Members 88mm Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 I know this has been covered before. BUT...... I want to make sure-Is it okay to run an 8ohm tube amp into a 16ohm speaker?-Other than sound what harm can it do?-It wouldn't need to work as hard to push but I want the experts or experienced to chime in for some piece of mind.-Thanks for your time:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members n0fx Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 A few will warn you but as long as it's typical-duty cycle you wont have any problems. It's more dangerous to go down in impedance...like BELOW the rated output load impedance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members greg apocalypse Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 whatever Doug says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ancient Mariner Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 Mismatching impedance to a valve amp by a substantial amount (like half or double reall isn't good for the amp. A small amount is fine, say 15 ohm speaker to a 16 ohm output, but otherwise you'll stress the output valves and the OT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sex Panther Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 In before 12 posts with 13 different answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rrrajo Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 Ohm mY god ...here we go again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JordanQ Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 no 88mm it doesn't sound like a good idea, it appears either everyones saying no, or no unless blah blah blah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Erim Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 I would listen to the answer from the guy who builds boutique amps for a living.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 I would listen to the answer from the guy who builds boutique amps for a living.. Fab? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sex Panther Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 Fab? x sideways 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members KsE fan Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 There is such thing as a safe mismatch... My advice, just match them. Don't do any of the safe miss match crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 There is such thing as a safe mismatch... My advice, just match them. Don't do any of the safe miss match crap.I hope I didn't understand that because it made no sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sex Panther Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 I hope I didn't understand that because it made no sense. In other words. Don't mismatch. Play it safe, and use the proper impedance. I believe that's what he was trying to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members KsE fan Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 In other words. Don't mismatch. Play it safe, and use the proper impedance.I believe that's what he was trying to say. Yes this, I have heard of some people saying it's safe to have the head more ohms then the cab (head 8 and cab 4) OR IT WAS PROBABLY THE OTHER WAY AROUND I FORGET but regardless you're supposed to match them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BadCompany89 Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 In before 12 posts with 13 different answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OverDriven Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 I've heard amp techs and builders say both things. Higher to lower is worse and lower to higher is worse. My advice...match it. What is at stake is your output transformer...you can blow it with a mismatch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 88mm Posted March 13, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 WOW! Sounds like no to me. Just had these speakers and thought I could get by for awhile. Looks like i will wait and make sure i have a proper match before continuing. Thanks! - Sorry to open the can of worms again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members code_blue Posted March 13, 2009 Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 Everyone knows everything about Ohms! It is so easy! OMG! *leaves thread* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members facefirst Posted March 13, 2009 Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 Ohms are a made up scare tactic by Republicans. Speaker impedence is actually measured in Newtogons. So 33.85679NwGs matched to a 44.926NwGs cab is about as big as a mistmatch as I'm comfortable with. hope that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tommythelurker Posted March 13, 2009 Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 I've heard amp techs and builders say both things. Higher to lower is worse and lower to higher is worse. My advice...match it. What is at stake is your output transformer...you can blow it with a mismatch. Amp lower to cab higher can cause arcing in the power tubes and OT which can damage or ruin them. Amp higher to cab lower puts extra stress on the power tubes which wears them out faster. In mild cases it may not be so bad but if they fail before you replace them because they wore out faster than you expected they can cause damage to the OT or other parts of the amp. Which is worse? They both have the potential to be pretty bad IMO. The above is true for *most* tube amps but of course there are exceptions. I recall reading that certain older marshalls were particularly sensitive to high-low impedance mismatch and could blow the OT right away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Casey4s Posted March 13, 2009 Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 I am staying out of this argument this time. So just read what Doug R. said earlier and believe it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NixerX Posted March 13, 2009 Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 whatever Doug says.+1 the builder of good amps will get my vote on amp tech questions.. maybe im missing something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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