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wattage/resistance distribution (y cable?)

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by jamespapia, Dec 29, 2014.

  1. Dec 29, 2014 #1
    jamespapia

    jamespapia Deepstate Inactive

    Jul 10, 2014
    Queens, NY
    Hey guys, so I have a question about load distribution..

    I've got an amp with a single 4ohm output and I'm sending it into 2 8 ohm cabs.

    I plug directly into one cab that daisy chains to another cab.

    My question is: am i overloading the one cab before I split the wattage into both cabs and across both resistances?

    Would I be better served with a y cable coming out of my amp going directly into both cabs?
     
  2. Dec 29, 2014 #2
    ddnidd1

    ddnidd1 Supporting Member

    Mar 31, 2003
    Southern California Coast
    No. It's electrically identical in either case.
     
  3. Dec 29, 2014 #3
    beans-on-toast

    beans-on-toast

    Aug 7, 2008
    You are fine either way. Since all you have is a single output on the amp, daisy chaining is best.

    If an amp has two outputs and you were to use two cables, if one were to get yanked out, the other cab would keep on working. So you have redundancy in the short term.
     
  4. Dec 29, 2014 #4
    jamespapia

    jamespapia Deepstate Inactive

    Jul 10, 2014
    Queens, NY
    good news :)

    another question then.. The amp is connected to the first cab via speakon but the daisy chain is via 1/4" connection... I don't think that it should cause an issue, but better safe than sorry, ya know?

    do you guys think both connections should be speakon?
     
  5. Dec 29, 2014 #5
    beans-on-toast

    beans-on-toast

    Aug 7, 2008
    If you have the option, use speakon because it locks into place and is safer than a ¼" connection. At higher power levels, you should only use speakon connectors because they can handle more current.

    I don't like to pump more than 300W through a ¼" connector. I think that 300W-500W is pushing it but a lot of vintage amps don't give you a choice.
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2014
    BassmanPaul and B-string like this.