MarkBass mb57r 4x10 8ohm cab or 4ohm

[DeanSub]

Hi Guys.

Just signed up. First time ever posting in a forum haha.

Just have a question for you guys.

I just purchased a new rig

Aguilar AG700 head
MarkBass MB58r Energy 4*10 Cab 8ohm

I realised on the way home from the dealer that we didn't talk about ohms in the excitement of everything. I think I was actually intending to get a 4ohm cab to get the most out of the AG700. But I ended up with the 8ohm version.

I called the dealer and he is happy for me to come and swap it for the 4ohm.

My question is

Should i keep the 8ohm so I can easily add another cab down the line. And just utilise half the power of the AG for now. Or go and swap to the 4ohm?

I will be playing medium sized venues for now playing hard rock.

Sorry for the long message

Also, I can't seem to upload my photo

 

[S-Bigbottom]

WELCOME TO TALKBASS!!!

keep the 8ohm so I can easily add another cab down the line.

Think you answered it yourself.

More speakers make more loud, keep the 8 Ohm so you can add if you need more volume.

Unless you know you will never need more speaker, than the 4 Ohm can be ok.
Still I would keep the 8 Ohm.

 

[DeanSub]

WELCOME TO TALKBASS!!!


Think you answered it yourself.

More speakers make more loud, keep the 8 Ohm so you can add if you need more volume.

Unless you know you will never need more speaker, than the 4 Ohm can be ok.
Still I would keep the 8 Ohm.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Yeh that is my thoughts exactly. The only other question I have is what is the actual benifits of getting just the single 4ohm over the 8ohm in a practical sense? Like I understand that there will be more headroom to enable cleaner tones at higher volumes. But if I'm gonna be playing at volumes that high anyway then I probably should be looking at adding a new cab, rather then pushing all the power through a single 4x10 correct?

Also I think I'll be getting another cab eventually if only for the looks of it haha so I think I have my answer.

Thanks

 

[DeanSub]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Yeh that is my thoughts exactly. The only other question I have is what is the actual benifits of getting just the single 4ohm over the 8ohm in a practical sense? Like I understand that there will be more headroom to enable cleaner tones at higher volumes. But if I'm gonna be playing at volumes that high anyway then I probably should be looking at adding a new cab, rather then pushing all the power through a single 4x10 correct?

Also I think I'll be getting another cab eventually if only for the looks of it haha so I think I have my answer.

Thanks

 

[DeanSub]

The simplest way I can explain it is it's I had both amps in a room.

What differences will I notice and at what volumes?

Will they sound identical at lower volumes and the differences only become apparent at higher volumes?

Cheers

 

[SJan3]

The simplest way I can explain it is it's I had both amps in a room.

What differences will I notice and at what volumes?

Will they sound identical at lower volumes and the differences only become apparent at higher volumes?

Cheers

So, the 4ohm cabinet can sound 3db louder,
all other things being equal. You'd get a more noticable increase in volume by adding a 2nd cabinet. But, that 8 ohm 4x10 cab with the AG700 will play very loud. It may be all you need and your amp will run cooler.

 

[DeanSub]

So, the 4ohm cabinet can sound 3db louder,
all other things being equal. You'd get a more noticable increase in volume by adding a 2nd cabinet. But, that 8 ohm 4x10 cab with the AG700 will play very loud. It may be all you need and your amp will run cooler.

Awesome man. I really appreciate you help. It's put my mind at ease and I am now happy with my 8ohm cab!

Thanks

 

[Wasnex]

My advice. Since you already have the 8 ohm cab, try it with the amp to see how loud it is. The calculated SPL with the 8 ohm cab is 128dB. In all honesty this is going to be more than enough for most people, so you may find that you already have enough headroom.

However, if the dealer has another 8 ohm cab available, I would take the rig in and try it with two 8 ohm cabs, just so you know how it changes the sound. Then you can make an informed decision.

If you feel the 8 ohm cab is barely loud enough, changing to a 4 ohm cab will give you approximately +3dB. 3dB is generally considered about the smallest decibel change we can clearly distinguish...so it's barely an improvement.

Adding a second cab, on the other hand, will give you approximately +6dB, which is a clearly audible increase in SPL. So your choice is between 1. keeping what you have, 2. trading for a (4 ohm) cab which will be barely louder, or 3. eventually buying a second 8 ohm cab which will make the rig considerably louder and also fuller sounding.

Supporting Facts and Discussion:

AG700 is rated 350W at 8 ohms and 700W at 4 ohms. For each doubling of power you get +3dB. Here's the math [Log(700/350) x 10] = 3dB

The MarkBass MB58R 104 has a sensitivity rating of 103dB 1W/1m. We will assume this is accurate and both cabs have the same sensitivity rating.

