speaker size?

[bassmaniac101]

at the moment I am running 2 4x10 cabs and a "lot of power" just for the extra headroom. I am very happy with my sound and feel the 10" speakers are producing easily enough bottom end for what i need.
However, at a recent gig i played, i was amazed at the bassist in the band before mines volume in comparison to mine. he was running about 1/4 the power of me (same amp type) but with a 4x10" cab and a 1x15" inch cab underneath it. Although he ran his amp harder i dont think my amp would have had as much volume as his. Is this a general characteristic of a 15" undr a 4x10" or is it probably just that this guy was prepared to push his amp alot harder than i am. lol.
any experience concering using 1x15s with 4x 10 would be interesting. pls comment?

[AxtoOx]

You have more speaker area in a 4 10 than a 1 15. Was he using 2 4 or 8 ohms? Were you using the same one?

I can tell you this, in the same amp, my 8 10 is louder than a 4 12 if that helps any.

[JustDavid]

I'm not anywhere near guru-level on this, but I'd say 4x10+4x10 versus 4x10+1x15 would give a volume difference falling far far short of "amazing".

Maniac, I'd say this is a better topic for the Amps. Lots of good knowledge searchable in there. Some great gurus in there.

[AxtoOx]

Are your 4x10s ported or sealed. If they are sealed, you will notice a difference in the lows. If they are ported I'm puzzled, because I think, and someone will correct me if I'm wrong, your moving less air= less volume w a 15",

[kalle74]

it´s a "SPL per watt" issue. Some cabs are more efficient...

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by AxtoOx

Are your 4x10s ported or sealed. If they are sealed, you will notice a difference in the lows. If they are ported I'm puzzled, because I think, and someone will correct me if I'm wrong, your moving less air= less volume w a 15",

You're generally right, unless it's a real high efficiency design for the 15" cab and the 410 isn't.

Anyway, there are a million reasons it could have happened, and all the reasons named could be legit, except for the 115. A 410 generally smokes a 115 for volume and low end response.

[groooooove]

there are a million reasons this couldve happened..

but even more reasons why it shouldent have happened. 2 4x10" cabs should outdo a 4x10 + 1x15 very easily.

[OtterOnBass]

Your volume knob isn't linear, meaning turning up halfway isn't using half of your power. Where your amp hits 50% and his hits 50% will be different. Also, the EQ plays a huge factor. Low end takes a lot more power to seem as loud as mids.

[PJSShearer]

How about his instrument?, how about the way he played it?, how about the EQ settings?. Mainly did anyone else apart from you spot this issue? - funny how everyone else's rig sounds better/louder from out front that yours does when you are standing next to it (it drove me mad for years) :-).