Combo amp and cabinet

[metlman72]

Please before I get flamed for not reading the sticky, I did but still dont have the answer to my question. My combo amp is 100 watts rms@ 1%thd 4ohms. It has one 15" 4 ohms speaker. The manual says added cabinets/speakers will be in series. So if I add a 2-10 cabinet at 8 ohms will I actually loose power. Wouldn't it then be 12 ohms total in series to my 4 ohms head? which would result in 33% power. Again sorry for the post but any help appreiated.

[oldcatfish]

What specific combo do you have?

I'm no expert with cabinet wiring, but I think series means that your amp splits the available wattage between the cabinets...so it would be better to add another closely matched cab--in your case a 1x15 4 ohm.

I have a Roland CB100 that is wired in series and added a 4 ohm Eden extension cab--wow, it REALLY increased the potential of the amp. Much better tone, and a significant perceived volume increase.

[will33]

Originally Posted by metlman72

Please before I get flamed for not reading the sticky, I did but still dont have the answer to my question. My combo amp is 100 watts rms@ 1%thd 4ohms. It has one 15" 4 ohms speaker. The manual says added cabinets/speakers will be in series. So if I add a 2-10 cabinet at 8 ohms will I actually loose power. Wouldn't it then be 12 ohms total in series to my 4 ohms head? which would result in 33% power. Again sorry for the post but any help appreiated.

You're on the right track. The best thing to add would be another 4ohm 15. You'd lose some power, gain some speaker area and come out at best 3db ahead if not even but it would still sound a bit fuller/louder due to having that extra speaker closer to ear level.

At 100 watts and series chaining of cabs it may be time to move up to a bigger rig.

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by will33

You're on the right track. The best thing to add would be another 4ohm 15. You'd lose some power, gain some speaker area and come out at best 3db ahead if not even but it would still sound a bit fuller/louder due to having that extra speaker closer to ear level.

At 100 watts and series chaining of cabs it may be time to move up to a bigger rig.

+1 big time, too much effort for insufficient gain. Lots of good used choices in amp/cab configuration in the 200+ watt (think 300 and up, really) range for not a lot of money (few hundred US$)

[oldcatfish]

Quote "You'd lose some power, gain some speaker area and come out at best 3db ahead if not even but it would still sound a bit fuller/louder due to having that extra speaker closer to ear level."

My addition added quite a bit of volume...and not just because a cabinet is closer to my ears, though I'm sure that probably helped. With the extension cab, my Roland will literally shake the windows of my house, without the cab it doesn't. Would 3db be that much of a difference? Of course, when I got the cab, my goal wasn't more volume--but it's a side benefit.

[Bass_Pounder]

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

Quote "You'd lose some power, gain some speaker area and come out at best 3db ahead if not even but it would still sound a bit fuller/louder due to having that extra speaker closer to ear level."

My addition added quite a bit of volume...and not just because a cabinet is closer to my ears, though I'm sure that probably helped. With the extension cab, my Roland will literally shake the windows of my house, without the cab it doesn't. Would 3db be that much of a difference? Of course, when I got the cab, my goal wasn't more volume--but it's a side benefit.

3db is the same as doubling your wattage, so yes it will make a difference.