4 ohm or 8 ohm cab?

[Square]

Alright folks, I just placed the order... GK Legacy 800 head and GK NeoIV 2x12 4 ohm cab.

Again thanks to everyone for their input.

So why did I go with 4 as opposed to 8? The responses here weighed on the decision, but so too did my life long OCD/ADD habits which often translates to going overboard. With that in mind I really don't need a second cab. I really don't. Maybe I will and maybe I won't buy one anyway.

Based on @agedhorse and his response (and a few other 4 ohm proponents here) I thought about mixing cabs verses not verses keeping it to one cab, and the 4 ohm just made sense. I feel like, after reading all the responses here, that 4 ohm will give me more flexibility when all things are considered. I guess if I do mix cabs (impedance) or add the same cab again, then I'm committed to 2 ohm stable amps. There could be worse things...

Thnx again.

 

[logdrum]

I am with France on this one. 4ohm

.. and it's looks like Mr. Andy thinks the same, and usually for these questions that settles it.

 

[agedhorse]

I will defer to your experience, but is it somehow more than +3db impact? I know 3db is a perceivable difference, but we are talking about ~10% volume increase. Sure that counts on the margin for some purposes. I would rather have the additional cabinet flexibility to make my margin wider when I actually need it.

Edit: I am sure someone will point out 2 ohm capable head so even 4 ohm keeps flexibility. I get that. I also get how often I have personally swapped heads. Some 2 ohm rated, some not.

~3dB maximum SPL which is clearly audible in every listening test I have ever done with players.

I wish that the urban myth on being barely perceptible would die already.

This is different than the discussion about individual drivers, where a 4 ohm driver is usually less sensitive than the 8 or 16 ohm counterpart.

 

[Aussie Player]

I have cash on hand to pick up a head and one cab. Looks like it will be the GK Legacy 800 head and matching 2x12 cab. The question is, would you opt for the 4 ohm or 8 ohm cab.

My intent is to eventually add a 2x10 8ohm cab to the mix but that could take a while to materialize. So for now, one head and one cab.

Considering the amp is supposed to be 2 ohm stable, are there any benefits to going with one or the other? 4 ohm or 8 ohm cab… let me hear your thoughts.

I like 4 Ohm cabs. If they sound good, you don't have to worry about extra cabs.
Gained this opinion after years of 8 ohm cabs and one day had a head fail on a 4 Ohm cab and switched heads.

Apart from the obvious headroom increase, I found the tone more to my liking even though I'd owned the replacement head for years.

 

[eniac]

Is that 800 watt cab rating thermal or mechanical? I can't find the relevant spec(s).

EDIT: Before someone comes back with Neo IV Cabinets — Gallien-Krueger, I've already got that.

 

[agedhorse]

Is that 800 watt cab rating thermal or mechanical? I can't find the relevant spec(s).

EDIT: Before someone comes back with Neo IV Cabinets — Gallien-Krueger, I've already got that.

Probably somewhere in between, but from experience with our amp players using those cabinets I haven't seen any issues in practice. I haven't seen the mechanical power handling spec either.

 

[Wasnex]

Now, if you start with a 2x12 @ 8 ohm, what happens?

• With a single 2x12 @ 8 ohm, you only get 1/2 power from the amp. Where's the benefit?

Whether it's beneficial to get an 8 ohm cab or not, depends on several factors. I personally think it can be a good idea, but I understand that it's not the best solution for everyone.

If an 8 ohm 212 meets all of your volume needs, where is the problem?

If a 4 ohm 212 doesn't meet all of your volume needs, where is the benefit? Assuming all other things equal except the impedance, in most circumstances a pair of 8 ohm Neo 212 cabs will play louder than one 4 ohm Neo 212 cab.

Let assume the cab is rated 800W, impedance comes in 4 or 8, and sensitivity is 101dB 1W/1m. Let's assume the amp is rated 800W at 4 ohms and 400W at 8 ohms

1. Single 4 ohm 212 cab at 800W
Calculated SPL = [Log(800) x 10] + 101 = 130dB.

Let's keep in mind this option pushes the cab all the way to it's RMS power rating, and in many cases mechanical power handling is less than the RMS power rating. So IMHO if you really need 130dB, the cab is probably at risk. Also drivers tend to suffer from power compression as they approach their limits....so we won't actually get 130dB real world.

2. Pair of 8 ohm 212 cabs at 800W
We assume the sensitivity goes up 3dB (theoretically), but let's call it real world +2dB
Calculated SPL = [Log(800) x 10] + 102 = 132dB

The first thing to consider is the cabs are sharing the power equally, so each is getting up to 400W. I assume the cabs will experience less power compression at 400W.

