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more volume!

D

drden

Nov 11, 2008
216
1
Troy, NY
#1
I have this amp. Read some of the description before helping.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-Combo-115-Bass-Combo?sku=481380

And was wondering if hooking it up to an external cab would be a significant increase in power. The description says it gives a 100 watt increase which is 33 percent more volume. I don't understand all the talk of ohms and whatnot. could i just replace the speaker inside it and that would be the equivalent of hooking it up to an external cab?
 
#2
drden said:
I have this amp. Read some of the description before helping.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-Combo-115-Bass-Combo?sku=481380

And was wondering if hooking it up to an external cab would be a significant increase in power. The description says it gives a 100 watt increase which is 33 percent more volume. I don't understand all the talk of ohms and whatnot. could i just replace the speaker inside it and that would be the equivalent of hooking it up to an external cab?
Click to expand...

Significant increase..........NO

Going from 200 to 300 watts is not a 33% increase in volume.

If you were to double your watts, you would see approx 3db increase in output.

However, you will see an increase with the addition of more speaker area moving air. Not significant, but it will be slightly noticeable.
 
#5
You really want to move more air to make things louder. Finding a 2 OHM speaker would be tough and yes it would be slightly louder pushing 100 extra watts to it, but not like the improvement of adding another 15" cab to it. BOB
 
#6
rbonner said:
You really want to move more air to make things louder. Finding a 2 OHM speaker would be tough and yes it would be slightly louder pushing 100 extra watts to it, but not like the improvement of adding another 15" cab to it. BOB
Click to expand...

So you say I should add an external 4 ohm 15? but I don't think I can run both speakers at the same time. would it still increase the volume?
 
#7
Kid, :rollno: ,if you want more volume, get a bigger amp, it's not rocket science! :D

What kind of music are you playing and what other instruments are in your band? This will help us find your solution. :)
 
#8
drden said:
So you say I should add an external 4 ohm 15? but I don't think I can run both speakers at the same time. would it still increase the volume?
Click to expand...

This is directly from the description on the MF page........

"200W @ 4-ohm internal speaker. 300W (2 ohms) when used with 4-ohm external speaker"

That means that "when" you add another 4 ohm cab to the combo, you get the 300 watts. That means YES - you can add another cab and have the internal and the extra speaker working.

That is the ONLY way you are going to see any volume increase from that amp.
 
#9
By hooking up a second speaker at 4 ohms, the total load drops to 2 ohms and power output increases from 200 watts to 300, split between the two speakers (150 watts each). So you get a very small drop in power to the internal speaker, which wouldn't likely be noticeable, but some extra decibels from the external speaker. If it's efficient at converting watts to SPL, it should make a solid increase in your volume. To get more than that you'll need more cabs (the Peavey could drive two 8-ohm external cabs), more amp or both.
 
#10
Believe me, if I could I would get a bigger amp, but i just happened to see something about the amp I have and thought I could squeeze a little more out of it.
My band has Drums, Bass, Guitar and vocals. we do some zep covers and play original Rock / Reggae tunes
 
#13
drden said:
So hooking up 2 8 ohm cabs would give me more volume than one 4 ohm cab?
Click to expand...

I'll say it for the 3rd time...................

You get an increase in volume from increased speaker surface area. This means more speakers=more volume.

Do the math..............one speaker cab at 4 ohms, or 2 speaker cabs at 8 ohms each.

As long as we are talking the same type of cabs (not a 4X10 4 ohm cab vs. 2 8 ohm single speaker cabs), you will get more from 2 cabs than one.
 
#14
drden said:
So hooking up 2 8 ohm cabs would give me more volume than one 4 ohm cab?
Click to expand...

Maybe, but not enough to make a real world difference, given the music you are doing. A lot depends on the sensitivity, efficiency and frequency response of said cabinets. The reggae, especially, would require lots of bottom end and more volume than the Peavey will give you. The difference from 200 watts to 300 watts is barely an audible difference, in and of itself. To double the perceived volume you need ten times the amplifier power (10dB); to most people, doubling the power, say, from 200 watts to 400 watts (3dB), is a just noticeable difference in volume increase.
 
#15
drden said:
So hooking up 2 8 ohm cabs would give me more volume than one 4 ohm cab?
Click to expand...

Not neccessarily, but if you have an amp that is rated at 200 watts at 4 ohms & 300 @ 2 ohms...if you hook up another 4 ohm cab you will make the total load 2 ohms...thus utilizing all 300 watts as opposed to the 200 you are using now. You'll need to get another 4 ohm cab otherwise you might blow something up...
 
#16
Try putting your combo against a wall (in a corner if possible) for more low-end output. The walls will reflect the low-frequencies since they travel in all directions, not just out the front of the speaker cone.

Your best bet: Take your amp to the store, plug in a second 15inch cabinet and see what it sounds like.
 
#18
300 watts is a toy, I own bigger lightbulbs. Dont waste the money on an extra speaker. The inexpensive kickass amp in town is the ACOUSTIC B600 and B810 cab for $1100 at GC. Keep the toy for a bedroom amp or hand it down to your little brother. BOB
 

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