Ohms Same, But Which Way To Go

James Willie

James Willie

Serious Business
Jul 29, 2016
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Lake Texoma
#1
Need to buy speakers, but confused.;)

Been trying to figure out which way is better to go. I am building an 8 ohm 2x10 speaker cabinet, using Eminence speakers. Wasn't sure whether to go parallel wired or series with speakers.

Series_8ohm.jpg


Parallel_8ohm.jpg


Below are the specs I could find.

eminence2.jpg


Was recommended to the Eminence speakers brand as the best, but not sure if there would be something better. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks Jimbo
 

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#3
A lot more research on your part is necessary.

For example, of the two speakers you are looking at, one has a sensitivity of 90.5 and the other 96.4. All else being equal (which it never is) you would need to give the speaker with the 90.5 sensitivity FOUR times the power to get it as loud as the 96.4 one.

As mentioned already, cab building is a science. It's not just dropping a couple speakers in a box.
 
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#4
I will add that running series if one driver fails due to defect or burnout, the the cab goes silent with no load to the amp. SS amp output would not be affected by this, but with a tube output serious damage to the amp is highly likely. It is confusing at best when all sound stops, damage to an amp for no other reason is avoidable with parallel wiring.
 
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#9
Thanks All for the fast response. You are correct >>> I need to do more research. Built a cool Greenboy cabinet already. Bill Fitzmaurice site is cool. Yet, did not find a 2x10 there, nor on the fearful web site.
Respect to the science. Already copied the dimensions off another 2x10 cabinet. Got some lightweight birch plywood, tools, and glue. Made my own cabinet that stacks nice top of my Hartke 1x15.
Wanted to wire it best as possible. NOW Definitely going with the 16 ohms. Like it louder.
Still searching for the best 10 inch speaker possible. Was recommended Eminence brand,
but looking at EV, Hemp-O, and especially the Tone Tubbys.
It's all about the bluegrass anyway.
Got a much better understanding now.
Thanks for yall's advice.
Jimbo

Once was lost but now I see
 
#10
#12
May be I'm missing the point,
the OP asks for pros and cons of serial/parallel wiring but drivers are totally different that can do the job.
If the drivers mentioned are just for demonstration then ddifferent considerations are of no concerne.
If he want's to choose either one or other type of drivers then driver charcteristic matters more then serial/parallel wiring.
 
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#13
ThisBass said:
May be I'm missing the point,
the OP asks for pros and cons of serial/parallel wiring but drivers are totally different that can do the job.
If the drivers mentioned are just for demonstration then ddifferent considerations are of no concerne.
If he want's to choose either one or other type of drivers then driver charcteristic matters more then serial/parallel wiring.
Click to expand...

Re read the OP my friend, under the spec sheets the OP states: "Was recommended to the Eminence speakers brand as the best, but not sure if there would be something better. Any help is greatly appreciated."

Again in post #9: "Still searching for the best 10 inch speaker possible. Was recommended Eminence brand,"

:thumbsup:
 
#14
B-string said:
Re read the OP my friend, under the spec sheets the OP states: "Was recommended to the Eminence speakers brand as the best, but not sure if there would be something better. Any help is greatly appreciated."

Again in post #9: "Still searching for the best 10 inch speaker possible. Was recommended Eminence brand,"

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Yes, right, but I'm confused with:

Wasn't sure whether to go parallel wired or series with speakers.

followed be mentioning different drivers

which can be interpreted as consideration of pros and cons of the different wirings rather than driver choice.

Just my thinking.
May be it's nothing but translation issues.
 
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#15
ThisBass said:
Yes, right, but I'm confused with:

Wasn't sure whether to go parallel wired or series with speakers.

followed be mentioning different drivers

which can be interpreted as consideration of pros and cons of the different wirings rather than driver choice.

Just my thinking.
May be it's nothing but translation issues.
Click to expand...

More than just one question or issue being asked is the confusion most likely.
 
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#17
for the question of whether two 4ohm speakers in series is better/worse than two 16ohm speakers in parallel (assuming all else is identical) consider what you may want/need to do in the future if you add more cabs... or take them out of the 2x cab and put them in a 4x or 8x cab someday. Or do you think you might want to use your two speaker cab with an amp that handles 2ohm load for max power?

With two 4 ohm speakers in one cabinet --- you have the choice of rewiring them in parallel to get 2ohm or series to get 8 ohm.

With two 16 ohm speakers in one cabinet --- you have the choice to wire them parallel to get 8ohm or series to get 32 ohm.

Note that for a 4x cabinet with either speaker you can find a wiring arrangement for 4ohm or 16ohm

in a 4x cab with 4ohm speakers:
series=16ohm
Parallel=1 ohm (useless)
series parallel= 4ohm

in a 4x cab with 16ohm speakers:
series=64ohm (pretty useless unless you want to stack a lot of cabs)
parallel=4ohm
series parallel=16ohm
 
#18
AndyPanda said:
for the question of whether two 4ohm speakers in series is better/worse than two 16ohm speakers in parallel (assuming all else is identical) consider what you may want/need to do in the future if you add more cabs... or take them out of the 2x cab and put them in a 4x or 8x cab someday. Or do you think you might want to use your two speaker cab with an amp that handles 2ohm load for max power?

With two 4 ohm speakers in one cabinet --- you have the choice of rewiring them in parallel to get 2ohm or series to get 8 ohm.

With two 16 ohm speakers in one cabinet --- you have the choice to wire them parallel to get 8ohm or series to get 32 ohm.

Note that for a 4x cabinet with either speaker you can find a wiring arrangement for 4ohm or 16ohm

in a 4x cab with 4ohm speakers:
series=16ohm
Parallel=1 ohm (useless)
series parallel= 4ohm

in a 4x cab with 16ohm speakers:
series=64ohm (pretty useless unless you want to stack a lot of cabs)
parallel=4ohm
series parallel=16ohm
Click to expand...

AndyPanda >>> Then there are other consideration... If one blows in parallel, I still have the other one at half volume, but in series, I got nothing.
Before borrowed a twin Roland, and my Hartke. Sounded marvelous. But cutting down on floor space. Need it all stacked in one mass.

bass-amp-stack.jpg
 
#19
I am having a similar issue trying to find replacement speakers for my Bassman 410H cab. I went to both of the sites recommended by Rick James, but frankly found them more confusing than enlightening--unless of course you were buying the enclosure from one of those sources--not applicable for me...

I think that at least *one* of the OPs questions was whether, everything else being equal, there is a benefit to using low-ohm serial wiring scheme vs a high-ohm parallel one? If one had the choice to do either, which one is preferable?
 
#20
I'd go with the pair of 16ohm drivers. I believe most every 2x10 I've had had this configuration, and this would be my choice anyway. Also look at Faital Pro and B&C. Eminence are probably the best "bang for the buck".
 
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