Need Help: Powering 2 cabs w/ different impedance!

[ramoneo14]

Using an Eden WT300, will I be able to power (possibly rewire) these two cabs together? :

1. Avatar 2 x 12 = 2 x Eminence Delta 12LF 16ohm woofers (8ohm cab)

2. Avatar 2 x 12 = 2 x Eminence Delta 12LF 8ohm woofers (4 ohm cab)

I would like to maximize all available power from my Eden and I have the opportunity to purchase #2 cab. Can I wire both cabs in such a way to produce 4 ohms?

[50000 Repairs]

Greetings...wired in parallel, the impedance seen by the amp will be about 2.67 ohms. Question: is your amp stable down to 2-ohms? Does it have a 2-ohm rating? If not, wiring the cabs in parallel will likely damage the amp. Wiring cabs in series presents a 12-ohm impedance to the amp, which will operate within safe margins, but the total output power will be severely limited.

[jnewmark]

The only way I know how to do this is with a 2 channel power amp, and some sort of preamp. Most of these types of power amps can support different loads on each channel.

[kjpollo]

Do you mean you want the amp to see a combined 4 ohm load or are you trying to get down to 2 ohms?

Because, according to my handy-dandy reference chart (thank you Kustom amps) an 8 and a 4 produce a total load of 2.67 so you're pretty much there.

[Selta]

I would advise against buying the 2nd cab if you intend on using them together with a single channel amp.
IIRC, the WT-300 is only safe to 4 ohm, so as previously pointed out, in parallel you'll have 2.6666 ohm load, which can damage the amp.
On top of that, since the cabs have different impedances, one will be getting more juice than the other, and will be louder, and you'll have no method of overcoming that.
If you're really stuck on adding another Avatar 2x12, I would either other another 8 ohm one new, or if that's not an option, wait until an 8 ohm one comes available used.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by ramoneo14

Using an Eden WT300, will I be able to power (possibly rewire) these two cabs together? :

1. Avatar 2 x 12 = 2 x Eminence Delta 12LF 16ohm woofers (8ohm cab)

2. Avatar 2 x 12 = 2 x Eminence Delta 12LF 8ohm woofers (4 ohm cab)

You can run them together, but the 4 ohm will receive twice the power that the 8 ohm will, so it's far from ideal. You cannot rewire them to be the same.

I would like to maximize all available power from my Eden

In the vast majority of cases doing so is of no benefit whatsoever, the reasons why having been explained here countless times.

[BassmanPaul]

+1

The only way to do this properly is to change out the 8Ω drivers with the 16Ω versions from Avatar. When buying equipment you have to understand the needs of your equipment and not your wants. I'd pass on the 4Ω cabinet and wait until an 8Ω version comes along or you can afford to buy from Avatar new.