Mixing cabs

[sugarmagnolia97]

I have a 200 watt 410 cabinet. I want to add a 115 under it that is 500 watts. I always read that the 410 would be way louder than the 115. But with the 15 having more watts would they be equal or even the 115 cab be louder? Thanks

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by sugarmagnolia97

I have a 200 watt 410 cabinet. I want to add a 115 under it that is 500 watts. I always read that the 410 would be way louder than the 115. But with the 15 having more watts would they be equal or even the 115 cab be louder? Thanks

There is very little that can be said about the set up with the details you have provided. The power ratings of cabs have little to do with the performance of the cab, or even the power they can handle.

More details please.

[Got2SadowskyNYC]

Ohm is what matters.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by Got2SadowskyNYC

Ohm is what matters.

Impedance.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by sugarmagnolia97

I have a 200 watt 410 cabinet. I want to add a 115 under it that is 500 watts. I always read that the 410 would be way louder than the 115. But with the 15 having more watts would they be equal or even the 115 cab be louder? Thanks

The 15 does NOT have more watts. It is rated to handle a higher number of watts before burning up. But this does not tell you anything about how it sounds as you push it at various volume levels, and it does NOT get or have more watts.

[scottfeldstein]

Originally Posted by sugarmagnolia97

I have a 200 watt 410 cabinet. I want to add a 115 under it that is 500 watts. I always read that the 410 would be way louder than the 115. But with the 15 having more watts would they be equal or even the 115 cab be louder? Thanks

No. Definitely not.

The cabinet ratings aren't really indicative of how loud they are. They aren't really indicative of how much power you can feed it before it starts farting and blowing speaker cones. I think it's probably best to ignore them for the most part.

As you turn up the volume on your amp higher and higher, the 15 will be the first speaker to blow. There's simply no way it's going to take the same amount of power as four other drivers, no matter their size.

There are a few other nerdy reasons not to mix cabinets/drivers, but this is the easiest one to understand: the two cabs can handle very different levels on your volume knob. The weakest cab will blow its speaker before your stronger cab is even hitting its stride.

[Snakeman1066]

here is a pair of cabs i built myself!

The top 4x10 cab is loaded with Eminence Legend BP102's rated at 200 watts each

the bottom cab is loaded with a Deltalite 15" rated at 300/600 watts

i have no issues...even though everyone around these parts goes on and on about phasing issues and this combo sounding like crap...

[sugarmagnolia97]

The 410 is a Marshall jcm 800 and the 115 I hope to get is the orange obc115. They are both 8 ohms

[lowphatbass]

What are you pushing these cabs with?

[sugarmagnolia97]

I hope to get a ampeg v4b to go with them.

[sugarmagnolia97]

Also right now I have the Marshall and am set on the v4b to go with it. Just not sure whether the 115 will Be a good thing to add

[Downunderwonder]

You won't know until you try it. JCM bass cabs exist but yours is a regular 1960? They don't make for bass cabs.

[JimmyM]

With a V4B, I'd get a second 410, matching if possible, because it sounds to me like you're looking for more volume. Also, there is no way a single 115 in a standard bass cab can take 500w in any real world setting. OTOH, it won't be an issue to you with a V4B, but if you're looking to maximize your loudness potential, a 410 will do that better than a 115 except in rare circumstances that aren't usually seen in commercial bass cabs.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

i have no issues...even though everyone around these parts goes on and on about phasing issues and this combo sounding like crap...

nobody with a clue is saying it has to sound "like crap"!

it's just that a second 4x10 cab would have probably sounded better.

[bongomania]

Exactly, if people would actually read those posts, instead of just reacting to them, they'd see that almost never does anyone say it sounds bad. They only say it's a non-ideal use of resources. Big difference!

[sugarmagnolia97]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

You won't know until you try it. JCM bass cabs exist but yours is a regular 1960? They don't make for bass cabs.

It's a marshall jcm 800 bass series 410 from around 1985.

[sugarmagnolia97]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

With a V4B, I'd get a second 410, matching if possible, because it sounds to me like you're looking for more volume. Also, there is no way a single 115 in a standard bass cab can take 500w in any real world setting. OTOH, it won't be an issue to you with a V4B, but if you're looking to maximize your loudness potential, a 410 will do that better than a 115 except in rare circumstances that aren't usually seen in commercial bass cabs.

Would a 210 work? I was hoping with the 115 it could be a smaller cab to take to smaller gigs, so I'd still like to have that option with a smaller cab.

[BassmanPaul]

As long as the 2x10 has twice the impedance of the 4x10 it would be fine electrically. The total impedance should not fall below the minimum impedance load of the amp. How the pairing will sound would still be a crapshoot.

[sugarmagnolia97]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

As long as the 2x10 has twice the impedance of the 4x10 it would be fine electrically. The total impedance should not fall below the minimum impedance load of the amp. How the pairing will sound would still be a crapshoot.

So if the 410 is 8 ohms the 210 should be 4 ohms?

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by sugarmagnolia97

So if the 410 is 8 ohms the 210 should be 4 ohms?

No, if the 410 is 8 the 210 should be wired at 16 Ohms.