Will more speakers add more Db?

panda bass · #1 07-30-2011, 09:01 PM

If I add an extra 15'' speaker will this increase volume? If so, how much?

Ric5 · #2 07-30-2011, 09:02 PM

What kind of amp?
How many ohms?
What kind of bass?
What kind of band?
What kind of venue/room are you playing in?

Ric5 · #3 07-30-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panda bass

If I add an extra 15'' speaker will this increase volume? If so, how much?

The short anwser is it will probably add volume.

panda bass · #4 07-30-2011, 09:08 PM

Kustom kb200
4 Ohms
Passive Pbass
Punk/rock
Basement

MuzikMan · #5 07-30-2011, 09:08 PM

That's the easiest way to increase volume that I know of................if your amp can take the impedance change.

panda bass · #6 07-30-2011, 09:11 PM

How much louder though?

Munjibunga · #7 07-30-2011, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panda bass

How much louder though?

7.4 percent.

MuzikMan · #8 07-30-2011, 09:22 PM

Why I aughta...................

The increase is dependent on what else you're running for cabs. If you exactly double your cabs output then you will have a 3db increase. If you are running a huge cab and add a small cab then you will get less than 3db.

JimmyM · #9 07-30-2011, 10:08 PM

You're talking about adding a cab to a 4 ohm combo? This will be one of those "exceptions" to the rule, then. Uusally you would add an 8 ohm speaker to a rig running at 8 ohms, which gives you a significant volume increase between adding the cab and almost doubling the wattage because you're running at 8 ohms. But with a 4 ohm combo, it's almost certainly running at its max wattage already, and the ext. speaker jack is wired to where it will increase the impedance when you add another cab, so you're going to cut your wattage almost in half, which will drastically cut down on the amount of extra volume you'd get with two cabs. For that reason, it's not recommended.

exmaxima1 · #10 07-31-2011, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panda bass

If I add an extra 15'' speaker will this increase volume? If so, how much?

If the 15" cab is comparable in cone area to your present cabinet, and you group/stack them closely together you should get nearly 3 dB more output. This is due to mutual coupling of the cones to get a better "grip" on the air. ie, wave your hand in the air and then try it with an umbrella----you get a better grip and can move more air faster than it can escape.

You have another consideration. If you have a tube amp, the power output will not change since it is limited by the tubes. If you have a beefy transistor amp, the decrease in load impedance should yield more output power. If the power doubles, then you will get another 3 dB of output.

So total output gain could be in the range of 3-6 db depending on situation.

panda bass · #11 07-31-2011, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

You're talking about adding a cab to a 4 ohm combo? This will be one of those "exceptions" to the rule, then. Uusally you would add an 8 ohm speaker to a rig running at 8 ohms, which gives you a significant volume increase between adding the cab and almost doubling the wattage because you're running at 8 ohms. But with a 4 ohm combo, it's almost certainly running at its max wattage already, and the ext. speaker jack is wired to where it will increase the impedance when you add another cab, so you're going to cut your wattage almost in half, which will drastically cut down on the amount of extra volume you'd get with two cabs. For that reason, it's not recommended.

So, I shouldn't do this? That is if I ever would have an interest in going from way louder then I need to WAYYYYYYYYYYYY louder then I need...

RickenBoogie · #12 07-31-2011, 07:31 AM

More info required. Explain what the Kuston KB200 is exactly, what speakers are in it, impedance, etc. Jimmy's onto something- if it's a 4 ohm combo capable of 2 ohm operation, you might be ok, otherwise, it's a wash,

scottfeldstein · #13 07-31-2011, 07:37 AM

After a bit of poking around their site, I discovered Kustom typically wires up the external speaker jack in series with the internal speaker. There is, therefore, no minimum impedance load for the external cab. Weird. Now I'm trying to get my head around the practical implications of that...

billfitzmaurice · #14 07-31-2011, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panda bass

How much louder though?

Each doubling of speaker count (with identical speakers) parallel wired gives a 6dB increase in output, but you can't use more speakers than your amp's rated impedance will handle.

Quote:

I discovered Kustom typically wires up the external speaker jack in series with the internal speaker. There is, therefore, no minimum impedance load for the external cab. Weird. Now I'm trying to get my head around the practical implications of that...

That means you can't parallel wire. They do it this way when the internal speaker alone already presents the minimum load that the amp can handle. IMO it's a poor engineering decision.

JimmyM · #15 07-31-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

That means you can't parallel wire. They do it this way when the internal speaker alone already presents the minimum load that the amp can handle. IMO it's a poor engineering decision.

Agreed. It's usually done in inexpensive combos to save money. A smaller head operating at 4 ohms and all that. I don't mind that so much. What really gets my goat is when the more expensive combos do it, like the Fender Bassman TV combos. They don't even bother adding an ext speaker jack...they just put a class D head in there, which is already light to begin with, and make it run at 4 ohms. Absolutely wonderful sounding combos, but for $1000 and no expendability, I'll pass.

low2groove · #16 07-31-2011, 08:21 AM

Simply put, if the amp can handle the lower Ohms, YES!

Adding more power to one speaker isn't the way to go if you're looking for more Db's. But... adding more speakers say down to the amps low ohm limit, will certainly give a signifiigant boost in volume.

You need to move more air for more volume and at some point will need to add more watts if you contuinue in the volume up trand.

oldcatfish · #17 07-31-2011, 09:29 AM

There may be a way that it will add volume though.

If I understand it correctly, my Roland CB100 is wired in series. I added an Eden EX112 which is a 4ohm cab. There is a definite increase in perceived volume. It may not be actual decibels or wattage, but it's seems to be at least 1/3 louder.

JHAz · #18 07-31-2011, 09:56 AM

well you don't probably cut power in half, and you have added radiating area, so there could be a net gain. Maybe more importantly if the external speaker is significantly more efficient than the internal one, it might sound louder even with the reduced power.

panda bass · #19 07-31-2011, 10:01 AM

I'll post some more info up from the manual in a bit!

panda bass · #20 07-31-2011, 10:09 AM

Ok, here are the specs!

200 watts
Speaker is 15'' and 4 ohms. It is just the stock speaker.

Now this is exactly what the manual says about the external speaker jack "This is a -two-conductor, 1/4-inch external speaker jack. (*Note*: This jack is wired in series with the amp's internal speaker. Therefore, the internal speaker still functions when the external speaker cabinet is added. For this reason, there is no minimum external speaker impedance load.)