Stacking cabinets in reverse

[vin088xk1]

Got a question , can you use a 4x10 with a 2x10 in any order linking one to the other

 

[BurningSkies]

Got a question , can you use a 4x10 with a 2x10 in any order linking one to the other

You can...but here's the thing...if you've got a 410 and a 210 that have the same impedance, you're feeding equal power to both cabs... and your 210's speakers are getting twice the power each that the 10's in your 410 are getting...which in most cases means you're limited to the volume that the 210 can produce before it vomits it's speaker guts...and the 410 won't even be breaking a sweat.

 

[BurningSkies]

It is a better way to stack them, but not for the reasons you think.

The reason it's better is because on average, a 4x10 will handle more power than a 1x15 will. If you're powering them with the same amp, the power is split between the two cabs... say your amp is sending out 400 watts... 200 watts will be hitting the single 15" driver, while 200 are going to the 4x10, where the power is split evenly between the four 10" drivers in there, so each sees 50 watts.

Obviously, the 15" will likely fail before the 4x10 does. If it is on top, it will be closer to ear level, so you'll be able to hear it straining before it actually blows.


Also, something to consider... 15" drivers don't inherently have any more lows than 10" drivers do. That's a myth. Nor do lows need space to "develop" or "project."

I'd add to this that the other reason beyond listening to your speaker for when it starts to complain is that a 15" speaker beams pretty well in the mids (that's why so many people think they're all lows...the mids are blowing past their ankles when the cab is on the floor). So, if you're on a stage and you've EQ'ed for what you're hearing from the top cab, you're not accounting for the fact that you're not hearing those mids from the 15 and away from your amp your EQ may be pretty wonky.

 

[vin088xk1]

Is it possible to use a 2x10 with more powerful drivers to compensate, or should I just add a 4x10 and not worry about it

 

[BurningSkies]

Is it possible to use a 2x10 with more powerful drivers to compensate, or should I just add a 4x10 and not worry about it

You can, but you'll want to make sure that those different 10's play well with the 10's you have now. Very rarely do drivers have the same T/S specs if they have different wattage ratings.

Another tactic to take would be to have a 4ohm 4x10 and use it with an 8ohm 2x10...that would balance the power that the speakers see, but you'd have to look for an amp that's comfortable seeing a 2.67ohm impedance.

 

[vin088xk1]

Got it, thanks for the advice

 

[Korladis]

I'd second everything that BurningSkies said on how to run a 4x10 and a 2x10 together.

You'll also probably get the best results running a 2x10 that is basically the same design as the 4x10, just half as big. Though that may not be possible, depending on what your gear is.

 

[BassmanPaul]

To add to the above, the only way that a 4x10 and a 2x10 become a viable system is if the 2x10 has twice the impedance of the 4x10. 8Ω 2x10 coupled with a 4Ω 4x10. 16Ω 2x10 with an 8Ω 4x10. This way each driver in either cab is working with the same amount of power.

If both cabinets have the same impedance the 2x10 limits the system to around the same volume as the 4x10 by itself. Pointless pairing.