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Ohms FAQ

my guitarist has an ampeg V5 that has the switchable option to run at 4,8,or 16ohms. we'd like to run two cabs out of the head, but right now we have 3 cabs that run at 4, 8, and 16 respectively. can he use two of these cabs with the head? which ones/what rating should the head be set at?

The 8 and 16 ohm cabs connected in parallel would be a calculated nominal impedance of 5.3333... ohms which, in theory, would be safe on the 4 ohm tap.

However it may sound a bit odd due to the power distribution between the two cabs.
 
my guitarist has an ampeg V5 that has the switchable option to run at 4,8,or 16ohms. we'd like to run two cabs out of the head, but right now we have 3 cabs that run at 4, 8, and 16 respectively. can he use two of these cabs with the head? which ones/what rating should the head be set at?

What kind of cabinets are they, i.e. how many speakers are in each cabinet?

There's a possibility that you could rewire the 4 Ohm cabinet to 16 Ohms, and then combine it with the other 16 Ohm cabinet for a total impedance of 8 Ohms.
 
all are 4x12s, a sunn 412sr (16 ohms), sovtek 4x12 (8 ohms) and a peavey 412f (4 ohms). i'm not sure about the sunn, the previous owner told me he always ran it at 16 but i think it's an 8 ohm cab, which means that we could run the sovtek and the sunn together @ 8ohms each for a total load of 4ohms, right?
 
I've read many pages on about this topic but I couldn't seem to find exactly what I was looking for.

I have a LMIII which is rated 300W@ 8ohms and 500W@ 4ohms.
I'm ready to buy an Avatar cabinet but I'm just trying to finalize my specs since they're custom. I am looking to get a B212 which is rated at 500W. I'm sure I will add a 410 (which is rated at 1000W) eventually. Since this amp doesn't have a 2ohm option should i get the first cabinet at 8ohms so when it's time for the second it'll be an easy transition?

I'm looking at it as each cab getting 250W from the 4ohm option on the amp since both of them will be at 8 ohms, making 4 ohms total, correct?
 
I've read many pages on about this topic but I couldn't seem to find exactly what I was looking for.

I have a LMIII which is rated 300W@ 8ohms and 500W@ 4ohms.
I'm ready to buy an Avatar cabinet but I'm just trying to finalize my specs since they're custom. I am looking to get a B212 which is rated at 500W. I'm sure I will add a 410 (which is rated at 1000W) eventually. Since this amp doesn't have a 2ohm option should i get the first cabinet at 8ohms so when it's time for the second it'll be an easy transition?

I'm looking at it as each cab getting 250W from the 4ohm option on the amp since both of them will be at 8 ohms, making 4 ohms total, correct?

I'm not the read the stickies guy sooooo, yes, buy the 8ohm cab so you can then add a second 8ohm cab. The total load to the amp will then be 4ohms with the two 8ohm cabs hooked up.
Do not buy a 4ohm cab if you want to add a second cab later (you would have to sell the 4ohm cab before adding a second cab). :)
 
all are 4x12s, a sunn 412sr (16 ohms), sovtek 4x12 (8 ohms) and a peavey 412f (4 ohms). i'm not sure about the sunn, the previous owner told me he always ran it at 16 but i think it's an 8 ohm cab, which means that we could run the sovtek and the sunn together @ 8ohms each for a total load of 4ohms, right?

I did a quick check on google and everything I read said the Sunn 412F is an 8 ohm cab, so if that's true running with the Sovtek 8 ohm cab in parallel should be fine on the 4 ohm tap.
 
Great post,...
So I understand now that I can use my Avatar 2-10 (4 ohm) cab, with my Hartke 4-10 (8 ohm) cab, and will be using 2.667 ohms... My main concern was that I was gonna be frying something.
I am using my Ampeg PB800 head, which is rated at 800 watts @ 2 ohms, and 550 watts @ 4 ohms.
Does thi9s setup sound like I will have no problems?
 
Have to say I didn't read the whole thread, just the starting post but I have a question.

