2/4/8ohm, can someone explain?

edgaroviz · #1 08-09-2011, 05:12 AM

What are the ohms there for, I see that as the ohm number rises, and power drops from the amp.
I tried reading about it on wikipedia, didn't get it.

Can someone explain it to me?
Drying to understand it better since I want to buy a Markbass 8x10, and it doesn't support 8ohms like the mesa boogie 8x10 I was considering.

silentmike · #2 08-09-2011, 05:14 AM

Read the stickies. They've got a lot of useful information.

edgaroviz · #3 08-09-2011, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silentmike

Read the stickies. They've got a lot of useful information.

I did, now I'm confused.

as the ohm number rises, it's better, or worse?

micguy · #4 08-09-2011, 05:28 AM

Think of voltage from your amp as pressure in your water system in your house. The more cabinets you hook on, its like opening faucets - lower resistance means more flow (except it's electrons, not water). At some point, the amp can't give any more water.

Hmm - has this helped or hurt?

One Drop · #5 08-09-2011, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgaroviz

I did, now I'm confused.

as the ohm number rises, it's better, or worse?

It's not about better or worse, it's about matching cabs to heads, in this case.

Read them again!

PSPookie · #6 08-09-2011, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

It's not about better or worse, it's about matching cabs to heads, in this case.

Read them again!

That's the long and short of it.

In general:
-Don't go under the minimum rated impedance for a solid state amp
-Don't go over the maximum rated impedance for a tube amp (also make sure you have the correct tap selected)
-Adding cabs reduces impedance 1x8 ohm cab is an 8 ohm load. 2x8 ohm cabs is a 4 ohm load see: ohm's law

Good luck in your quest. Try not to let any of the magic smoke out of your amps.

billfitzmaurice · #7 08-09-2011, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgaroviz

Can someone explain it to me?

AMPS FAQ!! Info on OHMS, Allsize RIGS-OverUnderPowerCabs DIY TechTalk-Links

lug · #8 08-09-2011, 09:18 AM

Look at Ohms as a kink in a water hose. The water is current, the water pressure is voltage and the greater the kink, the higher the ohm count. This also works great to explain the difference between serial (2 restrictive kinks in the same hose) and parallel (the hose splits into two paths, each with the same amount of kink but combined lets twice the water through). Not a perfect scenario but one a bit easier to understand.

RickenBoogie · #9 08-09-2011, 09:56 AM

Just re-read the stickies. It's ALL there.