Should I get an 8ohm or 4ohm 212??

TimK · #1 08-12-2010, 10:33 AM

Looking for options for use with my SVT 4 PRO
here are the Ampegs specs
OUTPUT POWER RATING 1600 Watts Mono-Bridged @ 4 Ohms (1200 Watts Continuous)
1200 Watts Mono-Bridged @ 8 Ohms (900 Watts Continuous)
2 x 900 Watts @ 2 Ohms (600 Watts Continuous)
2 x 625 Watts @ 4 Ohms (490 Watts Continuous)
2 x 350 Watts @ 8 Ohms (300 Watts Continuous)
I have an 8 ohm 210 cab rated at 350 watts RMS.

I would like to get an additional cab to have a larger modular rig. I’m thinking of The aguilar 600 watt DB212 cab. I’d like to be able to run it on its own for medium sized gigs and also pair it with the 8 Ohm DB 210 that I have. Would you suggest to get the 212 in 8 or 4 ohms?

Here is what I’m thinking:

1) I could get the 4 ohm 212 cab and run it mono bridged (like I run my Ampeg 6x10 both rated at 600) to use as a standalone cab. But when pairing it with the 8 ohm 210, will I run into problems running a 4 and an 8 ohm cab? What if I run it in dual mono mode - 8 ohm 210 from power amp A, and the 4 ohm 212 from power amp B? Would this work?

Or,
2) I could get the 8 Ohm 212 cab and run it on its own the same way I currently use the 210, in stereo mode from only one power amp. But I’m wondering if that would mean I’m losing a lot of DBs/volume since it can handle 600 watts, but I’d only be sending 350 to at 8 Ohms.

Any feedback and advice would be great! Thanks Very Much!

PS hope this is in the right forum

I rarely start my own thread- in fact I think I never have

Beersurgeon · #2 08-12-2010, 11:04 AM

I run a 200w, 8 ohm 210 ext cab with my 200w 4 ohm Acoustic B200 combo. By adding the two together, it runs at about 2.67 ohms with no issues/problems. If you are able to set the amp for a 4 ohm rig, you should be fine with set up #1. I would go for the 4ohm model for the extra loudness for when you use it by itself.

Sorry, can't help with splitting of the amp question. Hope this helps!!

TimK · #3 08-12-2010, 12:19 PM

thanks Beersurgeon!

Anybody else, Opinions? Advice? suggestions?

TIA!

BigOldHarry · #4 08-12-2010, 12:21 PM

8 ohm so you can pair it with another cab. Easy.

TimK · #5 08-12-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

8 ohm so you can pair it with another cab. Easy.

Thanks BOH

Is 8ohm your suggestion in case i ever got a different head?

1 vote 4 ohm , 1 vote 8 ohm. Need some tie breakers votes

rbonner · #6 08-12-2010, 12:28 PM

I run 4PRO's.

Buy 8 ohms. Run 4pro bridged to first cab then daisy chain to the second. will total 4 ohms.

When using the 212 alone, run the 4PRO bridged and feed the 212 direct. It will supply 900 w.

Running dual mono the amp taxes the power supply more and puts out less power.

Don't run the amp at 2.67 ohms into one channel, running bridged provides twice the power FETS and better utilization of the power supply. You cant run bridged into 2.67 ohms.

BOB

babebambi · #7 08-12-2010, 12:29 PM

IMO, a 4 ohm 212 will be a good match with the 8 ohm 210 you already have. The 212 will get roughly twice the power as the 210, and it seems ideal to me.

I normally do not recommend a 4 ohm cab smaller than a 410. But in your case you have an ultra flexible amp head in terms of impedance handling, so it doesn't really matter.

MNAirHead · #8 08-12-2010, 12:30 PM

TimK · #9 08-12-2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbonner

I run 4PRO's.

BOB

Don't you run like 6 4 PRO's?!? I think I have seen pics of that. You're the guy to ask I guess.