Let's actually calculate the SPL:

At 350W [Log(350) x 10] + 103 = 128.4dB
At 700W [Log(700) x 10] + 103 = 131.5dB
​

Usually speaker connections are in parallel. When you add a matching cab, the impedance is cut in half, the power handling doubles, and the sensitivity goes up by approximately +3dB. This is a theoretical gain and real world is likely to be <3dB.

If the amp doubles the power when you add the matching cab, you also get +3dB from the increase in power...double the cabs and double the power gets you +6dB

Two cabs at 700W [Log(700) x 10] + 106 = 134.5dB​

Here's another potential benefit of adding a cab. The reason the sensitivity goes up when you add a matching cab is due to something called mutual coupling. Optimal mutual coupling occurs where spacing between the drivers is within about 1/4 wavelength. Because wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency, optimal mutual coupling occurs at lower frequencies. So when you add a cab you should notice that the low end gets fuller and more solid. Whether this is good or bad is up to you.

 

[DeanSub]

My advice. Since you already have the 8 ohm cab, try it with the amp to see how loud it is. The calculated SPL with the 8 ohm cab is 128dB. In all honesty this is going to be more than enough for most people, so you may find that you already have enough headroom.

However, if the dealer has another 8 ohm cab available, I would take the rig in and try it with two 8 ohm cabs, just so you know how it changes the sound. Then you can make an informed decision.

If you feel the 8 ohm cab is barely loud enough, changing to a 4 ohm cab will give you approximately +3dB. 3dB is generally considered about the smallest decibel change we can clearly distinguish...so it's barely an improvement.

Adding a second cab, on the other hand, will give you approximately +6dB, which is a clearly audible increase in SPL. So your choice is between 1. keeping what you have, 2. trading for a (4 ohm) cab which will be barely louder, or 3. eventually buying a second 8 ohm cab which will make the rig considerably louder and also fuller sounding.

Supporting Facts and Discussion:

AG700 is rated 350W at 8 ohms and 700W at 4 ohms. For each doubling of power you get +3dB. Here's the math [Log(700/350) x 10] = 3dB

The MarkBass MB58R 104 has a sensitivity rating of 103dB 1W/1m. We will assume this is accurate and both cabs have the same sensitivity rating.

Let's actually calculate the SPL:

At 350W [Log(350) x 10] + 103 = 128.4dB
At 700W [Log(700) x 10] + 103 = 131.5dB
​

Usually speaker connections are in parallel. When you add a matching cab, the impedance is cut in half, the power handling doubles, and the sensitivity goes up by approximately +3dB. This is a theoretical gain and real world is likely to be <3dB.

If the amp doubles the power when you add the matching cab, you also get +3dB from the increase in power...double the cabs and double the power gets you +6dB

Two cabs at 700W [Log(700) x 10] + 106 = 134.5dB​

Here's another potential benefit of adding a cab. The reason the sensitivity goes up when you add a matching cab is due to something called mutual coupling. Optimal mutual coupling occurs where spacing between the drivers is within about 1/4 wavelength. Because wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency, optimal mutual coupling occurs at lower frequencies. So when you add a cab you should notice that the low end gets fuller and more solid. Whether this is good or bad is up to you.

Wow man. Unbelievable response! Thank you. That's incredibly informative. I'm in awe you took the time to look up all those figures. That's helped alot. Thank you. Im gonna keep the 8ohm and add another cab one day
Thanks Legend

 

[Raf Seibert]

Is the sensitivity of both the 4 ohm and 8 ohm drivers the same.? I believe that for some makers it may be, but for others it may not, with the 8 ohm driver potentially having greater sensitivity.

 

[themickster]

Hi Guys.

Just signed up. First time ever posting in a forum haha.

Just have a question for you guys.

I just purchased a new rig

Aguilar AG700 head
MarkBass MB58r Energy 4*10 Cab 8ohm

I realised on the way home from the dealer that we didn't talk about ohms in the excitement of everything. I think I was actually intending to get a 4ohm cab to get the most out of the AG700. But I ended up with the 8ohm version.

I called the dealer and he is happy for me to come and swap it for the 4ohm.

My question is

Should i keep the 8ohm so I can easily add another cab down the line. And just utilise half the power of the AG for now. Or go and swap to the 4ohm?

I will be playing medium sized venues for now playing hard rock.

Sorry for the long message

Also, I can't seem to upload my photo

Think how few run two 4x12s. Players here talk of having had enough of dragging that many big speakers about. Go for the 4 ohm.

 

[DWBass]

The 4ohm cab is not going to make you much louder. More speakers will. Even though your amp may be outputting 700w, your speakers will tap out and start to compress but the headroom will certainly make you sound more solid. Is your band loud?

 

[john m]

Stay with 8 ohm. It will be plenty loud until it isn’t.