If you only need 130dB you can drop the power a bit.

Target power for 130dB with Sensitivity of 102dB 1W/1m = 10^[(130-102)/10] = ~631W

So now each cab is only getting up to 315.5W. Way less than the 800W RMS power rating.

3. Single 8 ohm 212 cab at 400W
[Log(400) x 10] + 101 = 127dB

This is probably loud enough for most gigs. If you sometimes play really loud gigs, the option to run an extra cab for more headroom could be beneficial. Also I find it advantageous to use a vertical stack (YMMV).

My personal experience:
Years ago I bought a 4 ohm Acme Low B2 to maximize the amount of power my amp could make. I believe calculated SPL was about 118dB. I can make a 118dB rig work, but I prefer to have at least 124dB. Since I bought a 4 ohm cab, I was locked in and had no option to add a second cab to get the desired 124dB. So IMHO, I would have been better off with the 8 ohm variant.

 

[BOOG]

I have cash on hand to pick up a head and one cab. Looks like it will be the GK Legacy 800 head and matching 2x12 cab. The question is, would you opt for the 4 ohm or 8 ohm cab.

My intent is to eventually add a 2x10 8ohm cab to the mix but that could take a while to materialize. So for now, one head and one cab.

Considering the amp is supposed to be 2 ohm stable, are there any benefits to going with one or the other? 4 ohm or 8 ohm cab… let me hear your thoughts.

If it were me, I’d get an 8ohm. The 4ohm could be a problem down the road for a number of reasons and you’re not going to get much more in volume/db’s with the 4ohm over the 8ohm. Volume comes from air movement and surface area (with added speakers/cabs) does that a lot better than added current.

 

[agedhorse]

If it were me, I’d get an 8ohm. The 4ohm could be a problem down the road for a number of reasons and you’re not going to get much more in volume/db’s with the 4ohm over the 8ohm. Volume comes from air movement and surface area (with added speakers/cabs) does that a lot better than added current.

What exactly are the problems?

If a 4 ohm 212 meets the player's SPL needs, there is no problem at all. If an 8 ohm 212 meets the player's needs, there's no problem at all. A 4 ohm 212 will be a 3dB increase in maximum SPL over the 8 ohm 212 (assuming the same sensitivity), and 3dB less than a pair of 4 ohm 212's with the OP's amp. The 4 ohm 212 is right in the middle of these options.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I have cash on hand to pick up a head and one cab. Looks like it will be the GK Legacy 800 head and matching 2x12 cab. The question is, would you opt for the 4 ohm or 8 ohm cab.

My intent is to eventually add a 2x10 8ohm cab to the mix but that could take a while to materialize. So for now, one head and one cab.

Considering the amp is supposed to be 2 ohm stable, are there any benefits to going with one or the other? 4 ohm or 8 ohm cab… let me hear your thoughts.

They're rated at 800 watts@4ohms and 400 watts@8 ohms, which is plenty of power. I would get an 8 ohm cab, then add another 8 ohm cab later, making the total impedance to 4 ohms.

 

[agedhorse]

They're rated at 800 watts@4ohms and 400 watts@8 ohms, which is plenty of power. I would get an 8 ohm cab, then add another 8 ohm cab later, making the total impedance to 4 ohms.

Are you aware that the cabinet is rated for 800 watts power handling and the amp will also do 2 ohms?

It's quite possible that a single 4 ohm 212 will make an adequate single cabinet solution if that's important to the OP.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Are you aware that the cabinet is rated for 800 watts power handling and the amp will also do 2 ohms?

It's quite possible that a single 4 ohm 212 will make an adequate single cabinet solution if that's important to the OP.

just my personal preference.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I run a 4 ohm 212 rated at 1000 watts and a 1200 watt Berg head and it’s a one cab rig to end all other rigs.

Loud, loud and smooth as butter, I can play any venue regardless of volume.

The 13+ shows proved to me I will never need more. And if I do, I can add anything to the rig, as rhe head goes down to 2 ohms.

Good choice on 4 ohms, as now your able to hear what that cab was made to do.

 

[Blues Bass 2]

I've always been in the camp of having more power than you need or will use . The main thing for me on bigger gigs was having enough speaker to cover the gig without straining them . I had 410 cabs , 310 cabs , 115 cabinets and 112 and 210 cabs . The 210 Edens I had were very close to being stand alone which was my overall goal , having one cab to do the gig that didn't weigh a ton . The 310 did that , the 410 was too big and heavy and the 115 and 112 cabs had to be paired to work . I had a couple of very good 212 cabs , one I built and another by a short lived cabinet builder and both of those 212 cabs were just perfect . My band wasn't quiet , far from it , but a 212 cabinet with a bunch of power is the gold standard for me .
Good choice !

