What pushes more air...?

[thejumpcat]

A 4x10 or two 15s?

[dmusic148]

Before anyone says " a 4x10 has 40 inches of area, and 2x15's only have 30," let's let a smart person answer.

[EricssonB]

[GrowlerBox]

The two configurations you propose have a similar surface area (the 15s having a little more), but their displacement (i.e. amount of air pushed) will also be determined by the excursion of the particular speakers involved. Conventional wisdom would have it that all else being equal, these setups will push about the same amount, but all else never is equal.

[dhsierra1]

4 X 78.5 = 314 sq inches

versus

2 X 176.5 = 353 sq inches

difference of 39 sq inches.

[thejumpcat]

Man, I didn't know there was going to be math involved. And if there is, can someone do it for me?

[Russell L]

If you round it off just using squares you could comparatively say that a 410 has 400 sq. in. (100 x 4) whereas a 215 has 450 sq. in. (225 x 2). But who's to say that one will sound better? They all differ so much in other ways than just cone area.

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

The two configurations you propose have a similar surface area, but their displacement (i.e. amount of air pushed) will also be determined by the excursion of the particular speakers involved. Conventional wisdom would have it that all else being equal, these setups will push about the same amount, but all else never is equal.

+1, factor in each driver's excursion and you'll get the volume displacement of air, gotta look at all three dimensions when talking about pushing air.

[groooooove]

depends on the type of sound..

if your bass is sub-heavy, two 15's will push tons more and be/appear louder. if its mid rangy and honky, 10's. in general (not bringing surface area equations into it) i'd say two 15's can push more.

[thejumpcat]

A pair of GK115RBS cabinets vs. one GK4x10RBS.

Through a GK400RB.

If it's not a huge difference, I'll go with the one 4x10. One trip up and down the stairs. Takes up less space in my apartment. And probably cheaper than the two 15s.

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by groooooove

depends on the type of sound..

if your bass is sub-heavy, two 15's will push tons more and be/appear louder. if its mid rangy and honky, 10's. in general (not bringing surface area equations into it) i'd say two 15's can push more.

False. A version of this myth gets pounded out here at least 3 times a day.

[thejumpcat]

This would be used for small festivals backline.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by groooooove

depends on the type of sound..

if your bass is sub-heavy, two 15's will push tons more and be/appear louder. if its mid rangy and honky, 10's.

I've gotta ask, why would you say that?

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by thejumpcat

A 4x10 or two 15s?

Insufficient data.

4 X 78.5 = 314 sq inches
versus
2 X 176.5 = 353 sq inches
difference of 39 sq inches.

Incorrect. Go sit in the back of the class.

if your bass is sub-heavy, two 15's will push tons more and be/appear louder. if its mid rangy and honky, 10's. in general (not bringing surface area equations into it) i'd say two 15's can push more.

Also incorrect. Go sit next to him.

Total 'air moved' is determined by the total driver displacement, T/S spec Vd. If you know what drivers the cab is loaded with you can look up the Vd on the manufacturer driver data sheet. If you don't there's no way of knowing, it's one of those critical pieces of information that cab manufacturers don't reveal.

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by thejumpcat

A pair of GK115RBS cabinets vs. one GK4x10RBS.

Through a GK400RB.

If it's not a huge difference, I'll go with the one 4x10. One trip up and down the stairs. Takes up less space in my apartment. And probably cheaper than the two 15s.

owning a 400RB I'd say you're better off w/either two 1-15s to get 4 ohms to maximize your power or find two 2-10 cabs at 8 ohms a piece to give you the four ohms. That way you can stack them vertically (a big recurring theme in these threads, but it's true) for better dispersion of mids/highs AND you can hear yourself better. Plus those are easier schleps than a big 4 X 10 and you give yourself some flexibility for the kinds of gigs you're doing. YMMV, IMHO, IME, etc.

[projectMalamute]

Originally Posted by EricssonB

Not as simple as that, or:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Before anyone says " a 4x10 has 40 inches of area, and 2x15's only have 30," let's let a smart person answer.

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Insufficient data.
Wrong. Go sit in the back of the class.

Total 'air moved' is determined by the total driver displacement, T/S spec Vd. If you know what drivers the cab is loaded with you can look up the Vd on the manufacturer driver data sheet. If you don't there's no way of knowing, it's one of those critical pieces of information that cab manufacturers don't reveal.

I corrected myself professor, thanks

[thejumpcat]

The GK410 cab is 4 ohm. Both the 15s are 8 ohm. I do not know which speakers GK puts in these cabs.

[EricssonB]

410 would have ~986.9604064" of surface area.
215 would have ~1110.330457" of surface area.

Then figure out the travel of each speaker, and how much force they'd apply across a volume of air. That's a bit beyond my calculator.

[makohund]

That's a great formula for flat, rigid speakers.

I'll stick to cones that move in and out. They might even have the volume displacement figure included in the manufacturer's specs.