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#1 2010-07-10 15:21:46
- masterarbor
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- Registered: 2010-03-15
- Posts: 21
16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
I have four 16 ohm speakers that I'd like to re-cone. I'm thinking of re-coning them and wiring them for a 4 ohm cabinet but the other cab in my stack is an 8 ohm. I have a V4 full stack that has an 8 ohm cab and an empty cab. Can I run my V4 head at a 2 ohm load with this combination? I wasn't sure if the altecs were wired to 4 ohm or not, so maybe this is just a variation that was offered.
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#2 2010-07-11 04:31:16
- masterarbor
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- Registered: 2010-03-15
- Posts: 21
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
Okie doke, new question. I was doing some web search and there were some indications that you could re-cone to a different ohm. Is this true? Can I re-cone my 16ohm speaks to be 8ohm and drop em in a V4 cab?
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#3 2010-07-29 20:39:23
- Sid
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- Registered: 2008-05-27
- Posts: 12
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
Yes, you can recone them with a different impedance. I've done that before.
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#4 2010-08-04 16:35:27
- Happy Face
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- Registered: 2010-07-23
- Posts: 6
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
Sorry to cut in, but I'm curious about the 2 ohm question. I have a Sunn Coliseum head that is purported to handle a two ohm load, but folks over on the Sunn forum strongly caution against running an old head at that impedance.
Is a V4/VT-22 OK at 2 ohms? Even if OK in theory, will it run too hot?
(Sorry if this is an old question. I didn't see a search button.. now I just did!! I'll give it a try.)
Thanks!
Last edited by Happy Face (2010-08-04 16:36:20)
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#5 2010-08-05 08:04:16
- teledeluxe
- Member

- From: Chicago, IL
- Registered: 2008-09-24
- Posts: 238
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
I think you are comparing apples to oranges. The V4 is a tube amp with a transformer than has a 2 ohm tap. 2 ohms is perfectly fine. I've run mine that way with 2 x 4-ohm cabinets. For some perspective, Fender Super Reverbs have a 2-ohm load and people have been torturing those things for decades just fine.
The Colliseum is a high wattage (for the time) solidstate head and they are probably suggesting that you go 4-ohms instead to put less stress on those old transistors.
2 wrongs don't make a right, but 3 lefts do!
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#6 2010-08-05 18:07:13
- Happy Face
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- Registered: 2010-07-23
- Posts: 6
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
Thanks Teledeluxe. Makes good sense. In fact, now I recall that was the issue the folks over on the Sunn forum mentioned. Appreciate the insight T-D.
Mmmm... maybe I rewire the Sunn 4x12 cab down to 2 ohms and let the VT-22 really crank!
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#7 2010-08-06 09:05:53
- teledeluxe
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- From: Chicago, IL
- Registered: 2008-09-24
- Posts: 238
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
Maybe I don't understand your application. Is your Sunn cab an 8-ohm? You won't realy get a different sound out of the VT-22 with an 8 ohm cabinet vs a 2-ohm cabinet (assuming you have the impedance switch appropriately set).
Would you be using the VT022's speakers simultaneously as the Sunn cab? You are just asking for trouble hooking up a 2 ohm cabinet along with the 8-ohm load of the VT-22's speaker pair.
2 wrongs don't make a right, but 3 lefts do!
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#8 2010-08-06 18:34:22
- Happy Face
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- Registered: 2010-07-23
- Posts: 6
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
Thanks TD. But my VT was hacked out of a combo so it's a stand-alone head now. An ugly duckling that sounds like a beautiful swan!
The only reason I'd ponder rewiring the 8 ohm cab (4x 8 ohm JBLs) down to two ohms would be to try and milk a little extra headroom out of the amp. (for bass guitar) Am I out in left field on that?
Thanks again. Appreciate your input.
Last edited by Happy Face (2010-08-06 20:19:02)
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#9 2010-08-10 10:37:16
- teledeluxe
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- From: Chicago, IL
- Registered: 2008-09-24
- Posts: 238
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
I really don't think you'll notice any difference. I have 2 identical cabs loaded with identical speakers albeit one is 4 ohms, the other is 8 ohms. I notice no difference in tone between the 2 when the output transformer is switched to its corresponding correct load.
Who knows though...
2 wrongs don't make a right, but 3 lefts do!
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#10 2010-08-10 10:38:53
- teledeluxe
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- From: Chicago, IL
- Registered: 2008-09-24
- Posts: 238
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
Hey Marshall guys with 1960 cabinets... Do you notice a difference between 4 vs 16 operation with your heads that have both load options?
2 wrongs don't make a right, but 3 lefts do!
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#11 2010-08-26 06:20:47
- Happy Face
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- Registered: 2010-07-23
- Posts: 6
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
"to try and milk a little extra headroom out of the amp. (for bass guitar) Am I out in left field on that?"
Yes, I am out in left field. You are correct.
Thanks again for your input!
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#12 2010-08-26 09:46:53
- hangman
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- From: Seattle Washington
- Registered: 2006-09-03
- Posts: 882
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
I have known marshall guys that swear up and down that their amp sounds better through the 16ohm out.
They could never give me a articulate answer for why they felt that way, and I could never hear a difference.
one thing is for sure, you wont get more headroom. using more cabinets you might push a little more air... which could translate into the bass being a little more present.
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#13 2010-08-26 19:40:16
- Liquids
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- From: CT
- Registered: 2010-08-01
- Posts: 19
Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
hangman wrote:
I have known marshall guys that swear up and down that their amp sounds better through the 16ohm out.
They could never give me a articulate answer for why they felt that way, and I could never hear a difference.
That's funny. On Scott Henderson's forum, he swears that everything other than 8 ohms sounds like...I think, all else being equal, difference of parallel or series wiring will be more significant, if anything.
hangman wrote:
one thing is for sure, you wont get more headroom. using more cabinets you might push a little more air... which could translate into the bass being a little more present.
Definitely. If you want more headroom, get a cabinet with speakers that have higher sensitivity. Increasing 3 db of speaker sensitivity with the same amp, can make as much volume difference as would doubling your amps wattage, on paper. 6db increased sensitivity is pretty significant, like going from a 25 watt amp to 100 watts.
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#14 2010-08-29 13:55:54
- Happy Face
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- Registered: 2010-07-23
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Re: 16 ohm speakers wired to 4 ohms for a 4X12 v4 cab.
Liquids - that's amazing! Yet everyone was moving towards less-efficient "heavier-duty" speakers for bass.
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