 

[paskisti]

just my personal preference.

Not just for you but all 8 ohm guys. If you pick up 4 ohm version you can still limit the power by switching amp into 2 ohm mode. Then you are roughly in the same setting as you described earlier with 8 ohm cab.

Only reason to go for 8 ohm version is if OP ever jumps to an amp having minimum load of 4 ohm. Then there would be no room for another cab.

 

[B-string]

Keep in mind unless tested and proven amp power (watts) to speaker area acoustic output has changed recently the acoustic output from 400 (amp) wattage to 800 (amp) wattage will NOT double sound output. Speaker area surpasses amp wattage . What running at 4 ohms instead of 8 ohm does do on a SS amp is make the cooling fans run longer or faster. It will be rare IME that 400 amp watts into a good 212 (like the GK or other top manufacturers) will fail to do the job well. 400 vs 800 into a 212 cab is like asking: "Do you like your brownies plain or with a little frosting on top?" Either way it is the calories that will get ya.

 

[pcake]

Alright folks, I just placed the order... GK Legacy 800 head and GK NeoIV 2x12 4 ohm cab.

Again thanks to everyone for their input.

So why did I go with 4 as opposed to 8? The responses here weighed on the decision, but so too did my life long OCD/ADD habits which often translates to going overboard. With that in mind I really don't need a second cab. I really don't. Maybe I will and maybe I won't buy one anyway.

Based on @agedhorse and his response (and a few other 4 ohm proponents here) I thought about mixing cabs verses not verses keeping it to one cab, and the 4 ohm just made sense. I feel like, after reading all the responses here, that 4 ohm will give me more flexibility when all things are considered. I guess if I do mix cabs (impedance) or add the same cab again, then I'm committed to 2 ohm stable amps. There could be worse things...

Thnx again.

good choice - i'd have done the same. enjoy your new rig!

 

[2saddleslab]

Both my 112 & 212 are 4ohm and always used separately. I've tried the same 8ohm speaker on the 112 but it lacked the girth and fundamental low end compared to the 4ohm. Running at full wattage, especially with a higher wattage amp than the speaker is rated, requires using your ears to make sure you're not over doing the speakers. An HPF and years of experience [not blowing speakers] has this system working well for me.

 

[BOOG]

What exactly are the problems?

If a 4 ohm 212 meets the player's SPL needs, there is no problem at all. If an 8 ohm 212 meets the player's needs, there's no problem at all. A 4 ohm 212 will be a 3dB increase in maximum SPL over the 8 ohm 212 (assuming the same sensitivity), and 3dB less than a pair of 4 ohm 212's with the OP's amp. The 4 ohm 212 is right in the middle of these options.

“Problems”, for instance, possible gear incompatibility in the future should an individual switch to other gear without 2ohm capability. It was an opinion. For me, I have preferred 8ohm cabs to give the option of 1-4 cabs if the situation asked. I’ll probably never have a need for three or four, but I like my options.
Regarding your points and comparisons, I understand what you’re saying and respect your authority on the topic, without question. I still believe that two cabs of 8ohm would be louder than one cab of 4ohm, and three to four cabs of 8ohm would be louder than two cabs of 4ohm. Never tested it, but seems reasonable.
What say you?

 

[agedhorse]

“Problems”, for instance, possible gear incompatibility in the future should an individual switch to other gear without 2ohm capability. It was an opinion. For me, I have preferred 8ohm cabs to give the option of 1-4 cabs if the situation asked. I’ll probably never have a need for three or four, but I like my options.
Regarding your points and comparisons, I understand what you’re saying and respect your authority on the topic, without question. I still believe that two cabs of 8ohm would be louder than one cab of 4ohm, and three to four cabs of 8ohm would be louder than two cabs of 4ohm. Never tested it, but seems reasonable.
What say you?

As an example, 2 x 8 ohm 112's will be exactly the same volume and maximum SPL as 1 x 4 ohm 212 (of the same brand/model line). Since the OP's amp can drive the 4 ohm 212 to rated power exactly the same a 2 x 8 ohm 112's, there is no difference. IF the OP decides to add another 212 to the rig, there's nothing stopping him as the amp he has is rated to drive a 2 ohm load. If he changes to an amp that does not handle a 2 ohm load, then obviously a 2 ohm load won't work.