It is the case of Orange Terror Bass. This head has the switch to select 4ohm or 8ohm like many tube amps do. So if I have two 8ohm cabs connected where do I flick the switch? 4ohm or 8ohm?

I have ordered the Terror Bass and this is confusing me :confused:
 
Have to say I didn't read the whole thread, just the starting post but I have a question.

It is the case of Orange Terror Bass. This head has the switch to select 4ohm or 8ohm like many tube amps do. So if I have two 8ohm cabs connected where do I flick the switch? 4ohm or 8ohm?

I have ordered the Terror Bass and this is confusing me :confused:

Hi ninokoo.

I could guess, but I won't on anyone else's dime because I prefer to get the facts from product manuals--and since all the bass amp manuals links on Orange's web site appear to be broken, :hmm: your best bet for a definitive answer to your question would be to join the Orange forum and ask its moderator, "Let us know what you want to know and we'll help you out. Manuals are often non-existent in Orange-land." :eyebrow: bclaire for assistance:

Manual for the Terror Bass 500?

Let's hope that you never have to get a schematic from Orange...
 
What I keep wondering is what do that mumbo-jumbo above the 2 speakon connectors on Ampeg cabinets mean? It says something like "1 + =...". I guess it has something to do with parallel/series connection of the cabinets, but even with my IMVHO good/great understanding of audio electronics I can't really make sense of what they meant. :)

Hi Stuggi.

Which Ampeg cabinet?

The manual for the 810E has an explanation and diagrams which outline the various connections options for said cab.
 
What I keep wondering is what do that mumbo-jumbo above the 2 speakon connectors on Ampeg cabinets mean? It says something like "1 + =...". I guess it has something to do with parallel/series connection of the cabinets, but even with my IMVHO good/great understanding of audio electronics I can't really make sense of what they meant. :)

The speakons are 4 pole connectors and only two are used. pole 1+ to the pos from the amp, pole 1- to the neg. from the amp. Most cabs don't use the 2+,2- connections on the speakon. The four "poles" on speakons are identified as 1+,1- and 2+,2- . That help any?
 
Hi ninokoo.

I could guess, but I won't on anyone else's dime because I prefer to get the facts from product manuals--and since all the bass amp manuals links on Orange's web site appear to be broken, :hmm: your best bet for a definitive answer to your question would be to join the Orange forum and ask its moderator, "Let us know what you want to know and we'll help you out. Manuals are often non-existent in Orange-land." :eyebrow: bclaire for assistance:

Manual for the Terror Bass 500?

Let's hope that you never have to get a schematic from Orange...

Thank you for the response! I'll post my question to Orange forum and see if I have any luck.

I have been thinking this dilemma of mine and my conclusion has been that the switch should be in 4ohm setting with two 8ohm cabs. I think this puts 4ohms to each cab. On 8ohm setting it'll put 8ohm through each output. Just my two cents.
 
Amps don't load the cabs, they supply the power. The cabs load the amp so.....if you connect two 8 ohm cabs that will load the amp at 4 ohms. Set the switch to 4 ohms so the amp "sees" the proper total load to deliver it's power to.

(Yes I simplified, figured you don't need to get a EE answer?)
 
Amps don't load the cabs, they supply the power. The cabs load the amp so.....if you connect two 8 ohm cabs that will load the amp at 4 ohms. Set the switch to 4 ohms so the amp "sees" the proper total load to deliver it's power to.

(Yes I simplified, figured you don't need to get a EE answer?)

Ok, thank you. That sounds right to me. Kinda what I was after but got the tech part wrong. No EE answer needed, just where to flick the switch when I plug two cabs to the Terror.
 
Really quick question for you guys.

I have a Peavey VB-2 bass head and a Avatar 410 NEO cabinet that has a sticker on the back saying 8 ohms.

I have had the switch on the back of my amp at 4 ohms and it has been putting out sound, but just recently started ringing slightly from the speakers (sounds like when i fiddle with my mute switch, its really strange)

Should I have had my switch on my amp at 8 ohms this whole time?