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4 ohm vs 16 ohm


micmike

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I have had a 2x12 cab built for me. I have 3 options of how to wire it:

 

1. Two jack inputs, with both 4 & 16 ohm options

 

2. One jack input, at 16 ohms, so I can potentially run a second cab at rehearsal.

 

3. One jack input, at 4 ohms, but I can only run the cab on it's own.

 

 

I don't really want to go with option 3, as I like to run two cabs at rehearsals (I'm in a 3-piece).

 

Option 1 is ideal, but apparently can cause complications.

 

But doesn't an amp run at peak performance when outputting at 4ohms? Or is this some myth I've picked up ?

 

thanks. This technical stuff is a bit beyond me...

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I have had a 2x12 cab built for me. I have 3 options of how to wire it:


1. Two jack inputs, with both 4 & 16 ohm options


2. One jack input, at 16 ohms, so I can potentially run a second cab at rehearsal.


3. One jack input, at 4 ohms, but I can only run the cab on it's on.



I don't really want to go with option 3, as I like to run two cabs at rehearsals (I'm in a 3-piece).


Option 1 is ideal, but apparently can cause complications.


But doesn't an amp run at peak performance when outputting at 4ohms? Or is this some myth I've picked up ?


thanks. This technical stuff is a bit beyond me...

 

 

Depends on what your amp has for outputs. What amp do you have? Does it have an impedance selector? Does it have more than one output?

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Depends on what your amp has for outputs. What amp do you have? Does it have an impedance selector? Does it have more than one output?

 

 

It has many

 

1x4ohms

2x8ohms

1x8ohms

2x16ohms

1x16ohms

 

 

So 1x16ohms will sound as good as 1x4ohms ?

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So 1x16ohms will sound as good as 1x4ohms ?

 

 

It won't sound better, or worse, it will sound *different*. A lower ohm rating will offer less resistance (sound familiar?) to the amp pushing power at it. It will result in the amp being able to "push" the power through the circuit more easily, so the drivers will turn it into a little extra mechanical power.

 

Generally speaking, a 4-ohm load will result in a little more "oomph" from the drivers. Sometimes you hear it in extra volume, sometimes a little more mid-bass, and sometimes a little of both. A 16-ohm load will usually allow you to saturate your amp easier resulting in more overdrive, earlier in your volume and tone settings.

 

These are pretty rough descriptions of the science and affects, but their for the most part accurate.

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