while and the answers to these questions might be widely known by all. Just not me. :)
 
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