So if I have a B410 and a B115....both 8 ohm cabs, what head should I be looking at to maximize wattage?
8 ohm cab + 8 ohms cab = ?
8 ohm cab + 8 ohms cab = ?
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The Acoustic Club
- Thread starter The Owl
- Start date
If you use a head with the jacks that are wired in "parallel" (should be labelled as such or check the manual) you actually decrease the ohm load (and increase the wattage output). You'd have a 4 ohm total load. You can look elsewhere here on TB for the math on how to calculate ohm load if you want.
So, find an amp head or combo that gives you the wattage you want/need at 4 ohms (or less ohms, if the amp can deliver at a lower ohm rating).
Within the acoustic family, I'd consider the B600H... delivers 450 watts @ 4 ohms (and 600 watts @ 2 ohms). Get one used on GC for $250-$300. That will give you 450 watts using your 1x15 and 4x10.
If you use a head with the jacks wired in "series", you'll actually increase your ohm load and decrease the wattage output.
Your cab ohm load alone would become 16 ohms (8+8).
So, I would NOT recommend smaller combo amps like the acoustic B100 or B200 combo amps which are serial, as their wattage output actually goes even further down due to the serial jacks and the additional ohm load of the internal drivers. In the case of the B200 which puts out 200 watts @ 4 ohms, you'd be operating at a total of 20 ohms (8 cab + 8 cab + 4 combo speakers) and drop you to about 40 watts. This is somewhat offset by pushing more air with 3 sets of speakers, but it is a big trade off in my book.
-or-
You could consider the acoustic B450 combo, which has the jacks wired in parallel + 2 internal speakers--kinda the best of both worlds (combo + parallel jacks). It puts out 450 watts @ 4 ohms using the 2 internal speakers and is rated for 600 watts @ 2 ohms.
Your two 8 ohm cabs would bring the ohm load down to the minimum 2 ohms (your 2 cabs parallel = 4 ohms; added in parallel to the internal speakers (4 ohms) = 2 ohms total load) and gives you the full 600 watts with 1x15 + 6x10 (4 from cab + 2 from combo). --Athough this exceeds the wattage ratings of both cabs (especially the B115 -- 250 watts), and might damage/blow them... so on second thought, maybe this last option is not so good!?
That's my 2 cents, anyway!
Thanks for the help! I have been leaning towards staying all acoustic...just for uniform sake...that gives me a lot to think about!!
AWESOME!!
I'll have pics when I finally put heads on top of them. I'm 99% sure they will be GK 700RBII's for a great stereo rig!
I'll have pics when I finally put heads on top of them. I'm 99% sure they will be GK 700RBII's for a great stereo rig!
You will find a comprehensive discussion of this in the
Amp FAQ's sticky at the top of the Amps forum page,
as well as many other topics of interest to people interested
in amplification and its many aspects.
Thanks for the reminder!
Sometimes, though, I find that sticky can be a bit TOO thorough... easy to get lost in there!
I recently got a 69 Ampeg cab but kept my Acoustic cabs bc I like the tone. I practice with the B410...hooked it up to an Orange tube head, 100 watts...and WOW it sounded great!! Really good tone. I had it really loud and it sounded great.
Can anyone tell me what the power handling is on the model 106 2X15 cab??
I want to run a GK 700RB II head. It's 480 W.
I want to run a GK 700RB II head. It's 480 W.
Try the "unofficial Acoustic Amplification site"... it's listed there, but no specs... maybe you can nose around the forums there and see if anyone knows anything, if you don't get a response here.
Here's their home page:
Link Removed
The 106 was designed to be used with the 150 series heads. The 150 series were spec'd as 110W RMS, 240W peak.
I think I'm gonna' fry those speakers in that 106 with that GK 700 RBII then.
Lots of people told me that those 106 cabs are LOUD and can handle a lot of power.
It's not like I'm going to try to crack plaster. I just want to have that extra umph if I want it.
I guess I'll find out soon enough.
I own a 150b and just bought a 370 from a fellow TBer so the 150b will need to go. Still I want in the club, I'll post pics and edit the post when I get a chance to take them.
