Orange Terror Bass 2 - Ohm Switch When Using 2 x 8 ohm cabs

[Shak_2112]

Hi - I have the Orange Terror Bass 2 500w bass head and want to connect two 8 ohm cabs via speakon cables to each of the parallel outputs on the head. As these are parallel outputs should the ohm setting on the amp be switched to 4 ohms or should it be switched to 8 ohms?

The cabs are 2 x OBC112s.

Many thanks.

 

[el murdoque]

Well, I can see the problem.
When you look at the Manual, it seems what you're trying to do is impossible.

I quote Terror Bass manual – Orange Amps

Speaker output connections

1. Make sure the correct speaker is connected at all times during operation.
2. Do not connect to a speaker load which is less than 8 Ohms in total.

If I cast that into the wind and apply logic to the case, I'd answer as this:
The outputs of a normal bass head are wired as such that it makes no real difference if you run a cable from head to cab and daisychain the other cab from there or if you run two cables from the head, attaching one to each cab. Therefore, the head sees the total load attached. Attaching two 8 ohm cabs results in a total impedance of 4 ohms. There is a switch that has two positions, 4 and 8 ohms.
I'd flip that to the 4 ohm position.

(I'm not an expert on Orange amps, so do any of this at your own risk. I mean - the designers are British, have recently lost their Queen and drive on the wrong side of the road - who knows how logic applies correctly in that case).

 

[Matthias]

The text of the manual and the picture of the rear panel of the amp do not match:
The manual says "Do not connect to a speaker load which is less than 8 Ohms in total." (Maybe a copy/paste error from a guitar amp manual?)
The imprint on the amp says "Min. 4 Ohms" - which also matches the 4 Ohm/8 Ohm switch.
If you connect two 8 Ohm cabs the total load is 4 Ohms and you have to set the switch to 4 Ohms.

 

[Wallace320]

There's usually no need for such a switch, considering a 500w 4ohm output power, if connecting a single 4ohm cab
or dual 8ohm cabs (or single 8ohm cab, probably achieving a 300w output)

But if they place a variable like this on your amp, it should be to optimize your power amp performance

You sure can connect two 8ohm cabs, one per socket but - in this very case - select the "4ohm" load option

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[Shak_2112]

Thanks for the responses.

got a message back from Orange just which states:

If connecting two 8 ohm cabs to the amp the ohms setting on the amp should be set at 4 ohms.

Thought I better double check!

 

[TeoStr]

Thanks for the responses.

got a message back from Orange just which states:

If connecting two 8 ohm cabs to the amp the ohms setting on the amp should be set at 4 ohms.

Thought I better double check!

Hi Shak. I read this post 2 years later because I'm interesting in this configuration with the specific amp and specific cabs.

Beside the impedance switch, what is not specified in your answer (and Orange's answer) and is not clear to me... is that you made a series wiring or a parallel wiring to achieve the 4Ohm?

In 8Ohm mode... Just one OBC112 Cab, do I have plenty of headroom and volume for room practice? Does it lack anything? What is your opinion?
I'm not sure yet if I need x2 cabs to reach the 4Ohm/500Watts or just one OBC 112 (8Ohm/250Watt)?

Also one more question please.
In rare occasions where I cannot bring any cab to the live and the available ones do not match with the specifications of the amp (watts / Ohms) ... What is the sound of the head straight to a PA system? Is it convincing? Does it have balls and guts to cut through? Does it retain the character of the amp? I cannot understand by YouTube Videos and it seems I cannot find the amp available somewhere here in order to try and possible configuration.
Have you ever tried it?

Thank you.

 

[coreyfyfe]

With two 8 ohm cabs you’re presenting the amp with a 4 ohm total load. Set the switch to 4 ohms.

Unless you buy a special cable or breakout box there’s no way to wire the cabs in series. The jacks on the amp and the jacks on the cabs are all in parallel. You can wire both cabs to the amp individually or wire amp to cab to cab. Both are parallel, both would present a total 4 ohm load.

I have the terror and pair of OBC112 cabs. With the terror I’ve done gigs with a single OBC112, though I tend to like both cabs for a little more fullness and getting a cab up closer to my ears on stage. A single cab would be fine for practice at home, might not be enough in a band mix. With other amps I’ve had good success with a single OBC112 cab. I find the OBC112 are not the most sensitive cabs out there, but they sound really nice. Very warm/vintage/round tone which works well with the orange amp.

 

[Shak_2112]

As above yes - the head is wired in parallel. I didn’t feel like one was enough - it was low down and didn’t push much air. It did however sound amazing still! If you can get it up off the floor it might work better. The DI sounded pretty decent if I remember - I don’t think you’d be disappointed with it. I have some DI examples on my demo video here:



I ended up selling it as I was worried about the tubes going at a gig so opted for the Eich T-900. I loved the sound of the Terror Bass though - really warm.

 

[Toby S]

As above yes - the head is wired in parallel. I didn’t feel like one was enough - it was low down and didn’t push much air. It did however sound amazing still! If you can get it up off the floor it might work better. The DI sounded pretty decent if I remember - I don’t think you’d be disappointed with it. I have some DI examples on my demo video here:



I ended up selling it as I was worried about the tubes going at a gig so opted for the Eich T-900. I loved the sound of the Terror Bass though - really warm.

I’m considering switching from my orange box terror rig. I love it but the lack of a separate volume control between foh line out and cab volume is really frustrating. How is the Eich compared to the orange?