I need help wiring my custom bass cab!

[RyanChandler]

Hello everyone! So I built a custom bass cabinet and I've filled it with two 15 inch Eminence Deltas (4 ohms a piece) and two 10 inch Eminence Deltas (16 ohms a piece). Each is separately baffled and living comfortably in their new enclosures. I'll be playing my Darkglass Alpha Omega 900 at 4 ohms through this cab.

I have never wired a cab before (this is my first foray into building) and I'm having trouble understanding what this schematic is supposed to look like. I know I need to wire the two tens in parallel and the two 15s in series to achieve 4 ohms but I'm unclear on how they connect to each other and then to the jack. I'm also unclear on what jack I should get and how many poles it should have (no Speakons please). I would be forever grateful if someone could possibly draw me a rough schematic of what this will look like. I'm a very visual learner and this would be massively helpful! I appreciate any and all help!

 

[mmbongo]

This is already a non-starter because you said 'no Speakons'.

Your amp ONLY has Speakons so you will have to use Speakons. This is the only right way to do it. Make sure to use ACTUAL Speakons by Neutrik.

As far as the wiring. What would I do? Honestly, I would forget about the 10's and run the 15's in parallel at 2 ohms. Your amp supports 2 ohm and it will perform better without the 10's holding you back.

 

[RyanChandler]

I run a Speakon to quarter inch. It works great. I already have the 10s and the cab is already built. I know that everyone has opinions and preferences regarding speaker size, mixing speakers, etc., I'm simply looking for a solution for my wiring setup.

 

[abarson]

The way you've described it, all speakers are running full range, as you don't mention a crossover for segregating frequencies. Is that intentional?

 

[WRM]

Wire the 15s in series = 8 Ohms
Wire the 10s in parallel = 8 Ohms
Wire the pairs in parallel = 4 Ohm total load.

 

[WRM]

Very crude diagram....

 

[RyanChandler]

The way you've described it, all speakers are running full range, as you don't mention a crossover for segregating frequencies. Is that intentional?

Not sure what you mean. I've baffled the two 15s individually and the 10s as a set. Is that what you mean?

 

[RyanChandler]

Very crude diagram....
View attachment 7059325

Thanks WRM! This is what I'm looking for. I appreciate it.

 

[WRM]

Thanks WRM! This is what I'm looking for. I appreciate it.

(scratch initial reply) My pleasure!...

 

[abarson]

Not sure what you mean. I've baffled the two 15s individually and the 10s as a set. Is that what you mean?

When building a cabinet with different sized speakers, usually they are divided by what part of the spectrum they are designed to handle best:
woofer -> lows
midrange -> mids
tweeter -> highs

In order to separate frequencies and direct them to their appropriate speaker, a crossover unit is employed.
If all four of your speakers are expected to receive and reproduce all frequencies, no crossover is needed.

 

[Hasty]

I run a Speakon to quarter inch.

If you're building from the ground up, I'd highly recommend considering a SpeakOn connection if you're pushing more than 300W.

A 1/4' option works fine until it doesn't... and the doesn't part usually involves voltage to something you might not want voltage to go to.

 

[agedhorse]

If you're building from the ground up, I'd highly recommend considering a SpeakOn connection if you're pushing more than 300W.

A 1/4' option works fine until it doesn't... and the doesn't part usually involves voltage to something you might not want voltage to go to.

When it doesn’t, it can also damage the amp when the tip and sleeve short in the barrel of most jacks.

Combining different speakers (size or different TS parameters) without designing around the speaker’s phase characteristics in the cabinet(s) generally results in unpredictable results.

Who did the cabinet design, and did they have the driver’s TS parameters? What drivers do you have and do you have the TS parameters?

 

[Wasnex]

I am assuming all four drivers are being run full-range.

Wiring the 4 ohm drivers in series and the 16 ohm drivers in parallel (see post #6) will provide a 4 ohm total load. In this configuration the four drivers will share power equally. AFAIK the Alpha Omega 900 is rated 900W at 4 ohms, so each driver will receive 225W if the amp is pushed to full power.

Was any modeling done to determine how much power each section of the cab can actually handle? The mechanical power handling below 100hz depends on both the driver's specs and how the cab is tuned. Often mechanical power handling is less than the drivers' RMS power rating; sometimes by a significant amount.

If there is a notable differential in power handling, it could be useful to consider other wiring options. However, the first priority is making sure the impedance of the cab does not dip below the amp's minimum impedance rating...so the only other reasonable choice would be series/parallel. Wire the 16 ohm drivers in series for 32 ohms. Wire the 4 ohm drivers in series for 8 ohms. Place both circuits in parallel for 6.4 ohms total load.

With this configuration, I believe the amp will make a bit less power and the 8 ohm drivers will receive 2/3rds of the available power.

Let's work up how much power each driver will get. Since the Alpha Omega 900 is rated 450W at 8 ohms, let's estimate that it will make about 562W at 6.4 ohms. Divide this by 3 shares. 562/3 = 187.33W per share. The pair of 15s get two shares (2 x 187.33 = 374.67W). The pair of 10s get one share (187.33W). Each 15 gets 187.33W and each 10 gets 93.67W.

Series Parallel could also be useful for matching levels if the 10s have a higher sensitivity rating than the 15s.

You didn't mention the models, so I will guess:

• Sensitivity of Delta 15-4 = 95dB 1W/1m
• Sensitivity of Delta 10B = 98dB 1W/1m

In series parallel, the 15s will receive double the power of the 10s. Double the power results in +3dB.

For example at 6W total system power

• Each Delta 15-4 receives 2W and makes 98dB
• Each Delta 10B receives 1W and makes 98dB

 

[Derek Kay]

I am assuming all four drivers are being run full-range.

