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Any tonal difference between 4 or 8 ohm cabs?

#24
iualum said:
"Under the right circumstances" is only in a very controlled environment. In real-world situations, with normal noises present, it's almost impossible (if not just plain impossible) to detect a 1 dB volume change. 3 dB increments are generally the smallest that are readily perceptible. Certainly in a club/bar scenario.
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As a long time sound provider, can't agree at all. But as usual, "just depends" covers it pretty nicely, no? Link Removed
 
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#26
iualum said:
Are you in the states?
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No, i live in the Netherlands. I'd assume Glockenklangs are easier to get over here.

EDIT: To clarify, i've seen some discussions about different versions of this cab. USA version with USA Volts, German with UK (?) volts and german with 'normal' eminence speakers. That's why i specified ^^. But this is a discussion for another time.
 
#27
Ric5 said:
4 is louder than 8 at the same volume setting.
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Not always. Depends on the efficiency rating of the cabs. A single driver 4 ohm cab that is 100 dB efficient will sound the same as a similarily engineered and built single driver 8 ohm cab that is 103dB efficient.

If you are talking about the same product line of cabs comparing their 12" 8 ohm cab against their 212 4 ohm cab, then theoretically you get 3 dB boost in SPL from the added cone, and another theroectical 2dB boost from an ss amp now outputting 800 watts into 4 ohm load instead of 500 watts into an 8 ohm load. (A tube head won't give you that last added boost however. You just get the increase in SPL from the second cone.)
 
#31
There are people that swear they can hear the difference between an amp running at 50Hz in Europe vs 60Hz in North America.
There are people that swear that they can hear the difference between a 4 ohm cab on a 4 ohm amp tap vs an 8 ohm cab on an 8 ohm tap.
There are always people that swear by things.
Whatever gives them an edge, be it psychological or not, is worth it.
I know a lot of people that can't perform without going through some ritual or acquiescing to a superstition.

One guy can't perform without his lucky boxer shorts so his wife makes sure that he leaves them at home when he goes out on tour. :laugh:
 
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#32
B-string said:
Unless you are just trolling, please explain how.
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8 ohms has twice the resistance.

I have 6 bass cabs ... all are 8 ohms. If I swap out the speakers in one of those cabs so one is 4 ohms. I then plug in that cab to my Ampeg B2 one cab at a time. The 4 ohm cab will receive 350 watts of power and the 8 ohm cab will receive 200 watts of power. Same cab, same amp will yeild a different volume.
 
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#33
Ric5 said:
8 ohms has twice the resistance
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Absolutely incorrect. It is nominally rated at roughly twice the impedance. Impedance is not constant and varies with frequency. A 4 ohm resistor would result in a lower voltage than an 8 ohm resistor while doing the same work (power in watts), both would dissipate the energy.

A direct short has zero impedance or resistance but is not able to produce the work desired.
 
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#34
beans-on-toast said:
There are people that swear they can hear the difference between an amp running at 50Hz in Europe vs 60Hz in North America.
There are people that swear that they can hear the difference between a 4 ohm cab on a 4 ohm amp tap vs an 8 ohm cab on an 8 ohm tap.
There are always people that swear by things.
Whatever gives them an edge, be it psychological or not, is worth it.
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You forgot $100+ instrument and power cables. :smug:
 
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#36
Ric5 said:
8 ohms has twice the resistance.

I have 6 bass cabs ... all are 8 ohms. If I swap out the speakers in one of those cabs so one is 4 ohms. I then plug in that cab to my Ampeg B2 one cab at a time. The 4 ohm cab will receive 350 watts of power and the 8 ohm cab will receive 200 watts of power. Same cab, same amp will yeild a different volume.
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And yet my post you attempted to ''correct'' was entirely specific about having enough power to drive either.
 
#39
Ric5 said:
Fewer ohms = more watts
more watts = more volume
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Only with amps that do not use an output transformer and then the sound output to extra watt input is extremely disproportionate. In amps with an output transformer (most all tube output) the wattage output is essentially the same at 4 ohms and 8 ohms impedance.

Sound output difference from 350 to 500 watts with the same cab is very small and more waste heat than sound. Speakers are only 5% to 10% efficient at converting electrical power (watts) into usable sound.

There are limitations to amplifier design and some that even derate to a lower output power under 4 ohms load impedance.
 
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