ohm understanding

[Rhon]

So i read the forums about adding a 2x10 to a 4x10 setup and that its a big no no unless the impedance is doubled. for example if i have a 4x10 with an 8 ohm load and a 2x10 with a 16 ohm load then the distribution of power will be equal. so the ohm would be 5.33 right? can amps handle odd number ohm loads?

what if the 2x10 has 2 16 ohm speakers that make an 8 ohm load and the 4x10 has an 8 ohm load so my amp will see a 4 ohm load would the power be even or would i have to wire the 2 speakers separate so that they hold their 16 ohm impedance but still see a total of a 4 ohm load?

 

[dincz]

so the ohm would be 5.33 right? can amps handle odd number ohm loads?

No problem. The only limit is the minimum load the amp will drive.

what if the 2x10 has 2 16 ohm speakers that make an 8 ohm load and the 4x10 has an 8 ohm load so my amp will see a 4 ohm load would the power be even

In that case the power will be evenly divided between the two CABS but not evenly divided between the 6 speakers.

 

[BassmanPaul]

If the 2x10 is 8Ω and the 4x10 is 4Ω then the balance is preserved and the amp sees 2.67Ω. The amp would have to be stable with a 2Ω load.

 

[skychief]

what if the 2x10 has 2 16 ohm speakers that make an 8 ohm load and the 4x10 has an 8 ohm load so my amp will see a 4 ohm load would the power be even or would i have to wire the 2 speakers separate so that they hold their 16 ohm impedance but still see a total of a 4 ohm load?

This configuration would present a 4 ohm load to the amp. you wouldn't need to wire the cabs seperately.

Its generally not a good idea to mix CAB impedances,, i.e. a 4 ohm cab & an 8 ohm cab.. even if your amp can handle the combined load impedance (2.7 ohms). This will cause an inbalance of power to the cabs, and the lower impedance cab will be doing the "heavy lifting" and likely start farting before your desired volume is reached.

 

[Bass_Pounder]

Its generally not a good idea to mix CAB impedances,, i.e. a 4 ohm cab & an 8 ohm cab.. even if your amp can handle the combined load impedance (2.7 ohms). This will cause an inbalance of power to the cabs, and the lower impedance cab will be doing the "heavy lifting" and likely start farting before your desired volume is reached.

That is only when each cab has the equal number of drivers.

When mixing a 2X10 with a 4X10 it is a necessity to have unmatched impedance so that each speaker in the whole system recieves equal power.

 

[Rhon]

could i wire the the speakers so it has 2 16 ohm loads and have the 4x10 (8ohm) and plug it all together to get a 4 ohm load but have the speakers receive equal power? so basically it would be 1 16ohm speaker plugged into the 4x10 cab and another 16 ohm speaker plugged into the 4x10 cab then plugged into the amp, is this a possible set up?

 

[Rhon]

When mixing a 2X10 with a 4X10 it is a necessity to have unmatched impedance so that each speaker in the whole system receives equal power.

that is what i read, that a 4x10(8ohm) and a 2x10(16 ohm) would be a good setup because the speakers would receive equal power.

but i have an 8ohm 2x10 and 4x10 (8ohm) but the speakers in the 2x10 are 16 ohm speakers wired to get an 8ohm load.

so my question is if i separate the load on the speakers so that they are both 16 ohm it would be basically a 1x10 16 ohm and another 1x10 16 ohm INSTEAD of a 2x10 8 ohm cab would doing this fix the power distribution issue when i add my 8 ohm 4x10 cab. will all six speakers receive equal power by doing this or is this the same as an 8 ohm cab with another 8 ohm cab and it isnt worth the effort?

 

[Bass_Pounder]

that is what i read, that a 4x10(8ohm) and a 2x10(16 ohm) would be a good setup because the speakers would receive equal power.

but i have an 8ohm 2x10 and 4x10 (8ohm) but the speakers in the 2x10 are 16 ohm speakers wired to get an 8ohm load.

so my question is if i separate the load on the speakers so that they are both 16 ohm it would be basically a 1x10 16 ohm and another 1x10 16 ohm INSTEAD of a 2x10 8 ohm cab would doing this fix the power distribution issue when i add my 8 ohm 4x10 cab. will all six speakers receive equal power by doing this or is this the same as an 8 ohm cab with another 8 ohm cab and it isnt worth the effort?

Connecting 2 seperate 16 ohm speakers is exactly the same as connecting the one 8 ohm cab.

 

[Rhon]

thank you thats what i wanted to know but wasnt sure if that was correct