Cabinet Wiring Tone Question

Dbass10 · #1 03-31-2011, 11:33 AM

I have searched through Talkbass quite a bit and haven't found an answer to my question so maybe there is no difference but....

I have an old Tech Soundsystems CT4000 (4x12). It is currently wired in series parallel for a 2 ohm load. Each speaker it seems registered at 2 ohms when tested.

The way the cabinet was sold back in the day it was supposed to be an 8 ohm cabinet therefore 4 speakers all in series.

I've run the cabinet with an amp that is stable down to 2 with no problems. I am just curious, other than the increase/decrease in power going to the cabinet, if there would be any other aspects of this situation that would affect the tone?

Hopefully that makes sense to somebody out there? Any advise/knowledge is appreciated!

iiipopes · #2 03-31-2011, 11:44 AM

Nope. The speaker doesn't care how it's wired. The amp does, and you've already said it is rated to handle a 2-ohm load. So you're good to go.

Have you considered adding a DPDT switch to the jack panel so you can have the flexibility of running it either at 8-ohms or 2-ohms? That way you can be versatile if the cab is used with a head that isn't rated for a 2-ohm load, or you want to use the cab with another extension 8-ohm cab.

BassmanPaul · #3 03-31-2011, 11:57 AM

Remember DC resistance is not the same as impedance. if you are reading 2Ω DCR I would expect a 4Ω driver. I've yet to see a 2Ω driver. They are usually 4, 8, 16 or 32Ω with some oddballs thrown in.

BassmanPaul · #4 03-31-2011, 12:00 PM

When measuring the drivers you did disconnect the wiring yes?

Dbass10 · #5 03-31-2011, 12:39 PM

That you mention it. It was a guy at the music store that measured it. I assume he had the multimeter set correctly, I have always thought 2 ohms to be odd for an individual speaker (yes it was unconnected). He also measured from the jack and found the same reading...

Dbass10 · #6 03-31-2011, 12:46 PM

Guess it's time to go to home depot or radio shack to confirm. I guess that I thought maybe the difference in ohms might cause the voice coils to heat differently or that dampening might change...something along those lines. Thanks for the info...