Any tonal difference between 4 or 8 ohm cabs?

[Downunderwonder]

more watts = more volume

Only if the speakers can do more clean volume. The point you seem to be intent on ignoring all along.

 

[Ric5]

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.

So a 350 watt amp is as loud as a 500 watt amp?

Then why would anybody buy a 500 watt amp?

Then why would anybody sell a 500 watt amp?

 

[bushbass]

I read on a hifi home stereo site somewhere that high impedance speakers sound better. I think it was due to being easier for power amp to drive.
I dont know how that translates to bass cabs

 

[blindrabbit]

Dear Talkbass,

Is there any tonal difference between a 4 or 8 ohm cabinet if you had enough power to play both at the same volume? I understand that a 4 ohm would be louder but i've seen people mentioning that they've percieved it as 'punchier' than a 8 ohm cabinet, and the 8ohm is percieved to be 'fuller'. But how would that make a difference? I've spotted a lot of mixed responses on sites but is there any science behind it?
I had a discussion with a shopowner, and he said that if you have the power, an 8 ohm is always better. It would sound fuller and you have the potential to upgrade it with a second cab. I don't think i'd ever get a second cabinet though..

Talking about sonic or tonal differences of speakers based upon different impedances is getting into the snooty audiophile geek realm, where a lot of stuff is pretty subjective anyway. For all intents and purposes for bassists and live rigs, the simple answer is - no.

Hah - just as I was posting, someone else did noting a similar thing. So, yes, I too have read about this in publications like Stereophile and the like, but again, this is not something that is going to have practical implications for bassists. Realistically it doesn't have practical implications for home stereo enthusiasts either, but just like some bass players enjoy debating the merits of tonewoods, audiophile cork sniffers like to discuss things like speaker impedance tonal differences.

 

[Ric5]

Only if the speakers can do more clean volume. The point you seem to be intent on ignoring all along.

My 350 watt Ampeg head IS louder than my 200 watt Ampeg head, and my 200 watt Ampeg head is not as loud running 8 ohms as it is running 4 ohms.

I know that is is not a linear relationship but there is a relationship. Otherwise we would all be playing through 15 watt amps.

 

[B-string]

So a 350 watt amp is as loud as a 500 watt amp?

Then why would anybody buy a 500 watt amp?

Then why would anybody sell a 500 watt amp?

Amps are not "loud". Speakers convert electrical energy to sound. If you use that energy wisely is up to you.

 

[Downunderwonder]

So a 350 watt amp is as loud as a 500 watt amp?

Then why would anybody buy a 500 watt amp?

Then why would anybody sell a 500 watt amp?

This talking random nonsense dressed up as argument is what made BFM leave. Try addressing points made instead of spouting useless factoids.

 

[B-string]

My 350 watt Ampeg head IS louder than my 200 watt Ampeg head, and my 200 watt Ampeg head is not as loud running 8 ohms as it is running 4 ohms.

I know that is is not a linear relationship but there is a relationship. Otherwise we would all be playing through 15 watt amps.

Exaggerations in the face of facts is never productive. For your example to be a valid test those two amps would need the same gain, tone structures and the same power amp input sensitivity. There is a lot more to consider than just the published output power numbers.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Through a 115 a 350w amp very likely is as loud as a 500w btw, can't crank the 500w to max or it distorts and then blows.

 

[Killer Of Giants]

I thought there would be more d


Very intresting information, thanks a lot! Would almost seem like 8ohm is always the better option.
Considering my amp puts out 400 watt at 8ohm it should be loud enough. (Depending on sensitivity, sure)

interesting, my LH500 puts out 500 Watts RMS into 4 OHMS and pushes 250 into 8 ohms I play through a Hartke 810xl don't need much more then that

 

[B-string]

interesting, my LH500 puts out 500 Watts RMS into 4 OHMS and pushes 250 into 8 ohms I play through a Hartke 810xl don't need much more then that

The key there is eight 10" speakers. Roughly the same displacement as two 215 cabs (four 15").

