Does speaker size effect tone?

[Hutch801]

I am looking at getting a new amp and I really like the Orange Crush 50 with a 12 inch speaker. I tried allot of amps and the orange was the winner. I am only using this for home use so I don't need 50 watts. They sell a 25w for less but it has a 8 inch speaker and no one near me has one I can demo. Would there be a noticable difference between 12 and 8 inch speakers to make the extra $100 worth it?

 

[agedhorse]

It can, but it depends on the intent of the designer.

in general, given the low power of the amp, the 112 will have higher sensitivity while at the same time having greater low frequency extension. That’s likely the case here, but if you can try both side by side, that would be best.

 

[CallMeAl]

Well, I have the 8” and 12” Rumbles, and the speaker size only comes into play when I’m looking at headroom and volume. For around the house, the 8” is great. Heck, I’ve even taken the lil guy to acoustic jams, or low level jams with a cajon with good results. When there’s a drum kit involved then it’s definitely the 12”, the tone of the 8” is compromised at that volume level.

all imho, ymmv, of course

 

[Marko 1]

I am only using this for home use

Playing at home will likely/inevitably lead to playing with others, especially bass, since it's not a lead-type instrument, and it's just so much more fun.


Therefore I'd get the biggest one I can reasonably justify.

 

[Hutch801]

Playing at home will likely/inevitably lead to playing with others, especially bass, since it's not a lead-type instrument, and it's just so much more fun.


Therefore I'd get the biggest one I can reasonably justify.

Go big or go home, I like it.

 

[nickpc]

Go big or go home, I like it.

I think it's more:

Go big or stay home.

 

[Passinwind]

I think it's more:

Go big or stay home.

Maybe more like go big and stay home for many of us these days.

 

[MrB64]

I have a Rumble 25 with an 8, and that's all I need for home use. I don't have any 12s, my big amp has 2 10s. 8 should be fine for around the house.

 

[Ric5]

I prefer 10's 15's and 18's

my main goto cabs are either a 1x15 or a 2x10

 

[Hounddog409]

I am looking at getting a new amp and I really like the Orange Crush 50 with a 12 inch speaker. I tried allot of amps and the orange was the winner. I am only using this for home use so I don't need 50 watts. They sell a 25w for less but it has a 8 inch speaker and no one near me has one I can demo. Would there be a noticable difference between 12 and 8 inch speakers to make the extra $100 worth it?

You found an amp that you like, after playing through many. Buy it.

Why would you risk buying an unkown amp after you tested many?

 

[Jim Bergantino]

There’s a lot of things that affect the tone of a speaker including size. Also the type of cone will affect tone. Things like the profile of the cone, the surround of the cone and the material of the cone. In fact not all paper cones sound the same based on the quality of the pulp used in the manufacturing process, including the quality of the water, the thickness of the cone, etc. Then there’s the voice coil and coil former. Every component of a woofer will contribute in some way to its tone, some more than others. Look at all the 12” guitar speaker for example. If the cone diameter was the only determining factor as to how they sounded, there wouldn’t be so many different models.
Probably gave you more information than you asked for!;-)

 

[JC BASS 91]

I say 12".

However, if you can locate one of the red striped Peavey MicroBass amps that is 20 watts into an 8" speaker, you should grab it. I have had one for years and it has never disappointed me or let me down in any way. It is LOUD...like, rattle the windows loud.

 

[Tosh]

I see a fiver in your avatar photo. I recommend the 12" over the 8"; IMHO the low b will sound much better through a 12" than an 8"

50 watts is not too much for a practice amp. Again, my opinion; it's just about right

 

[Andy Marshman]

There is one or two good 2x8 units on the market, however, IME the 15 to 25 Watt 1x8 ones do not sound good for playing bass. I've tried 'em; lots of them and I'll never buy one again. It's personal preference of course.

 

[Killing Floor]

Depends.

Louder sounds better. That’s just science stuff.

But don’t your headphones sound pretty good too?

 

[jthisdell]

Playing bass it is always better to have more watts, speaker size doesn't matter

 

[beans-on-toast]

I think that moving up to a 12” would be your best best over the 8”. Elevate the cab closer to ear level rather than on the floor.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Louder sounds better. That’s just science stuff.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

I’d say go with the one that you’ve played and know you like. You’ll have more headroom and more success being heard if you get a chance to jam. Plus, they might sound similar but they won’t sound the same, so you might be disappointed with the smaller combo.

 

[darwin-bass]

Of all the factors that contribute to the difference in sound (yes, there will be one) between the Orange 12 and Orange 8 combo amps, speaker diameter is probably the least indicative.

The amplifier electronics probably sound the same, but the speaker and the box tuning will have a significant effect on the sound. When tuning a box to a speaker you produce a system and guess what. Speaker diameter is not one of the values that goes into the tuning equations.

The only way to know is to hear them both. I recently bought a combo amp for home use. RB110. After a couple of days I decided I didn't like the sound as much as I though so I swapped it for an RB112 which had a fuller sound. But the RB108 with the little 8" speaker was also very full sounding.

A few years ago, I replaced my Fender Rumble 100 (12") with the Rumble 40 (10") because the smaller amp sounded better - less colored, more transparent and accurate.

Ultimately, speaker diameter means almost nothing. You have to listen to the amps.