Anyone Have Advice About Using Neo-Loaded Cabs w/ Ceramic-Loaded Cabs?

[Count Bassie]

I have an old Schroeder 1210R cab, 850 Watts @4 ohms, the speakers of which have ceramic magnets. My amplifier handles a 2 ohm load, so I'm considering hooking it up with another 4 ohm cab, the same model only with neo speakers (1210L), the power rating of which is 700w @4 ohms.
Is there any reason I should not do this, or should expect results that are less than ideal?

 

[Clark W]

I have an old Schroeder 1210R cab, 850 Watts at 4 ohms. My amplifier handles a 2 ohm load, so I'm considering hooking it up with another 4 ohm cab, the same model only with neo speakers (1210L). The 1210R has ceramics.
Is there any reason I should not do this, or should expect results that are less than ideal?

as long as the amp is 2 ohm capable, no reason you can't hook up two 4 ohm cabs to it. How well they work, sound together can only be answered by doing it. But there's no danger in trying them out.

 

[Count Bassie]

as long as the amp is 2 ohm capable, no reason you can't hook up two 4 ohm cabs to it. How well they work, sound together can only be answered by doing it. But there's no danger in trying them out.

Yep, kinda wanting to get an experience with this formula. I have to have it shipped, so I'd like to hear about someone's success... But the price is right, so I'm hopeful.

 

[agedhorse]

It depends entirely on the specific drivers, generalizations can't be made because it's no different than mixing 2 different ceramic drivers or 2 different Neo drivers.

Try it, if you like the results than it's good, if you don't like it than it's bad.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Speaker count, sensitivity and cab design can all affect compatibility. Whether the speaker magnets are neo or ferrite should not.

 

[Count Bassie]

Thanks @agedhorse.

 

[toughluck]

About the only difference will be the weight of the cabinets. Any other considerations like voicing derive much more from speaker and cabinet design than from the magnetic material.

Caveat: Since rare earth magnets are smaller and lighter for the same magnetic field strength, it informs speaker design. Going against these considerations would be wasteful and expensive, so nobody does it.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I have an old Schroeder 1210R cab, 850 Watts @4 ohms, the speakers of which have ceramic magnets. My amplifier handles a 2 ohm load, so I'm considering hooking it up with another 4 ohm cab, the same model only with neo speakers (1210L), the power rating of which is 700w @4 ohms.
Is there any reason I should not do this, or should expect results that are less than ideal?

I do that sometimes.
It dependent more on how the two cabinets are voiced. My Mesa cabinet (neo) is more full ranged while the Aguilar (ceramic) is more mid scooped by means of the crossover.

n this configuration it works best. The Aggie on top does not drown out the Mesa yet adds a fatness and some Foster horn clank if I want it and lets the amp run at a higher wattage producing more volume. If you like how they sound together is the important part. It’s not about magnetic type. No one is going to be able to direct you there unless they have the same combination.

 

[Count Bassie]

Caveat: Since rare earth magnets are smaller and lighter for the same magnetic field strength, it informs speaker design. Going against these considerations would be wasteful and expensive, so nobody does it.

Against these considerations? Did that imply that the speaker designs are different enough to be potentially incompatible, or to have phase cancellation at unfortunate frequencies?...

 

[DJ Bebop]

Against these considerations? Did that imply that the speaker designs are different enough to be potentially incompatible, or to have phase cancellation at unfortunate frequencies?...

I guess I missed the part where you will have the same speaker cabinets from the same company only one with neos and one with ceramics. Again it will depend on how the cabinets are voiced. If they are similar they might blend together well. Only one way to find out is to hear them. I would not think they would have phase cancellations at different frequencies but who knows, it is possible.

 

[agedhorse]

Against these considerations? Did that imply that the speaker designs are different enough to be potentially incompatible, or to have phase cancellation at unfortunate frequencies?...

No, that's not an issue between Neo and Ceramic, though it can be an issue where the designs are so different electro-acoustically that they become incompatable (this applies to ALL driver designs, including Neo to Neo, Ceramic to Ceramic and Neo to Ceramic)

 

[Count Bassie]

No, that's not an issue between Neo and Ceramic, though it can be an issue where the designs are so different electro-acoustically that they become incompatable (this applies to ALL driver designs, including Neo to Neo, Ceramic to Ceramic and Neo to Ceramic)

Ok. The two cabs in question are, I believe, of identical design and size, so I'm figuring it'll just be a matter of deciding if I like what I hear.

 

[Count Bassie]

I guess I missed the part where you will have the same speaker cabinets from the same company only one with neos and one with ceramics. Again it will depend on how the cabinets are voiced. If they are similar they might blend together well. Only one way to find out is to hear them. I would not think they would have phase cancellations at different frequencies but who knows, it is possible.

I believe they are essentially the same cabs, one with neos and the other with ceramics.
I am hopeful.

 

[mikeswals]

Instead of taking this gamble, why not just search out another of your exact same cabinet.

A good deal could just end up being a bit of some money loss trying to recoup later.

 

[logdrum]

Talk to Schroeder I think he is an easily approachable and he may have already done this and can give you insight

 

[toughluck]

Against these considerations? Did that imply that the speaker designs are different enough to be potentially incompatible, or to have phase cancellation at unfortunate frequencies?...

I only meant that since rare earth magnets are going to be lighter, designers will usually opt for lighter weight cones and baskets as well.

Ok. The two cabs in question are, I believe, of identical design and size, so I'm figuring it'll just be a matter of deciding if I like what I hear.

Hartke makes two lines, HD and HL, with exactly identical specs except for the magnet material, and the differences are significant (both weight and cost). But I don't hear people saying that the two lines have different sound.

 

[Count Bassie]

Instead of taking this gamble, why not just search out another of your exact same cabinet.

A good deal could just end up being a bit of some money loss trying to recoup later.

I don't mind that one of them is a little lighter...

 

[pepj]

I'd say pick one cab or the other.
Both are rated 700w plus...so volume shouldn't be the issue, imv.
Pick the one that sounds best.
Maybe record them 30ft from front of stage to see how well they travel.

 

[agedhorse]

I only meant that since rare earth magnets are going to be lighter, designers will usually opt for lighter weight cones and baskets as well.

Hartke makes two lines, HD and HL, with exactly identical specs except for the magnet material, and the differences are significant (both weight and cost). But I don't hear people saying that the two lines have different sound.

The choice of cone weight has absolutely nothing to do with the magnet material.

Different speakers can sound very similar, different and even radically different. This is due to choices made in the design and may also be unrelated to the magnet material.

 

[toughluck]

The choice of cone weight has absolutely nothing to do with the magnet material.

Of course.
I only meant that if the speaker designer is already asking a premium for a rare earth magnet, might as well ask a premium for lighter and stiffer cone material, although I'll grant that they won't shave that much off of weight in the first place. Baskets are almost universally aluminium with no real lighter alternatives (that anyone would advertise), so yeah.

Different speakers can sound very similar, different and even radically different. This is due to choices made in the design and may also be unrelated to the magnet material.

Absolutely true.

So what is your opinion on what people usually associate with neodymium speakers? That they sound more modern or brighter? Just the fact that they are more recent and thus there are no neodymium speakers that use older, inferior, materials?