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2x12" - convert from 8Ohm to 4Ohm for more power?

Hello!

I have a Aguilar DB212 8Ohm which I use with an Aguilar AG500SC. The amp delivers 500W@4Ohm, so I'm thinking about converting the cab to 4Ohm by replacing the speakers.

The original Aguilar replacement speakers cost 140USD/piece, so the upgrade would cost about 280USD minus whatever I might get for my used (but rather new) speakers.

Do you think I would be worth it?

Thank you!

Not really.
The gain in volume you'll get will be marginal.
Best use that cash towards another DB212 cab... now two of those WILL make a difference.
 
Doubling your speaker area will make you much louder than doubling your watts.

Then. . . . you'll discover that using more speakers has also improved your tone.

2 cabs means you are louder and you sound better. . . so you'll be happier and play better. . . Win-Win-Win-Win!
 
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Can it be done yes, Hartke has that feature on some of their cabinets (Hydrive 112)
The way to change the impedance of a speaker is by adding the appropriate ohm resister between the + and - leads from the speaker.
as long as the resistor can handle the power being put to it, itll change the impedance. However you lose sound quality, to gain very little. A second cabinet or swapping the driver for a 4ohm would be the best solution.

I looked this up a few months ago trying to do the same thing you are. My guitarist, also teach electric classes at the local college. Even he said it wouldnt be the best idea.

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Better off upgrading your amp. Take the money you would have spent on speakers, sell the Aguilar and add that money to it and you can get a Mesa Subway D800 which will deliver all the power those speakers can handle.

Opposite is true. Bigger amp will still be limited by whatever the maximum output of the cab is. OP has plenty of juice on tap and adding more just increases the likelihood of blowing up the cabinet.

Most effective path to more volume is additional speaker, and the best solution for that is another Aggie 212.
 
Opposite is true. Bigger amp will still be limited by whatever the maximum output of the cab is. OP has plenty of juice on tap and adding more just increases the likelihood of blowing up the cabinet.

Most effective path to more volume is additional speaker, and the best solution for that is another Aggie 212.

Yes, adding another cabinet would be the best way to increase output but I'm assuming he doesn't want to double his cabinet size and weight.
 
At least in my world, one 2x12 is more than enough to play any venue, indoor or outdoor that I've ever done and we play pretty loud. The last thing I would want to do is drag another 2x12 to the gig. I would do whatever I needed to do to get the most out of a single 2x12 cab and call it good. It's no compromise IMO, a 500 watt class D head into a good 2x12 is the perfect set up.

You already have a good amp and cab. But if you want to get the most out of it, have a little more headroom etc., get the 4 ohm model and sell the 8 ohm and you're good to go. You save some money over buying another cab at full price, the hassel of lugging a couple of 2x12's around (which you won't need) and will have all the volume and power that you need.
 
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I'm glad I saw the post reminding me this was your first post. There is a great search function here on TalkBass and this subject has been discussed rather heavily and frequently, you will learn a lot.

Tom
 
Going from 8 to 4 ohms will double your ELECTRICAL power but increase your perceived ACOUSTIC volume only a tiny bit - less than you can tell. It takes 10X the power for you to perceive something that you feel is "twice as loud". Doubling your cone area with a second cab however, doubles your ACOUSTIC (perceived) volume. A better choice.
 
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Going from a 9 volt to 18 volt power supply increases the maximum signal output level by 6dB not 3dB.

This will not increase the output unless the level is turned up more and the amp is not clipping or limiting.
 
Going from 8 to 4 ohms will double your ELECTRICAL power but increase your perceived ACOUSTIC volume only a tiny bit - less than you can tell.

IMO and IME lots of us can readily perceive a 2-3dB boost. How worthwhile that may or may not be just depends, as is so often the case.