What ohms would be best?

Icewolf98 · #1 12-20-2010, 12:59 AM

I am looking at buying the Line 6 Lowdown HD750 which has 750w @ 4 Ohms. I am considering purchasing a G-K 410MBE 800w 4x10 cab. My question is that there is an option of either 4 Ohm or 8 Ohm on the cab.. Which is the one that I should select and also is this a good combination for my first non-combo set?

maxbass · #2 12-20-2010, 01:20 AM

If you fear a single 4x10 wouldn't be loud enough go 8 ohms, otherwise 4 ohms

Icewolf98 · #3 12-20-2010, 01:27 AM

Thnx much

tjh · #4 12-20-2010, 01:30 AM

I am not familiar with the head, but I am assuming it is only 4 ohm capable, and if that is the case, you should have at least 375-400 watts going into an 8 ohm cab, so that should be more than enough for most situations, and then affords you the chance to expand later should you need more with a second 8 ohm cab ... two cabs will give you 2x the speaker surface and will be noticably louder than one cab @ 4 ohms ... I would get an 8 ohm for sure ... JMHO

cyclomatic · #5 12-20-2010, 01:37 AM

Ditto. 8ohms hands down...
An 8ohm will leave you the option to add where a 4ohm will be only marginally louder in comparison.

Shoewreck · #6 12-20-2010, 01:37 AM

You will get less power with 8 Ohms.

tjh · #7 12-20-2010, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoewreck

You will get less power with 8 Ohms.

of course he will ... but his 'less power' is still going to be close to 400 watts ... thats more than most people are using anyhow ... and now he has the ability to expand ... he buys a 4 ohm he is stuck (with a 4 ohm capable head) ... and, the difference between that 4 and 8ohms into the singel cab is going to be barely noticable, wheras the difference between 8 ohms into 1 cab, and 4 ohms into 2 cabs is very noticable ... JMHO

Sartori · #8 12-20-2010, 02:04 AM

If you get a single 4 ohm 4x10, you have no room to expand later. I'd go 8 ohm.

nicoli · #9 12-20-2010, 02:09 AM

If you have no intention of ever picking up a second cabinet to go with it, get the 4ohm to get max power now. If the idea of a full stack at some point in the future intrigues you, get the 8ohm.

Icewolf98 · #10 12-20-2010, 02:12 AM

I wasn't positive on which way to go since it is all a bit confusing to a noob but I would like to add another cab later so the 8 Ohm route seems the way to go.

tjh · #11 12-20-2010, 02:48 AM

"is this a good combination for my first non-combo set?"

forgot to address this one ... if it is your first rig, I would definitely buy used ... tastes change, needs change, and if you buy used you will be able to get very close to, if not all your investment back out when its time to change ... speaking of which, have you had a chance to play through this stuff yet? ... if not and you are going on others reviews, even more important to try to find used, you might not like it ... BTW, there are a LOT of good used heads around here, and 410's are everywhere, so personally I wouldn't limit my search to specifics unless I KNEW that it was what I wanted ... and generally base my purchase on something I could hopefully try, and know I like, or at the very least try to buy from someone with very good feedback like some of the regulars on here you see answering peoples questions and turning gear over left and right ... JMHO

Marton · #12 12-20-2010, 03:06 AM

I agree there, buy used. Most of the time, you can get you paid for when you sell them. Sometimes even more.

Shoewreck · #13 12-20-2010, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjh

he buys a 4 ohm he is stuck

Isn't it possible to add another power amp (without a pre this time) and get 1600 Watts into two 4 Ohm cabs?

Burlington · #14 12-20-2010, 07:43 AM

If you want all your power on tap now, get a 4ohm 4x10, 6x10, or 8x10. If you want to get another 8ohm cab in the future, just get one 8ohm now.

JTE · #15 12-20-2010, 08:46 AM

Get the 8Ω box. Even if you really do think you'll never need more speaker cabinets, you'll find yourself at some point thinking "Man, I wish I could run another cabinet.!". Here's the deal- the difference between your amp's output at 4Ω and at 8Ω seems like a lot (roughly 300 WRMS more, right?). But, in the real world the difference in volume you'll get running that head into a single 4Ω cabinet and what you'll get with it running a single 8Ω box is going to be negligible. You MIGHT hear a difference, your you might just think you hear a difference.

BUT, the difference between running it with a single 4x10 and running it with two 4x10 is going to be huge. The added speaker cone area will move a lot more air than the difference in power does. As someone new to this, you're not really in a position to say "I'll never need two cabinets". So leave yourself the option to expand.

