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Can I make my rig louder without a new head?

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poobone

May 25, 2009
17
0
#1
Hey guys I'd like a little advice if you could be so kind.

I've got an Ampeg B2R solid state head that will push 350 watts. That's going into a Carvin 400 Watt 2x10 cabinet. Now at band practice (new band, only played together a few times) you can hear it okay but the volume on the head has to be CRANKED! We were going to try setting the cabinet up higher, closer to ear level to see if that helps, which I'm sure it will, but in terms of just pure volume, if I were to add another 2x10 or a 1x15 cab, will that help or will the sound be split evenly between the two cabs making basically the same amount of sound through more speakers?
 
#9
Yes, get another cab! I'd got for another 2x10 (I don't like mixing driver types), and stack them vertically.

Also, most 2x10s are either 8 or 4 ohms, I'm sure that's what you meant Joe ;)

If you current cab is 8 ohms, buy another 8 ohm 2x10, stack them, get the full 350 watts, and you're golden!
 
#11
Joe Murray said:
I think you may be under powering the 2X10 you have now. I believe the B2R you have now is 350 watts at 4 ohms. I assume the cab you have is 2 ohms. Add another (2 ohm) cab (2X10 or 1X15) to take advantage of the full 350 watts.
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IF he had a 2 ohm cab and added a second 2 ohm cab that would be a 1 ohm load to the the amp and the only sound you will hear is the amp head frying! :eyebrow::help:
 
#13
A 1x15 (8-ohm, most are 8) would be a great addition. One of my favorite cab setups (and I've probably tried every 3/4-full stack combo possible) was the 2x10/1x15.

Sometimes the quality of electronics in your bass can effect the volume level. Years ago I was using an Ibanez SR series (which I had to crank every knob on it to full to get much tone out of) with active electronics and my buddy with a Warwick plugged into my setup and had a huge, obviously noticeable, clean volume increase. After that I was inclined to get a more high end bass.
 
#14
Joe Murray said:
I think you may be under powering the 2X10 you have now. I believe the B2R you have now is 350 watts at 4 ohms. I assume the cab you have is 2 ohms. Add another (2 ohm) cab (2X10 or 1X15) to take advantage of the full 350 watts.
Click to expand...

Don't quit the day job for an exciting career in audio.
 
#17
Some of those Carvin cabs are really inefficient- meaning that they need alot of power to put out a moderate amount of volume. A long time ago, I used a 1x15 + 2x10 Carvin stack with either a 300 watt amp or a 1200 watt amp- neither amp really got the volume I needed from those cabs. The same amps through an Ampeg 8x10 cab were both ear-splitting loud though, so I sold the Carvin cabs...I would recommend trying your amp through some different cabs before settling on any combination involving the one you have- it may just be eating up all your amplifiers power.
 
#18
sunbeast said:
Some of those Carvin cabs are really inefficient- meaning that they need alot of power to put out a moderate amount of volume. A long time ago, I used a 1x15 + 2x10 Carvin stack with either a 300 watt amp or a 1200 watt amp- neither amp really got the volume I needed from those cabs. The same amps through an Ampeg 8x10 cab were both ear-splitting loud though, so I sold the Carvin cabs...I would recommend trying your amp through some different cabs before settling on any combination involving the one you have- it may just be eating up all your amplifiers power.
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The drivers in the Carvin cabs are just as sensitive per driver as ones in the majority of other cabs around, and probably with the SVT drivers there is no notable difference either.

The major difference is that a given amount of output signal into more drivers will be louder.
 
#19
One 2x10 cab just isn't enough in most full bands. You need more speaker area. Plus, 2x10's tend to not be able to handle a lot bass on their own forcing you to cut the bass to get more volume. I'd recommend the a 1x15 cab. You will honestly find that a 1x15 stands alone better than a 2x10 if the 1x15 can handle the power. I use 1x15 for live and practice in both of my bands. Both bands are louder rock bands. My cab is rated at 600 watts though.
 
#20
Thanks for all the replies guys. Can someone explain to me the ohms and wattage relationship between a head and cab? I haven't put together a stack in years so I'm pretty rusty. I know that ohms are a measure of resistance to the current going to the speaker.

So for instance, my head is 350W at 4 ohms, 200W at 8ohms. The cab I have is 400W at 4 ohms. So if I were to add another 4 ohm cabinet, would the power be split evenly between the two, or does each cab get the full 350W? What if I add an 8 ohm cabinet rated at 200W or something like that? How does the distribution work between multiple cabinets and various impedance?

Sorry for the noob questions guys it really has been years since I've put a rig together.
 

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