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Question about cabinets......

FarkusSWR

FarkusSWR

Sep 14, 2005
295
254
Treasure Coast, FL
#1
I currently have a SWR WorkingPro 4x10, 2x10 and 1x15. I use them in different configurations depending on the gig situation; powering them with a WP400 ( yes, I like SWR stuff:)). I recently played through a GenzBenz Shuttle 6.0 (600W)and reeaalllllyyyy liked the sound of it. However, I think that might be too much wattage for the cabs I would use with it, which would be the 4x10 ( 400 watts ) and the 2x10 ( 200 watts ).
My question is: if I use the aforementioned cabinets, and run 1 speaker cable in to the 4x10 and then out to the 2x10 will the head see that as a 4-ohm 600W load? Or should i go with the 3.0 (300W)? I have poked around on a few websites looking for info but am now more befuddled then when I started.:help:
Sorry for the long post but wanted to throw it all out there the first time around. Thanks for any assistance.
 
#5
Simplistically the 200W cab will get to 200W and the 400W cab will also get to 200W, so you'll get 400W total before the 200w cab says "enough of this bulls**t". (@ 4ohm load to the amp)

Watts are pretty amorphous buggers compared to sound level and tone. So will the 4x10 sound any louder or better with the 2x10? I dunno.

You can probably drive it with 400w out of that amp @ 8 ohm but I guess it will have a lot more headroom boomf with the extra speaker.

Bill Fitz will tell you that a 15 and a quad driven in tandem sounds like shite compared to his speakers. No harm in trying.

What cabs did you audition the GB with? Don't be surprised if it doesn't get the same sound with yours.
 
#6
Here's the MATH: Cab A's impedance X Cab B's impedance = (fill in the blank), DIVIDE that by Cab A + Cab B impedance. Whatever that impedance is, your amp must be capable of tolerating it. If the answer is 2.6 ohms, set your amp @ 2ohms., If the answer is 5.2 ohms, set your amp @ 4, etc...
 
#7
FarkusSWR said:
My question is: if I use the aforementioned cabinets, and run 1 speaker cable in to the 4x10 and then out to the 2x10 will the head see that as a 4-ohm 600W load?
Click to expand...

Yes and no. The wattage rating of the cab indicates the maximum wattage it can handle (so to speak). So yes, the head will see a 4ohm load. But no, it doesn't know or care what the wattage rating of the cab is.

The signal will be divided between the two cabs, so theoretically you could send up to (or maybe more) 300w (give or take) into each cab -- at full power. The ratings are kind of rule-of-thumb, i.e. don't connect a 1000w head to a 200w cab. So in your case, you would have a potential for 300w going into each of two cabs, one of which is rated to handle 200w, the other 400. But you would only be getting into the danger zone in extreme situations.

I think what you're proposing would be fine as long as you don't max out your signal all the time. Listen to your speakers and back off if they complain.
 
#8
FarkusSWR said:
That would have been helpful. All cabs are 8 ohms each.
Thanks, Bill. I was hoping you would reply.
Click to expand...
That results in a power mismatch between the 210 and 410. Being the same impedance they'll receive the same power, so the 210 will be maxed while the 410 coasts. Ideally the 210 would have twice the impedance of the 410.
The 210 and 115 are a reasonable match.
The 410 and 115, not so much. They're both receiving the same power, but the 410 has far higher capacity.
 
#10
If you can control your urge to crank up the volume and can afford it, why not buy the extra power now (6.0) rather than getting the 3.0? It's not a 600 watt amp until you turn it up to the point where it's putting out 600 watts, turn it down and it's a 300 watt amp, or a 100 watt amp or a 1 watt amp.
 

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