Ampeg BA115HP+Eminence CB158?

Tubehed · #1 10-27-2011, 06:02 PM

Hey Everyone,

I want to replace the stock 15" speaker in my BA115HP combo with an Eminence CB158. Has anyone here tried this combination? The CB158 is designed for bass combos with either vented or sealed enclosures, so it seems like it would be a good fit. It is rated at 8 ohms vs. 4 ohms for the stock speaker, so I think it will give me a little more volume. I don't know the sensitivity rating of the stock speaker, but the CB158 is 98db. Basically, I'm hoping for a bit more volume and better tone.

Thanks!

JimmyM · #2 10-27-2011, 06:13 PM

Actually, you'll be dropping the wattage of the head if you go to 8 ohms, so even if you do get a little gain of SPL with the new speaker's displacement, it'll be greatly offset by the lack of wattage.

will33 · #3 10-27-2011, 06:17 PM

That driver is friendlier than most towards small boxes.

It's sensitivity is on the higher end of things as far as commonly used 15's go.

Moving to 8ohm would allow you to chain an extension cab to your combo which is really the way to get louder.

It's a good driver. If you don't like it in the combo, you can stick it most any average size 115 cab and get a decent result.

Knowing anything beyond that would take some 'cipherin'.

will33 · #4 10-27-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Actually, you'll be dropping the wattage of the head if you go to 8 ohms, so even if you do get a little gain of SPL with the new speaker's displacement, it'll be greatly offset by the lack of wattage.

Good point. If you gain 3db sensitivity and cut the power in half, you end up in the same spot. The remaining advantage being 8ohm/can add another cab....the best way to get louder.

bobcruz · #5 10-27-2011, 06:46 PM

There's no extension speaker output on that combo so it would have to be modded to take advantage of running an extension speaker.

will33 · #6 10-27-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcruz

There's no extension speaker output on that combo so it would have to be modded to take advantage of running an extension speaker.

Another thing to consider...although adding a jack to the back of the cabinet portion of the combo would be pretty easy.

JimmyM · #7 10-27-2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcruz

There's no extension speaker output on that combo so it would have to be modded to take advantage of running an extension speaker.

That's not hard as far as mods go.

Tubehed · #8 10-28-2011, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Actually, you'll be dropping the wattage of the head if you go to 8 ohms, so even if you do get a little gain of SPL with the new speaker's displacement, it'll be greatly offset by the lack of wattage.

So, does that mean that installing an 8 ohm speaker in a combo rated for 4 ohms will reduce the volume I get out of it?

JimmyM · #9 10-28-2011, 01:12 AM

billfitzmaurice · #10 10-28-2011, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Actually, you'll be dropping the wattage of the head if you go to 8 ohms, so even if you do get a little gain of SPL with the new speaker's displacement, it'll be greatly offset by the lack of wattage.

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy....

Quote:

So, does that mean that installing an 8 ohm speaker in a combo rated for 4 ohms will reduce the volume I get out of it?

No. There are a dozen variables involved, and impedance is only one of them.

Quote:

I want to replace the stock 15" speaker in my BA115HP combo...I'm hoping for a bit more volume and better tone.

The only way to know that in advance is by modeling the current driver. Chances are slim that a driver change will do much, if anything. It all depends on what's in there now. IMO this is probably a fruitless quest. If you don't like the tone you have find something you do like the tone of.

JimmyM · #11 10-28-2011, 07:41 AM

Bill, do you really think the Cb158's displacement will offset the wattage loss in a BA115HP? I can't say I'm too encouraged by it.

RickenBoogie · #12 10-28-2011, 07:54 AM

One thing is for sure, if the op is looking for more volume, and who wouldn't with a single 15 combo, putting an 8 ohm driver AND an ext spkr jack, will allow for the use of 2 15" drivers, and that will get louder. But, just swapping drivers without doubling up on them is likely a wasted effort, either way.

will33 · #13 10-28-2011, 07:58 AM

This thing is listed as a 220 watt combo amp. You can't really compare without knowing anything about the original driver. That said, it may be a safe bet to say it's sensitivity isn't as high as the Legend and that the legend can take whatever the amp has to throw at it. You can measure and model everything and predict what the legend will do in there but with no specs on the original, you have nothing to compare those results to and see what increase if any you've achieved. Most amps don't all the way halve or double with the change in impedance, this one might be 150 watts at 8ohms.

Changing it to 8ohms would allow the use of an ext. cab. Whether it's worth it is up to the OP.

billfitzmaurice · #14 10-28-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Bill, do you really think the Cb158's displacement will offset the wattage loss in a BA115HP? I can't say I'm too encouraged by it.

Wattage, schmattage. Driver excursion is defined by the applied voltage, not power. The fact that the amp can deliver more current into a lower impedance load may or may not be of value depending on all of the factors involved, not the least of which is the specs of the drivers in question and the cab design.

Tubehed · #15 10-28-2011, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy....

No. There are a dozen variables involved, and impedance is only one of them.

The only way to know that in advance is by modeling the current driver. Chances are slim that a driver change will do much, if anything. It all depends on what's in there now. IMO this is probably a fruitless quest. If you don't like the tone you have find something you do like the tone of.

I actually like the tone of this combo, but I thought the Eminence might sound a little tighter and punchier at higher volumes. I don't have much experience with bass amps, but I will say that every guitar amp (combo or cab) in which I've upgraded the speaker(s) has sounded better-in some cases WAY better. I know we are talking about different animals, though.

In terms of volume, the BA115HP normally cuts it and it has only been twice that I had to almost dime the master volume to get it to cut through. This was in a larger club and without being miked or going through the PA. But, a bit more volume would always be a nice bonus. Maybe I'll add an extension speaker jack.

will33 · #16 10-28-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tubehed

I actually like the tone of this combo, but I thought the Eminence might sound a little tighter and punchier at higher volumes. I don't have much experience with bass amps, but I will say that every guitar amp (combo or cab) in which I've upgraded the speaker(s) has sounded better-in some cases WAY better. I know we are talking about different animals, though.

In terms of volume, the BA115HP normally cuts it and it has only been twice that I had to almost dime the master volume to get it to cut through. This was in a larger club and without being miked or going through the PA. But, a bit more volume would always be a nice bonus. Maybe I'll add an extension speaker jack.

If the internal speaker is 4ohms, adding another in parallel would burn up the amp. You'd have to wire the ext. in series thus raising the impedance by connecting another cab. The end result may be a wash but just raising the stack closer to ear level would make it appear louder.

**Matt Lake** · #17 03-22-2012, 08:22 PM

I know this is an old post but I have some history with this so I'll share. I put a JBL D140 8 ohm in my BA115HP and it lost volume and didn't really sound as good as the stock speaker. At a later date I came up with a Peavey Black Widow 4 ohm and put it in. The Black widow is louder and definately has a better sound/tone. Much improved sound.