Speaker impedance question

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

If you have an 8 ohm output and want to go 2 X 12", what differences would you expect between choosing two 16 ohm speakers wired parallel and two 4 ohm speakers in series (all speakers being otherwise identical)? Which way would you go and why?

Terry Downs · From: Wylie, TX US

Either combination will result in 8 ohms and the power amp won't know the difference. However, if you wire them in series, the failure of one speaker will shut you down.

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Thanks Terry. Let me reframe this. Strictly from a tone standpoint, I thought I'd read that there would be a difference. Or is this something that can only be heard by people who spend all their time on amp discussion boards

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

All things being equal, there would be no difference in tone. A difference in both tone and output arises from the speakers' impedance not matching that of the amp.

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Good enough, Donny. I've been reading too many boards with folks who claim that you need the proper original handles in order to get 'the sound'. Seems to have rubbed off a bit.

ajm · From: Los Angeles

I don't know the real answer.
I also don't know if I'd be able to hear any difference, providing there is one.
But in a back issue of Vintage Guitar magazine, Gerald Weber did address this topic. I didn't pay much attention since all of my amps now have one speaker no matter what size they are.

------------------
Artie McEwan

Ole Dantoft · From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Jon,

If you asked this question on one of those AudioPhile-boards, you'd get a number of mile-long answers assuring you, that there IS indeed a HUGE difference owing to different reactances, capacitances and such, but even though I'm a trained Electronics Engineer and KNOW for a fact that these answers are technically correct, I've NEVER been able to tell even the slightest difference in a working musicians environment.

Hope that helps !

Ole

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm realizing. I read a lot of those boards. Get great info, learn a lot, but also start 'learning' stuff that just won't matter to the average (and maybe even above average) person--if even true. Chicken-head knobs sound better, vintage tolex is more resonant, (yeah, I'm making this up but you get the idea). Although many of these guys know their stuff, the degree of fine tuning they obsess over has little to do with the sort of tone quest that I (and many of us) pursue. Also, for most of them, the 'tone zone' begins when an amp and speaker starts overdriving. A whole 'nuther world of tone than what applies to many of us (although I sure do like some tube edge).

Ole Dantoft · From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Jon,

I agree completely !

There are many different school's of thought re. sound and I actually subscribe to more than one of them : I started out as a bluse/rock guitarist and there's nothing better than a tube amp being overdriven for that kind of sound but as a steel player I'm after the same sound as everybody else : Clean as clean can be and solid state !

That said, there's the rest of the bunch that you describe so well : "Chicken head knobs sound better than ...", "Teflon insulated wire is far inferior soundwise to cloth-covered ...", "I converted my xx-tube amp to point-to-point wiring and ...." blabla.... I'm reading those groups from time to time as well, but so far I've been able to keep both my feet on the ground

Ole

Terry Downs · From: Wylie, TX US

To make the biggest difference in the sound of your speakers, you should buy some of MY special wire that has insulation made from the small intestine of a Ring-tailed Lemur. This intestine has been processed in a special cryogenic mass of beet juice and epsom salts (and other proprietary substances). This gives the intestinal dielectric a unique property, the ability to instantaneously change dielectric constant with frequency. And you thought all dielectrics had a constant. This drastically improves the sonic colour of your sound, resulting in a more effervescent sparkly tone. It also makes the high frequencies propogate to your ear faster (since they really have a hard time getting there).

If the speaker wire is trimmed to the right length (chart included) the fast change in dielectric constant can actually perform note correction. You must have your instrument tuned to 440Hz concert pitch to achieve this. You must break in the cable by playing instrumental solos in all keys to "condition" the cable. For instance if you don't play in the key of Bb for a year, the dielectric will lose it's ability to perform accurate note correction in that key signature.

This special wire can also reduce potential damage to you amp in case of feedback. SAVE YOUR AMPLIFIER!!!

Dielectric constant @ D.C.: 5235.4
Dielectric constant @ 1kHz: 5.689
Dielectric constant @ 10kHz: 0.00023
Dielectric strength: 25kV/mil
Loss tangent: immeasureable
Ductility and recalcitrancy: superior
Color: Beet red only

It is $89.95/ft in 16 AWG only.
Special stripper blades for automatic stripper: $399.95

I accept PayPal and major credit cards. Allow 3-4 years for delivery.

WARNING: If your amplifier is accidentally in a fire, the fumes from this dielectric are toxic and have been known to seriously reduce testosterone in possums. Effects on humans are yet to be determined.

[This message was edited by Terry Downs on 19 January 2003 at 11:45 AM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

This addresses so many of the issues that have most concerned me! I knew the forum would come through! And finally--a solution for those damned bouncy-bouncy possums in the next room.
But just like I feel like I'm getting ripped off by PSG manufacturers who are getting rich charging over $300 for a guitar, I am suspicious of your price and I'm going to make some of this wire myself.
Here, kitty kitty kitty.......

I may get back to you on the stripper if she's good looking.

Ole Dantoft · From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Terry,

ROFLMFAO

Sadly enough, I know exactly what you're referring to : The "cryogenically treated, one-way-only-because-of-specially-formulated-copper-crystals cables" that cost xxxx-$$ pr. feet ! It's utterly rediculous but I know - otherwise intelligent - people who actually buy them, because "there IS a difference" !!

Well ...

Ole

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

Jon,
Reading thru some of the other forums I seem to remember WAY back and the general consensus was that there was a fuller tone with the higher ohm speakers ..So if that's the case running 2 - 16 ohm speakers would sound fuller
I think I would use 2 - 8 ohm speakers since if I broke the cabinet up I would be able to use each 8 ohm speaker in other amps...Jim

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