- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,075
- 5
- 221,153
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
IMO, the 212 will be louder, go lower and handle more REAL WORLD power.
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Debating on 4 or 8 ohms
- Thread starter Eekum
- Start date
Thanks.
A buddy of mine wants to sell me his GK CX410 (4 ohms), handles 800w but I feel like that is overkill lol.
I happen to have the same amp and cab combo, which I've never felt lacking in volume or tone. But I play in a moderate-volume situation (R&B with a reasonable drummer). I only go into the PA when we play an outdoor gig.
It'll sound different. Whether it sounds better is something subjective that only you can decide. If efficiency is the same, the 212 will be louder. (The GK you're looking at is very efficient, but not all 212s are; I don't know about the efficiency of the Carvin you have.) A more efficient 210 could potentially be louder than an inefficient 212.
How does the Carvin cab suit your volume needs?
Although perhaps the reason you need two amps to properly drive 2 212 4 ohm cabs is due to Behringer's notoriously "optimistic" power ratings on their gear, whereas GK's specs are more grounded in reality.
Just my opinion, but I would get 8 ohms. Yes, you should technically be able to get more power out of your amp with the 4 ohm cab, but if you're not diming it, you aren't going to get there anyways. I think you'll have an easier time selling it later if it's 8 because a lot of people like to stack and not everyone has a 2 ohm or 2.66 ohm capable amp.
I have never had to crank the volume going through the Carvin to be honest. It handles the low end pretty well and I feel meets my volume needs. I just didn't know if a 212 would give a better sound.
I really love the sound of that 212 myself. I like it better than the 410s I was comparing it with when I bought it. I play pretty frequently out of an old Ampeg 215 at our rehersal space. The Ampeg has a great low end, but the 212 is punchier, more forward and clear in the highs, and weighs less than half of the Ampeg. The Ampeg does sound great but I get a much better range of tones from the 212 (it does have a tweeter with an on-off switch, usually off.) The 212 responds to EQ from my WD-800 beautifully and has a much flatter frequency response to my ears.
If the 210 meets your volume needs, that particular 212 should have no problems from that standpoint.
Nice try, but it is because his amp can only go down to 4 ohms and if he hooked up his other cab he would be creating an illegal load of 2 ohms causing the death of his amp.
Nothing to do with their Watts Of Power.
I will just echo this by saying that I've been playing live with two 4-ohm cabs for 15+ years now and have never had a problem finding amps to power them. It does limit your options, but there certainly is no shortage of powerful bass amps out there these days. Plus, for someone who is open to pre/power setups this is entirely a non-issue.
Burwabit
Likes guitars that tune good and firm feelin women
perhaps not volume, although there is a difference, but in tone.
This. today, there are more 2 ohm capable amps, and dual channel power amps that can handle 2 four ohm loads. I myself power two 4 ohm 115's with a Genz Shuttlemax 12.2. When not doing that, I use a 4 ohm, Genzler 212T cab. If the op is certain a 212 cab is all that he needs, go for the 4 ohm. Maybe not a night and day difference in volume, but it may be just enough more volume to get through a louder gig. Imho, there is a discernable difference in tone or " feel " with 4 ohm cabs, but that is another can of worms.
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I'm not sure of the numbers but I recall the Carvin having a very high efficiency rating. It's rare that I run my MB 500 through it at more than 50% on master and gain. Of course YMMV since you're in a rock band and I'm playing R&B.
I have the same head. With my 8 ohm 4x10 (SWR Golight) cab - which I'll be using tonight on the gig - I have never run the master above 10 o'clock. Just a bit less with my 4 ohm, 2 single 15 rig. And my drummer is not a shrinking violet, he's loud enough that I wear earplugs in my right ear, which is something I've never had to do before.
I have not been so happy about an amp since I got my old ST-220 back in 1990. The MB500 is simply phenomenal.
But anyhow, if I'm you I get the 8-ohm 212 cab, and if for some reason you need more, you can use another cab. I can't imagine that you would ever need more, but hey, anything is possible.
BTW, I tried my head with both the 8 and 4 ohm version of the 410 Golight and there's really not any discernible difference in volume.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,075
- 5
- 221,153
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
If you compared the 8 ohm 210 to the 4 ohm 410, you would get a different result which is what I suggested earlier with my 8 ohm 112 versus 4 ohm 212.
I don't think you're going to get "better" out of a 2x12 vs. your 2x10. You'll just get "different", which may or may not be more pleasing to you. In terms of capabilities, it's a wash.
I personally really like the sound of my GK MB212 combo, but the truth is I bought it instead of a 2x10 because it's a more comfortable height to sit on, while still weighing significantly less than a 4x10. Such is the decision tree of an old and cranky musician.
I personally really like the sound of my GK MB212 combo, but the truth is I bought it instead of a 2x10 because it's a more comfortable height to sit on, while still weighing significantly less than a 4x10. Such is the decision tree of an old and cranky musician.
Okay, so here's my take... If you plan on getting a second cab down the road, get an 8. That said, what I've found is that with my GK Fusion 550 with a 4 ohm Schroeder 1212l (700w 2 12 & horn) has all the power I will ever need with headroom to spare. A 4 ohm works for me.
As for that argument that the volume increase is almost undetectable, that has NOT been my experience. I found the 4 ohm increase to be significant enough that I got rid of an 8 for the 4. When I had my 800rb it was the difference in keeping up with the rest of the band.
As for that argument that the volume increase is almost undetectable, that has NOT been my experience. I found the 4 ohm increase to be significant enough that I got rid of an 8 for the 4. When I had my 800rb it was the difference in keeping up with the rest of the band.
I think the real question is why are you looking to replace the Carvin if it "sounds pretty great"? No doubt a good 212 would move more air but that might not be what you're looking for. If you need more volume the 212 would deliver that.
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I've personally found a different sound to come via changing from brand to brand rather than changing speaker size.
Because GAS, man!
I put 2 Eminence Delta Pro 10" 8ohm speakers in my Peavey 210TX, making it 4 ohms, 750 watts RMS, to use with my Ampeg SVT PRO 3, which is rated 475 watts RMS at 4 ohms. I've wished ever since that I'd used 16 ohm speakers to make it an 8 ohm cabinet, so that I could use another cab with it, to move more air. The 210TX handles the power just fine, but another cab would be nice.
