Question about ohms and watts

xian3000 · #1 09-09-2011, 12:23 PM

I currently own an Ampeg PF500 amp and a Carvin RL210T cab. I'm thinking about getting a Carvin RL118 cab to use with my 210 so that I can get those lows that my 210 just can't get. However I do have some questions.

My Ampeg amp is 300 watts @ 8 ohms and 500 watts @ 4 ohms.
My Carvin RL210T is 400 watts with a nominal impedance of 4 ohms.
The Carvin RL1118, which I hope to get, is 800 watts with a nominal impedance of 4 ohms.

Would this combination of these 2 cabs be safe to use with my amp?

Here are the manuals of each in case I'm missing any information:

Ampeg PF500 amp (currently own):
http://www.ampeg.com/pdf/PF_heads_OM.PDF

Carvin RL210T (currently own):
http://www.carvin.com/manuals/RL210T.pdf

Carvin RL118 (do not own yet):
http://www.carvin.com/manuals/RL118.pdf

Also, the Carvins say something about parallel connection 4 ohms total impedance. I'm not sure if that means anything.

Thanks!

Bass_Pounder · #2 09-09-2011, 12:24 PM

Short answer is NO, you cannot use both cabs together

JimmyM · #3 09-09-2011, 12:26 PM

Bass Pounder is right. Your amp has a 4 ohm limit, and using two 4 ohm cabs will be a 2 ohm load, which is not good for your head.

bassgod0dmw · #4 09-09-2011, 12:30 PM

I'd also like to add that bigger speaker don't equate to deeper bass...

xian3000 · #5 09-09-2011, 12:46 PM

thanks guys, i'll just stick to the 210 I have now and when I get more money later look into some other cabs.

Russell L · #6 09-09-2011, 12:51 PM

Get another 210, or start over with another size, but use matching cabs, whatever they are. It just works best.

gnjpowell · #7 09-09-2011, 12:53 PM

Mixing non-identical drivers on the same amp (without crossover) is not a good idea anyhows... Unpredictable impedance mis-matches and potential phase issues may result. Even with a cross-over (passive), all drivers and the cross-over must be designed as a system.