Thanks for the help Bob!

elavate7 · #10 08-12-2010, 12:36 PM

8 ohm, that way you can have an additional cab later

rbonner · #11 08-12-2010, 12:36 PM

Yeah at the moment I have Six 4PRO's and four SVP1600's. PM if you need anything else.

BOB

TimK · #12 08-12-2010, 12:37 PM

oh man! seems split bewteen the 4 and the 8. Now I'm more confused/undecided

at least there is not a "wrong" answer.

... or is there?

pasta4lnch · #13 08-12-2010, 12:41 PM

I have a 4 ohm 212 and I have an 8 ohm 112 - I'm trying to get rid of the 212 for another 112 to have 1 cab for small gigs and 2 for big.

will a single 212 be good enough for your gigs? if so get 4 ohms, if you even think you'll want a 2nd cab. get the 8 ohm.

Nightlyraider · #14 08-12-2010, 12:42 PM

I have a 4 ohm 212 that I have run my 4Pro bridged into and also in dual mono mode with a 4 ohm 210 stacked on top of it. Other people have posted that the 4Pro is somehow lacking when being run in dual mono; but with my Epifani cabs it is loud as could be.

4 Ohm was also alright with me because it allowed me to fully utilize my old Trace Elliot AH500x which has dual mono/stereo and non-bridgable outs; and my 400+ does 2 and 4 ohms so its good there.

BassmanPaul · #15 08-12-2010, 12:51 PM

I'd go with another identical 2x10. That way you know that the cabinets will work well together.

Paul

TimK · #16 08-12-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

will a single 212 be good enough for your gigs? if so get 4 ohms, if you even think you'll want a 2nd cab. get the 8 ohm.

I think so. My plan is to use the:

-210 alone for small gig (coffe house, acoustic, wine bar type show)

-212 alone for medium sized gigs with nice/big PA's and I just need a louder stage monitor

-212/210 Stack for large clubs and outdoor stages.

TimK · #17 08-12-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

I'd go with another identical 2x10. That way you know that the cabinets will work well together.

Paul

I thought about this. There is actually another aggie db 210 8 ohm for sale here now. I almost did that, but I have been running 4x10's and 6x10's for so long I want to try something different and have heard a lot about 212's. I may even get the db115.

Beersurgeon · #18 08-12-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimK

I think so. My plan is to use the:

-210 alone for small gig (coffe house, acoustic, wine bar type show)

-212 alone for medium sized gigs with nice/big PA's and I just need a louder stage monitor

-212/210 Stack for large clubs and outdoor stages.

My vote is still for the 4 ohm cab especially since your thinking about using it by itself. And you have the flexibility with your amp to do so!!!

BassmanPaul · #19 08-12-2010, 01:42 PM

Being of the immense age that I am, I came the route of eighteens to fifteens to 4x12 to a bi-amp rig with 12s and 15s until I got my first 2x10. That beat out the sound of any of my others rigs and I ended up with four. I use one to rehearse, always two to gig (stacked vertically) and all four when I'm feeling a little crazy! IMO the ten is the perfect driver fo bass.

Paul

MysticMichael · #20 08-12-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimK

Or, 2) I could get the 8 Ohm 212 cab and run it on its own the same way I currently use the 210, in stereo mode from only one power amp. But I’m wondering if that would mean I’m losing a lot of DBs/volume since it can handle 600 watts, but I’d only be sending 350 to at 8 Ohms.

The issue is cab efficiency relative to the volume needs of the gig - not the thermal limits of the drivers in the cab.

Just because your cab in nominally rated @ 600 watts doesn't mean that you can even come close to actually putting that much power into it, without driving it into power compression, distortion and/or a number of other nasty side effects.

If the cab(s) will handle the amount of power you need to create the volume levels you require, and if you have a decent amount of amp headroom left over in order to assure a good quality of sound, then you're good to go - regardless of the RMS rating of the cab.

MM