series or parallel in 2x12 cab

[karpathion]

so i got an amp coming today, and i'm not sure how to wire the cab. it's supposed to be 8 ohm's on 2 speakers. the speakers are 8 ohm's. does it go series or parallel? to keep 8 ohm's? hot from amp to hot on speaker one ground out of speaker 1 to hot on speaker 2 ground from amp to ground on speaker 2. that's 8 ohm's right?

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

The speakers are 8Ω each? Wired in series you'd have 16Ω, and wired in parallel you'd have 4Ω.

- Keith

For the record, the equivalent of two resistances (R1 and R2) in parallel is (R1 x R2)/(R1 + R2). For resistances in series, just add the resistances (R1 + R2).

 

[karpathion]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

so how do i keep 8 ohms? or will it be stable at 4. it's a blackheart handsome devil 15w.
the specs say 1 at 16ohm 2 at 8ohm or 2 at 4 ohm. so parallel should work huh?

 

[ErikH]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

What you need is series/parallel to keep the cab at 8 ohms. Series will make it 16 ohms and parallel will make it 4 ohms. However, with 2 speakers, you cannot wire them series/parallel. It's either series or parallel. You'd need 2 x 16 ohm speakers wired in parallel or 2 x 4 ohm speakers wired in series to get 8 ohms.

 

[loudriver23]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

Yeah, if you want to get an end result from 2 speakers of 8ohms you will have the best results with 2 16 ohm speakers run in parallel as there aren't as many choices for guitar speakers rated at 4 ohms.

I just reviewed the specs the GC had on their site, it looks like you would be fine placing your 2 8ohm speakers in series and run it through the 16 ohm output jack.

 

[ErikH]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

Ok, I just looked at the specs for that amp. Wire your speakers in series to get 16 ohms and hook the cab up to the 16 ohm output on the amp.

The amp has 1 x 16 ohm output, 2 x 8 ohm outputs and 2 x 4 ohm outputs. That does not mean 2 x 8 ohm speakers. That means 2 x 8 ohm loads, whether that be 2 4x12's or 2 2x12's or 2 1x12's. You could even hook up one 8 ohm cabinet to one of the 8 ohm outs.

So, in your case, wire in series, use the 16 ohm output.

 

[karpathion]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

ok thanks man. i've been so worried i was gonna blow this amp up.

 

[karpathion]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

wow so i can hook my other cab up too. it's 2 16ohm v-80's.

 

[ErikH]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

wow so i can hook my other cab up too. it's 2 16ohm v-80's.

No, not both, unless both cabs are 8 ohms, then you can use both 8 ohm outs. Since the other cab is not, use either 1 x 16 ohm cab OR 1 x 8 ohm or 2 x 8 ohm OR 1 x 4 ohm or 2 x 4 ohm. DO NOT MIX.

 

[karpathion]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

ok. thanks. so wich will actually be louder. 8 or 16 ohm.

 

[ErikH]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

ok. thanks. so wich will actually be louder. 8 or 16 ohm.

If you can hear a volume difference, you've got better hearing than most.

Use the 16 ohm out. It won't make a difference honestly.

 

[karpathion]

Re: series or parallel in 2x12 cab

thanks for the help.