Why are there 6ohm cabinets

[alembicguy]

I have a few Eden 610 cabs and for the life of me wonder why they chose 6ohm and what type of stress does that put on a tube amplifier? Anyone??

 

[Rick James]

They're probably 5.3 ohm cabs, that's what you get with two sets of three 8 ohm drivers wired series/parallel. They would be OK with either a 4 ohm or 8 ohm transformer tap.

 

[BogeyBass]

Or even 6 x32 ohms in parallel would be 5.3 or basically 6 ohms

No stress really speakers vary from 3 to 60ohms depending upon frequency. It just all averages out to the nominal ratings Of 4 8 16 or 32

Or in your case with 6 drivers it's 6 ohms nominal

 

[alembicguy]

So,there isn't any unwanted stress on a tube amp as long as it can handle 2-4-8ohm loads?

 

[Downunderwonder]

A slight mismatch is fine. Half is not so good and double even less good for tubes.

 

[Downunderwonder]

It won’t hurt anything. Your cab’s ohm rating can be higher than your amp’s ohm rating (so plugging in an 8 ohm cab into a 4 ohm amp is fine). But you don’t want to do the opposite... never connect a 2 ohm cab to a 4 ohm amp, or it will do damage.

No. It is the other way around with tubes. Less cab impedance than the tap rating is safer than more.

 

[ahc]

It won’t hurt anything. Your cab’s ohm rating can be higher than your amp’s ohm rating (so plugging in an 8 ohm cab into a 4 ohm amp is fine). But you don’t want to do the opposite... never connect a 2 ohm cab to a 4 ohm amp, or it will do damage.

This is true for SS amps. Tube amps are generally the opposite. Tube amps will tolerate lower impedance cabs just fine. Higher impedance cabs put more stress on them. Running a 6 ohm cab on a tube amp rated for 4 ohms probably won't be a problem. After years of use maybe you'd have to replace the power tube a couple of weeks earlier than you would running the amp at the stated impedance.

 

[Downunderwonder]

To save searching maybe someone can remind me what a little less impedance does to the tube stage. I recall only that a little too much impedance draws extra currrent through the tubes.

 

[The Bass Clef]

I stand corrected. Just deleted my post so as not to give bad advice.

 

[Wasnex]

So,there isn't any unwanted stress on a tube amp as long as it can handle 2-4-8ohm loads?

Yes there is extra stress on the tubes, transformers, and other components when you run an impedance mismatch. Whether you would be better of running the 6 ohm speaker off a 4 ohm tap or an 8 ohm taps depends upon how the amp loads the tubes. Some amps work better if the impedance is slightly too high, while others work better if the impedance is slightly too low.

If the amp maker is still in business, the safest bet would be to contact them and ask their advice.

Being as the mismatch is so minor, I doubt you will have problems either way, but you might get slightly more power and slightly longer tube life if you use the optimal mismatch.

 

[thewildest]

Another reason could be a company’s desperate attempt to instill the necessity of learning basic math to the next mobile-cerebral-atrophy generations.

 

[alembicguy]

Thanks folks. I have contacted the amp manufacture and they said it would be no problem. I should treat the 6ohm rating as though it is a 4ohm and if I decide to run both 6ohm cabs to treat it as a 2ohm load.
Once again thanks everyone.

 

[alembicguy]

Another reason could be a company’s desperate attempt to instill the necessity of learning basic math to the next mobile-cerebral-atrophy generations.

Yeah I doubt that's their intentions

 

[jumbodbassman]

i too have a 610 5.3 ohm cab. so i should run the tube heads at 4 ohm not 8???

 

[alembicguy]

i too have a 610 5.3 ohm cab. so i should run the tube heads at 4 ohm not 8???

My amp manufacturer says yes to the 4ohm

 

[mmon77]

i too have a 610 5.3 ohm cab. so i should run the tube heads at 4 ohm not 8???

As was said, it's best to contact the amp manufacturer and ask them. It really depends on where in the load line the designer chose to run the tubes.

You have a 50/50 chance, but why risk it?

 

[NKBassman]

Just searched back through all my old emails with Ben Verellen when I ordered my Verellen Meatsmoke, and he suggested using the 4 ohm tap for a 5.3 ohm 610. Can't say that this applies to every tube head, but just another data point for your consideration.

 

[jumbodbassman]

i know my super twin and ampegs that is the case. will have to check on my british made (orange and ashdown). i have avoided using that cab except with SS

 

[alembicguy]

For the record I'm using a Mesa 400+

 

[InhumanResource]

Another reason could be a company’s desperate attempt to instill the necessity of learning basic math to the next mobile-cerebral-atrophy generations.

Those darn youngsters and their differences from me!