Wiring the 4 ohm drivers in series and the 16 ohm drivers in parallel (see post #6) will provide a 4 ohm total load. In this configuration the four drivers will share power equally. AFAIK the Alpha Omega 900 is rated 900W at 4 ohms, so each driver will receive 225W if the amp is pushed to full power.

Was any modeling done to determine how much power each section of the cab can actually handle? The mechanical power handling below 100hz depends on both the driver's specs and how the cab is tuned. Often mechanical power handling is less than the drivers' RMS power rating; sometimes by a significant amount.

If there is a notable differential in power handling, it could be useful to consider other wiring options. However, the first priority is making sure the impedance of the cab does not dip below the amp's minimum impedance rating...so the only other reasonable choice would be series/parallel. Wire the 16 ohm drivers in series for 32 ohms. Wire the 4 ohm drivers in series for 8 ohms. Place both circuits in parallel for 6.4 ohms total load.

With this configuration, I believe the amp will make a bit less power and the 8 ohm drivers will receive 2/3rds of the available power.

Let's work up how much power each driver will get. Since the Alpha Omega 900 is rated 450W at 8 ohms, let's estimate that it will make about 562W at 6.4 ohms. Divide this by 3 shares. 562/3 = 187.33W per share. The pair of 15s get two shares (2 x 187.33 = 374.67W). The pair of 10s get one share (187.33W). Each 15 gets 187.33W and each 10 gets 93.67W.

Series Parallel could also be useful for matching levels if the 10s have a higher sensitivity rating than the 15s.

You didn't mention the models, so I will guess:

• Sensitivity of Delta 15-4 = 95dB 1W/1m
• Sensitivity of Delta 10B = 98dB 1W/1m

In series parallel, the 15s will receive double the power of the 10s. Double the power results in +3dB.

For example at 6W total system power

• Each Delta 15-4 receives 2W and makes 98dB
• Each Delta 10B receives 1W and makes 98dB

This is the best choice for me.

The 10" speakers will not get stressed with excess low freq wattage, yet should still contribute higher freqs, and enable sufficient wattage at 6.4 ohms for most jobs.
I'd happily play it, but not lift it..

Otherwise, a crossover or biamp situation
Most big rigs use a variety of speaker sizes for their enhanced spectrum.

 

[agedhorse]

Most big rigs use crossovers…

 

[bigtone23]

I will just support any suggestion to use Speakon. It really is a superior connector for speaker cabs, not only for the much bigger surface contact between the connector and the jack, but also in being much more safe when the power starts going up.

 

[Pulverizor]

Reconsider using speakons mate, 1/4" could potentially destroy ALL your speakers AND the amp!

Very crude diagram....
View attachment 7059325

On the 10's side just connect the speakers + to + and - to - then run one speaker to the SPEAKON to save wire.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Eminence uses 0.205” spades on their terminal board for connecting to the speaker. This female connector is what you crimp your wire to. The crimping tool on the page below is also good to buy. Use 14 or 16 gauge wire.

0.205" (16-14) Female Disconnect Crimp Terminal Blue 50 Pcs.

0.205" (16-14) Female Disconnect Crimp Terminal Blue 50 Pcs.These push-on terminals are commonly used with many loudspeaker drivers. Accepts 14-16 gauge wire. 50 pieces per package.

www.parts-express.com

You will need a dish or plate to mount the jack(s) on. One option is below. Buy the gasket amd black mounting fasteners. They also have prepunched speakon dishes. A better way to go. You don’t want a jack with a high powered amp (over 300W), you want a speakon for safety.

CLEARANCE Penn-Elcom D0938K Dish Two 1/4" Jacks Black 4" x 4-3/8"

Penn-Elcom D0938K Dish Two 1/4" Jacks Black 4" x 4-3/8"Steel dish pre-punched for mounting two 1/4" phone jacks . Constructed of heavy-duty 1.2 mm/0.047" steel. Black powdercoat finish.Specifications: • Dimensions: 4" x 4-3/8" • Requires 2-7/8" x 3-1/4" cutout • Penn model D0938K.

www.parts-express.com

Jacks

Switchcraft 11 1/4" Mono Jack with Nut & Washer

Switchcraft 11 1/4" Mono Jack with Nut & WasherSwitchcraft's 1/4" Littel phone jack has a single open circuit with 2 conductors. Little jacks mate with standard commercial phone plugs. Includes a nut and a washer. Mfg. #11.

www.parts-express.com

Don’t forget some feet and corners as well as mounting hardware.

My best advice for cabinet design. Find one the meets your needs and base your cab on that.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Hello everyone! So I built a custom bass cabinet and I've filled it with two 15 inch Eminence Deltas (4 ohms a piece) and two 10 inch Eminence Deltas (16 ohms a piece). Each is separately baffled and living comfortably in their new enclosures. I'll be playing my Darkglass Alpha Omega 900 at 4 ohms through this cab.

I have never wired a cab before (this is my first foray into building) and I'm having trouble understanding what this schematic is supposed to look like. I know I need to wire the two tens in parallel and the two 15s in series to achieve 4 ohms but I'm unclear on how they connect to each other and then to the jack. I'm also unclear on what jack I should get and how many poles it should have (no Speakons please). I would be forever grateful if someone could possibly draw me a rough schematic of what this will look like. I'm a very visual learner and this would be massively helpful! I appreciate any and all help!

Reminds me of this…

No thank you

 

[agedhorse]

16 gauge wiring is plenty, 14 and larger can place enough strain on the speaker’s terminals to break them if not careful.