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08-10-2010, 08:33 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, PA | | | Can you "trick" your cab to draw more power?
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Just daydreaming as bass players sometimes do and wondered if there is a way to increase the power output to an 8 ohm 4x10 cab by somehow connecting a speaker wire to "something" that would tell the amp that another speaker has been added? Obviously, rewiring the cabinet to 4 ohm is possible. But short of that, is there anyway to do what I've suggested? Is there a "magic" box that could be had/made to emulate an 8 ohm speaker that would nearly double the amp's output, but it all goes to the 4x10 and provides the headroom of a bigger rig? Like I said, just dreaming...
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08-10-2010, 08:35 PM
|  | THIS HAND OF MINE GLOWS WITH AN AWESOME POWER! | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA; Mitchellville, Maryland | | Nope. I asked this exact same question maybe a week ago and I don't think I've seen the word "No" written so many different ways within one language, lol.
EDIT: Honestly, I'd probably just delete this thread to avoid that at this point 
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08-10-2010, 08:36 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist-Compton Compensated Custom Bridges (for Gretsch 6ers) | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: Montana | | | Nope
Even if you used a dummy load or resistor, it would make the amp "see" a four ohm load and increase its output. Unfortunately, that extra power would be split with half going to the dummy load and half going to the cab. So, unless your head more than doubles its output at four ohms, you won't gain anything except maybe get a "grittier" sound. |
08-10-2010, 08:36 PM
| | Registered User
Owner, Bill Fitzmaurice Loudspeaker Design | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Hampshire | | | Most of the time the limiting factor is the driver displacement, which no amount of impedance trickery can change. Most drivers can't make use of even half their rated power, so more power serves no purpose. |
08-10-2010, 08:58 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma | | Quote:
Originally Posted by luvpbass Obviously, rewiring the cabinet to 4 ohm is possible. | No it isn't. Not without replacing the drivers.
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08-10-2010, 09:02 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cleveland, Oh | | | Sorry dude, electricity doesn't work that way. |
08-10-2010, 09:08 PM
|  | amateur tube amp hoarder
Endorsing Artist: J Worrell Pickups / J Worrell Bass | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dayton OH | | | If it's full of 8 ohm drivers, you can wire it to 2 ohm operation, assuming your amp can handle the low impedance and your speakers can handle the amp dumping extra power which may not actually be beneficial. Best to add another cab, IMO. |
08-10-2010, 09:10 PM
|  | One lab accident away from being a supervillain | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Powder Springs, Ga | | Quote:
Originally Posted by basscheez Sorry dude, electricity doesn't work that way. | Pesky physics
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08-10-2010, 10:35 PM
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Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | | cabs are pretty smart. yeah, most people think of them as inanimate objects, but they can't be tricked as easily as we can.
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08-10-2010, 10:42 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ventura County, CA | | There is a magic box that can more than double the amp's output... it's called a power amp. Plug your current bass amp's line out into say a 1,400 watt QSC power amp, and bingo - you have a LOT more power to play with!  Of course if your cab can't handle any more power, it won't do you too much good... usually the best way to get more volume out of a cab is to adjust your eq setting - by decreasing the bass, and increasing the mids.
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08-11-2010, 04:06 PM
|  | Fingers, pick, and a little bit of slap | | Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Terrapin country (Crofton, MD) | |
Quote:
Originally Posted by ashtray usually the best way to get more volume out of a cab is to adjust your eq setting - by decreasing the bass, and increasing the mids. | Excellent suggestion.
Sure, it's fun to feel the low bass frequencies, but if your amp is running out of gas, then cut those lows because they take the most power to reproduce. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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