I dont really understand what they are or what it means or anything. Can someone please explain? Thanks
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Whats The Difference Between 2,4 or 8 ohms?
- Thread starter iamchipsmith
- Start date
call me stupid but I still dont really get it. Maybe i'm just be lazy but is there a simpler way to say all that? sorry
What do you need to know? having trouble hooking up cabs? are you afraid you might "blow up" a cab or amp based on impedance mismatch?
Until you offer a more specfic question - You will not get an answer tailored to you. You will simply get what's in the forum FAQ - which I might add is the tip of the iceberg when considering the phenomenon of resistance in the world of electricity.
Until you offer a more specfic question - You will not get an answer tailored to you. You will simply get what's in the forum FAQ - which I might add is the tip of the iceberg when considering the phenomenon of resistance in the world of electricity.
I'll try. Ohms are resistance. The more resistance the less power. Let's say most amps are most efficent at 4 ohms. Where they put out the most power. 1 4ohm cabinet will give you the most power. In Ohms when you add it goes bakwards. 2 8ohm cabs = a 4ohm load.
If you go below the ohm rating of the amp, there is too much power and you can fry your amp. 2 4ohm cabs = 2ohm load. 4ohm amp will be damaged.
Some amps do go to 2 ohm but in GENERAL combos are 8 and stacks are 4.
Does that help?
If you go below the ohm rating of the amp, there is too much power and you can fry your amp. 2 4ohm cabs = 2ohm load. 4ohm amp will be damaged.
Some amps do go to 2 ohm but in GENERAL combos are 8 and stacks are 4.
Does that help?
mmk well right i just have a 100w combo amp and am thinking about getting something bigger/louder. I noticed that with amps and cabs they have a different wattage for different ohms. I guess Im wondering which numbers I should look at. Im not sure if I made that any clearer or not....
No. Your head must have equal or lower impedanceHead Cab
4ohm 8ohm = GOOD
4ohm 4ohm = GOOD
4ohm 2x8ohm = GOOD
4ohm 3x8ohm = BAD
4ohm 2x4ohm =BAD
4ohm 40hm + 8ohm = BAD
2ohm up to 4x8ohm or 2x4ohm = GOOD
Equal or lower, a 4 ohm amp will handle a 4 or 8 ohm cab. The 8 ohm cab won't be as loud, but you can add another later. A 4 ohm cab on an 8 ohm amp will damage the amp.
No problem. You can always PM me if you have more questions, but if you put it on the board you may help someone who is affraid to ask.
A 4ohm amp can use either 4x(16ohm )cabs or 2x(8ohm) cabs or 1x(4ohm) cab, or any combination as long as you cab load is not below 4ohms. but almost all cabs are either 4 or 8ohms.
A 300 watt amp that has 300 watts at 4 ohms will make ~ 175 whatts at 8 ohms. So if you want to get the most from your amp, you would need to use it at 4ohms. you could either get 1 4ohm cab or 2X 8ohm ones. But if you get a 4ohm cab, you can't add another one on later.
If I'm wrong or misleading in any way, let me know. I still get confused by that stuff sometimes.
A 300 watt amp that has 300 watts at 4 ohms will make ~ 175 whatts at 8 ohms. So if you want to get the most from your amp, you would need to use it at 4ohms. you could either get 1 4ohm cab or 2X 8ohm ones. But if you get a 4ohm cab, you can't add another one on later.
If I'm wrong or misleading in any way, let me know. I still get confused by that stuff sometimes.
OK...while we are talking about this, here's a question I have been thinking about lately. I have a WW Super Hi Power (amber light), what would be louder: the classic Berg EX/HT 1x12 stack (8 ohms, 300w apiece)
OR
A 1x12 on its own (4ohm, 400-500w)?
Just curious as to what you guys think on sound quality and loudness. Thanks.
OR
A 1x12 on its own (4ohm, 400-500w)?