If it isn’t, add another identical cabinet.

 

[BassBrass]

Add a 2x10 down the road so that you even have the option of going light weight...a single 2x10 is all you need for many gigs, cramped spaces too, unless you are a life long high volume drum guy, and the 2x10 will add the head level height that helps presence as well as max watts when needed. Yes at 700w even halfed you are fine.

 

[InhumanResource]

Hi Guys.

Just signed up. First time ever posting in a forum haha.

Just have a question for you guys.

I just purchased a new rig

Aguilar AG700 head
MarkBass MB58r Energy 4*10 Cab 8ohm

I realised on the way home from the dealer that we didn't talk about ohms in the excitement of everything. I think I was actually intending to get a 4ohm cab to get the most out of the AG700. But I ended up with the 8ohm version.

I called the dealer and he is happy for me to come and swap it for the 4ohm.

My question is

Should i keep the 8ohm so I can easily add another cab down the line. And just utilise half the power of the AG for now. Or go and swap to the 4ohm?

I will be playing medium sized venues for now playing hard rock.

Sorry for the long message

Also, I can't seem to upload my photo

Welcome!

I would stick with the 8 ohm. Getting all the watts (lol) is of less concern than making enough noise. The cab will only produce that it can produce, regardless of how much juice it’s getting. At a certain point (probably before your amp tops out) you’re getting all the noise you can get out of the cab and more juice will just start breaking stuff.

 

[DeanSub]

Is the sensitivity of both the 4 ohm and 8 ohm drivers the same.? I believe that for some makers it may be, but for others it may not, with the 8 ohm driver potentially having greater sensitivity.

Wouldn't know about sensitivity. What does that affect?

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Hi Guys.

Just signed up. First time ever posting in a forum haha.

Just have a question for you guys.

I just purchased a new rig

Aguilar AG700 head
MarkBass MB58r Energy 4*10 Cab 8ohm

I realised on the way home from the dealer that we didn't talk about ohms in the excitement of everything. I think I was actually intending to get a 4ohm cab to get the most out of the AG700. But I ended up with the 8ohm version.

I called the dealer and he is happy for me to come and swap it for the 4ohm.

My question is

Should i keep the 8ohm so I can easily add another cab down the line. And just utilise half the power of the AG for now. Or go and swap to the 4ohm?

I will be playing medium sized venues for now playing hard rock.

Sorry for the long message

Also, I can't seem to upload my photo

Just an FYI: I have only once bought 4Ω cabs. It was in 2018 and I needed a small venue cab for a brewpub where we played over 40 times a year (hosted open mic nights playing one or two hours depending on signups). I settled on an Eden EX-112 4Ω cab because it was only $269 new and a friend had been using two of them for about 4-years. He highly recommended it. I also bought an Eden TN226 class D amp (225-watts rms) to match with it.

The darn cab sounded so good the first night I played through it that I ordered a second one the next day so I could use two of them for medium-sized venues instead of rolling in my 410. My class D Eden amp that weighed just 4.7-lbs. could only handle a 4Ω minimum load so I had to use my big Eden class A/B to drive the two of them. It's a dual powerblock amp meaning it has two separate power channels. It can put out up to 400-watts rms into 4Ω or bridge at 800-watts into 8Ω. So I plugged one into each channel and away I went. My Eden WT500/800 weighs about 36-lbs in its rack. Sounds great, but is heavy...should have bought the 8Ω version even though I never expected to use a second one. I could have used the small Eden TN amp for most places I ended up using it.

I'd keep the 8Ω cab.

Here's my small venue 112 with class D amp. See how nicely it fits in a chair with the amp shoulder bag and my gig bag underneath it?

And here's my two x 112 set up with my big Eden amp. Every time I used it I regretted not getting the cabs in 8Ω. Even so, it beat rolling in my 410 along with this amp. I did get a lot of compliments on my sound with this rig though:

 

[DeanSub]

Think how few run two 4x12s. Players here talk of having had enough of dragging that many big speakers about. Go for the 4 ohm.

Think how few run two 4x12s. Players here talk of having had enough of dragging that many big speakers about. Go for the 4 ohm.

These new 4x10 cab from mark mass only weighs 16kg. It's super light. Plus part of me just wants a big stack behind me. Lol

 

[DeanSub]

The 4ohm cab is not going to make you much louder. More speakers will. Even though your amp may be outputting 700w, your speakers will tap out and start to compress but the headroom will certainly make you sound more solid. Is your band loud?

The band can get very loud. And most bands I've been in are loud. The more I look at the can aswell the more it's looking too small for me. Definitely going to get the other cab just to give it more presence

 

[DeanSub]

Stay with 8 ohm. It will be plenty loud until it isn’t.

If it isn’t, add another identical cabinet.

Yeh that's the plan now