Adding more speakers and increasing volume

[Slaphound]

If I went from a 210 & 112(8 Ohms each)set up to a 2- 410 cabs @ 8 ohms a piece, and I used the same Littlemark 2 head, would I be cleaner sounding at higher volumes?

Not to sound confusing but I find that playing at loud volumes kills my tone completely. I use a TC 210 and an Epifani PS112. Sometimes together and sometimes separately. Its just at loud volumes that I find the cabs crippled somewhat. I feel that If I had a bigger cab, I could get louder and still sound good like I do at lower volumes. I don't know if I'll do it but I have been thinking of adding a 410 cabinet but only if I'm gonna sound better at higher volumes.

 

[Gearhead17]

What happens at louder volumes? What do you hear? I suggest trying out your rig with the rig you like side by side and see what your ears tell you. You might be pushing too much of something tone wise at low volumes and when you turn it up, it sounds terrible because it is boosted too much.

For example, low volume practice by yourself and you crank the bass knob and decrease the midrange. Turn that tone up and the resulting sound will be extremely woofy with no definition. You might even push the speaker beyond it's limits because as you turn up, you do NOT need to boost as much.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

If I went from a 210 & 112(8 Ohms each)set up to a 2- 410 cabs @ 8 ohms a piece, and I used the same Littlemark 2 head, would I be cleaner sounding at higher volumes?
.

Yes. Not enough speaker capacity causes volume and tone compression.

 

[Slaphound]

Is it the amount of speakers or does it have something to do with driver size?

If I ran two 115 at 8 ohms each, can I expect to be louder and less compressed then say 2 112? Same question with 2 210 cabs at 8 ohms each. Would that be louder and cleaner then say 2 112's?

 

[RickenBoogie]

Yes, bigger speakers are usually louder, so 2 15's would be louder than 2 12's. But overall, driver size is less important than the actual number of drivers, like 4 10's will be louder than 1 15.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

Is it the amount of speakers or does it have something to do with driver size?

Mainly the number of drivers, as the more voice coils you have in the system the higher the system sensitivity, all else being equal. But all else is never equal. The complete answer literally would fill a book. Or at least one would have to read a book about loudspeaker design to understand the complete answer.
The short answer to your original question is yes.

 

[Slaphound]

Starting to see the light now. Its not just about being loud enough but loud enough and sounding good too. Not compressed or anything. The Little Mark 2 head is good. It pushes 500 watts at 4 ohms.

I've been trying to figure out why I don't like my tone and I realize that Its mostly at the higher volumes that I find it very annoying and bad sounding. A 112 cab or just one 210 is really the reason. Not enough speaker. And even with coupling the two cabs together, Its sounds like crap. Thats because mixing cabs doesn't usually work well. That I understand.

And just to be sure. Adding another TC Electronics 210 cab will be louder and Cleaner then just adding one 112 to the PS 112 that I already have.

Thanks Fellas

 

[GrowlerBox]

And just to be sure. Adding another TC Electronics 210 cab will be louder and Cleaner then just adding one 112 to the PS 112 that I already have.

Probably the best way to decide is to play through each cabinet separately at a volume each cabinet can comfortably handle and decide which one you like the tone of the best, then get hold of another of them. It is a generalisation to say that 2 x 210s will be louder and cleaner than 2 x 112s, and like all generalisations, it's often false. I would put my 112 up against most 210s without fear of losing out on clarity or loudness.

 

[Slaphound]

What 112 do you have and use Growler?

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Have you tried EQing differently for higher volumes?

 

[GrowlerBox]

What 112 do you have and use Growler?

A Jack 12 designed by Bill FitzMaurice and built by a guy named Harley here in NZ. You can purchase the plans from Bill and build them yourself if you have the acumen and can afford to lose a few fingers! You can also get kits for them from Speakerhardware.com (I think that's right). Check out Bill's site at billfitzmaurice.info if you're interested.