I made this mistake myself in '98 (and I'd been gigging for 20 years, and was a bit of gear head too). I got a 4Ω Eden D410XLT because I figured I'd never need to haul two cabinets, and my amp would be able to deliver its maximum output. And for about five months it was great. But we started playing bigger gigs, got a new drummer who had a more muscular style, and I needed a way to get more out of the rig. I did buy another cabinet, but I also had to buy another amp to drive the added cabinet. While that worked well, it was when a buddy of mine got his Eden rig and we did a side-by-side test. We used both his and one of my WT-400 amps, my 4Ω D410XLT his 8Ω D410XLT, and a borrowed 8Ω D410XLT. Running either amp with either a 4Ω cabinet or one of the 8Ω cabinets was indistinguishable- we couldn't tell the 4Ω from the 8Ω listening or playing. BUT, when we hooked up both 8Ω cabinets, it was a HUGE difference- more volume, more body, and more authority.

Get the 8Ω box.
John

cyclomatic · #16 12-20-2010, 09:29 AM

John basically says it all.....
"Get the 8Ω box."
"But, in the real world the difference in volume you'll get running that head into a single 4Ω cabinet and what you'll get with it running a single 8Ω box is going to be negligible. You MIGHT hear a difference, your you might just think you hear a difference."
"BUT, the difference between running it with a single 4x10 and running it with two 4x10 is going to be huge."
"I made this mistake myself in '98...."
"Get the 8Ω box."
It's great to have real world mistakes and success to learn from on TB.

However, while buying used is definitely the major plan of attack it's not the only way. Sometimes (may be the exception) you can score a deal that is worth buying new if your fast enough. Closeouts on old stock makes buying new an option. I scored a Warwick WCA 410 Pro on Amazon Black Friday weekend for $239 NEW!! They had a 4ohm and 8ohm option. Even though my amp has an 8/4/2ohm option, I chose the 8ohm for max flexability. I'm not gigging with it but will use it for my church down the line. They also had the WCA 610 6ohm for an insane $414, wich even dropped the next day to $396 or so. Needless to say if you go back and look at the current offers they are $500 for the same 410 or $800 for the newer equivalent 611 (6x10)!!! I know the best offering I'm probably ever gonna see on a 6x10 just passed me by. I made the best choice for me with the 410. I already have a Peavey 2x15 currently awaiting overhall. If I decide to sell my 410 in the near future (don't ask, I'm not) I can actually make a profit, lol. Remember I also get the peace of mind with manufacturer and extended warranties too.

Again, I do know I scored big and that's the exception, not the rule. Now if I could just get those WCA 115 and 210's to budge.....

Just do your homework on anything you do plan to purchase, new or used, so you know what to expect. Also understand, you may go to a shop and play these new cabs for a few hours but older used cabs won't sound exactly the same. Some may even sound better.

Pilgrim · #17 12-20-2010, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Get the 8Ω box. Even if you really do think you'll never need more speaker cabinets, you'll find yourself at some point thinking "Man, I wish I could run another cabinet.!". Here's the deal- the difference between your amp's output at 4Ω and at 8Ω seems like a lot (roughly 300 WRMS more, right?). But, in the real world the difference in volume you'll get running that head into a single 4Ω cabinet and what you'll get with it running a single 8Ω box is going to be negligible. You MIGHT hear a difference, or you might just think you hear a difference.

JTE runs it down nicely for you. The drop in wattage at 8 ohms isn't as important as the chance to add a second cab with more speaker surface area.

Buy the 8 ohm cab, then you have lots of options.

tjh · #18 12-20-2010, 10:58 AM

the point about scoring new closeouts is very valid, but the only caveat there is you need to know what is good and what is just getting dumped in the market because it never really cut it ... although I am a major advocate of buying used, I have taken advantage of some very good closeout buys ... the Carvin B800 was one, the Yamaha BBT-500H and two BBT110's was another ... all excellent gear, and although I no longer have any of them, I sold some of them USED for more than I paid NEW ... in fact the Yammie set-up I actually missed and repurchased another one ... and just an FYI, the little 110 cabs of theirs were incredible, and to this day they still sell for almost 25% MORE than they were closed out for a couple years ago .... usually if there is a good quality blowout going on, you will see it mentioned on here and people scarfing them up left and right ... folks on this board are very good at spreading the wealth and taking care of each other ... which again speaks to buying something used on here from someone who is a regular with great feedback ... JMHO

MNAirHead · #19 12-20-2010, 05:11 PM

After owning tons and tons of cabs.. 8 ohm leave more flexiblity.

Jarrett · #20 01-02-2011, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

While that worked well, it was when a buddy of mine got his Eden rig and we did a side-by-side test. We used both his and one of my WT-400 amps, my 4Ω D410XLT his 8Ω D410XLT, and a borrowed 8Ω D410XLT. Running either amp with either a 4Ω cabinet or one of the 8Ω cabinets was indistinguishable- we couldn't tell the 4Ω from the 8Ω listening or playing.

Wait, did the amp have the same wattage rating at 4 and 8 ohms? Are you saying it sounded the same or it produced the same volume?