Using higher impedance speaker to reduce amp volume

[SoCalSteve]

Re: Using higher impedance speaker to reduce amp volume

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the issue of speaker sensitivity. A speaker with lower sensitivity will lower your volume. I had a 102db C Rex in my cab for a while and upon putting the 100db Vintage 30 back in there was a noticeable difference in volume.

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: Using higher impedance speaker to reduce amp volume

yup, to my ear guitar amps sound best when you are really "using" the speaker, say I have a 100 watt head, Im gunna love that sound of 4 25 watt celestions belting out, as compared to a safer 4 75 watt speakers that dont have to work so hard and move less air.
car stereo...speaker distortion bad......guitar amp ..speaker distortion..Gooood

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Using higher impedance speaker to reduce amp volume

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the issue of speaker sensitivity. A speaker with lower sensitivity will lower your volume. I had a 102db C Rex in my cab for a while and upon putting the 100db Vintage 30 back in there was a noticeable difference in volume.

Yes that's a more effective approach. There won't be any diffrence in volume between 16 ohms and 8 ohms on a tube amp, at least not that anybody could hear.

 

[Skoora]

Re: Using higher impedance speaker to reduce amp volume

For Marshall tube heads you don't want to have the speaker cab impedance to be be lower than the head for extended periods. Especially at high volumes. If the OT is seeing less impedance than it thinks it should, it can overheat and possibly cause damage. A really well built OT can take a lot of abuse though and it may be more likely that power tubes and some resistors etc. will suffer first.