 

[B-string]

Through a 115 a 350w amp very likely is as loud as a 500w btw, can't crank the 500w to max or it distorts and then blows.

the speaker. [Finished the thought.]

 

[Downunderwonder]

Is there any tonal difference between high impedance drivers and lower impedance drivers?
I think that was OPs question.

For a given fixed power output will two different impedance cabs sound different?

Agedhorse filled in the answer to that already. /thread.

 

[Downunderwonder]

the speaker. [Finished the thought.]

chur bro.

 

[Passinwind]

True. But offer me a choice of 1dB extra headroom for the gig OR a beer, I'm taking the beer.

My choice would be both, but 3 dB and 3 beers sounds better to me. Link Removed

 

[Downunderwonder]

My choice would be both, but 3 dB and 3 beers sounds better to me. Link Removed

There was a thread in BM about you. Excess alcohol causes LF hearing loss, according to science even.

 

[Ric5]

Exaggerations in the face of facts is never productive. For your example to be a valid test those two amps would need the same gain, tone structures and the same power amp input sensitivity. There is a lot more to consider than just the published output power numbers.

All things being equal ...

Then ...

fewer ohms = more watts ... that is a fact

and ...

more watts = more volume ...this is also a fact

and yes of course if you run through a substandard speaker it may not be able to produce the additional volume.

Otherwise a 15 watt bass amp would be as good as a 500 watt bass amp.

Yes I know that output numbers are not always accurate.

Try this ... Take 2 identical 1x15 cabs ... put a 4 ohm spaker in one and then put a 32ohm speaker in the other (same brand) ... Surely you don't expect me to believe they will be the same volume?

 

[B-string]

All things being equal ...

Then ...

fewer ohms = more watts ... that is a fact

and ...

more watts = more volume ...this is also a fact

and yes of course if you run through a substandard speaker it may not be able to produce the additional volume.

Otherwise a 15 watt bass amp would be as good as a 500 watt bass amp.

Yes I know that output numbers are not always accurate.

Try this ... Take 2 identical 1x15 cabs ... put a 4 ohm spaker in one and then put a 32ohm speaker in the other (same brand) ... Surely you don't expect me to believe they will be the same volume?

That would depend on how the amplifier matches the load. If the amplifier is designed for a 32 ohm load and you place a 4 ohm load on it the amplifier, the amplifier will fail. You can't apply DC (Direct Current) thinking to a AC (Alternating Current) device.

If we want to use exaggerations why don't we use 0 ohm speakers, that sucker would "draw" a lot of watts and be real "loud".

Both of the now bold statements above are not true or factual. If you are interesting in learning electronics, this age will provide a huge wealth of information for free that people like myself paid a great deal of money to be taught.

Watts= Voltage X Current.
Ohms law E/IXR. that relationship has never changed, no free lunches.

 

[Ric5]

So then a 500 watt amp won't be louder than a 50 watt amp? Because if it is there has to be a reason why.

 

[B-string]

So then a 500 watt amp won't be louder than a 50 watt amp? Because if it is there has to be a reason why.

If you use that 500 watts to light a light bulb, will it be "louder" than a 50 watt light bulb? Same amps, 50 watt against 500 watt driving light bulbs, which will be louder? I am attempting to help you see the relationships.

Direct answer, if you only need 50 watts (most folks actually use under 200 to gig), 50 watts from a 50 watt amp is just as loud as 50 watts from a 500 watt amp. If the crowd or room is larger you need more power and the speakers capable of converting that power. "Volume controls" are not indicators of wattage BTW.

Which do you think will be louder: A 4 ohm, one 12" speaker (in theory of course) pushed with 500 watts or four 12" speakers with 8 ohms total impedance driven with 350 watts? An undistorted sound or a distorted sound?