Just curious as to what you guys think on sound quality and loudness. Thanks.
Nathan Bersée;3848985 said:
The extra power handling would help with maximizing the clarity/headroom and loudness of the single 1x12 cabinet. However, unless that 1x12 is more efficient than the other two cabs (i.e., higher sensitivity ratings, higher SPL, etc.), it probably won't be as loud as that mini-stack. It'll still be loud, though!
A 1x12/1x12 stack would usually have the clarity/loudness advantage because of extra speaker area. But again, this doesn't mean it WILL have the advantage - it's dependent on cabinet features and design. If anything, it'll probably have the clarity advantage for sure, since one cab will be above the ground.
I say all of this without prior experience with those particular cabs you listed, just so you know. I'm basing it on the general rules and patterns I've observed with testing all kinds of other cabinets
Geoff St. Germaine
Commercial User
- Aug 31, 2001
- 6,267
- 302
- Disclosures
- Owner - St. Germaine Guitars
Nathan Bersée;3848985 said:
Without knowing anything about the mystery 4 Ohm 1x12" it is impossible to say. Assuming that all of the cabinets are identical in terms of sensitivity then the pairing of the two Berg cabinets will be 3dB more sensitive than the mystery 1x12". Can you tell us anything about the mystery 1x12"?
Agreed, assuming the cabs are equal sensetivity, the 2 speakers would be at 4 ohm with a larger surface area and be louder. The watts is what they rate the speaker at before you fry the coils.The extra power handling would help with maximizing the clarity/headroom and loudness of the single 1x12 cabinet. However, unless that 1x12 is more efficient than the other two cabs (i.e., higher sensitivity ratings, higher SPL, etc.), it probably won't be as loud as that mini-stack. It'll still be loud, though!
A 1x12/1x12 stack would usually have the clarity/loudness advantage because of extra speaker area. But again, this doesn't mean it WILL have the advantage - it's dependent on cabinet features and design. If anything, it'll probably have the clarity advantage for sure, since one cab will be above the ground.
I say all of this without prior experience with those particular cabs you listed, just so you know. I'm basing it on the general rules and patterns I've observed with testing all kinds of other cabinets
I'm not familar w/ that amp. How many watts is it at 4 ohm. Headroom is desireable, but you can blow your speakers. You should be able to hear it before you do any damage though.
One point in this theads reference link I think is incorrect
In it states "Doubling your watts results in a 3 dB increase in volume, which is generally the smallest change in volume a person can hear. Thats why using a 4 ohm cabinet instead of an 8 ohm cabinet with your head doesnt always blow you away."
I believe, in fact that 1 decibel, not 3 is the minimum change that one can discern. 3 decibels is indeed a doubling if volume, however a doubling is not what the average person might conclude from that amount of change. Perception factors in here.
In it states "Doubling your watts results in a 3 dB increase in volume, which is generally the smallest change in volume a person can hear. Thats why using a 4 ohm cabinet instead of an 8 ohm cabinet with your head doesnt always blow you away."
I believe, in fact that 1 decibel, not 3 is the minimum change that one can discern. 3 decibels is indeed a doubling if volume, however a doubling is not what the average person might conclude from that amount of change. Perception factors in here.
According to my father who has a physics degree. It's misunderstood. The db scale is kinda like the rictor scale. Double the db doesn't actually mean double the volume, it's much more.
I'm open for correction.
- Dec 18, 2000
- 13,201
- 340
- Disclosures
- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
That is indeed way closer to correct. It is dependent on bandwidth and frequency. I can easily hear broadband or wide midrange .5 dB boost at moderate listening levels ... but I'd be hard-pressed to hear a .5dB increase down in the bass range at the same level. 1 dB is generally accepted as a perceptible change for almost anyone.
3dB is an appreciable increase, indeed, like adding an identical cab while using the exact same wattage. 10 dB is like doubling volume, if the output is failry broadband and/or in the area of the program material where the most frequency content is present.
