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Need a 15, different ohm speakers in same cabinet possible?

johnfitz44

johnfitz44

Nov 27, 2007
45
1
Columbus, OH
#1
I have a blown voice coil in a 15" speaker in a hybrid cabinet (Ampeg cabinet, one 10, and one 15). I replaced both speakers getting this cab up and running about a year ago. Both speakers are replacement speakers and are/were 16 ohms run parallel? series? can't remember. Total load with a volt meter was around 8ohms though. Anyway, the neo 10" speaker is still good (bought it off TB). Can I put an 8 ohm 15" speaker in the cabinet with the 16ohm 10" as long as the total load is above 4ohms? I use a GK 700RBII. Is it bad for the cabinet since one speaker seems like it will be working harder than the other? Hard to find 16 ohm 15" speakers especially on the used market.
 
#2
An 8 ohm speaker in parallel with a 16 ohm speaker will yield an overall impedance of 5.33 ohms. I assume your GK 700 will drive a 4 ohm load? If so, you will be OK. It won't hurt the cabinet or your amp in any way. However, the relative loudness of the two individual speakers may not be balanced to your liking. I can't tell you it will sound better, worse or the same as your previous setup. You'll just have to try it out, I guess.
 
#4
johnfitz44 said:
Just curious, which speaker in that scenario will be louder?
Click to expand...

It depends on the efficiencies of the two speakers - their SPL ratios. The 8 ohm speaker will be getting 2/3 of the total power the amp is putting out. If the two speakers are of identical efficiency, the 8 ohm speaker will be 3 dB louder. To the human ear, this will sound about a third louder (10dB is perceived as being twice as loud). But this is only if the two speakers have identical SPL ratios, which is unlikely.
 
#5
johnfitz44 said:
Can I put an 8 ohm 15" speaker in the cabinet with the 16ohm 10"
Click to expand...
That depends on whether or not there's a crossover. In theory there should be, but should be and reality seldom meet in the world of bass cabs. :hmm:
If there is a crossover the original driver impedance must be adhered to, preferably along with all the other driver parameters that the cabinet design should have been built around. But there's that 'should' again.
 

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