Stacking GK cabs

StaggerLee

StaggerLee

Mar 7, 2021
12
3
1,551
#1
Currently using the Aguilar Tonehammer 350 with a Neo 1v 2x12 cabinet. Looking to upgrade to the Tonehammer 500 or even 700. In order to move more air efficiently, I'm also going to get another (smaller) GK cabinet to stack with the 2x12.

When stacking cabinets, is it as simple as daisy chaining the two cabinets together with only one of them linked to the amp head? Or is it better to have the amp head linked to the cabs separately? Working with Nuetrik Speakon inputs.
 
#3
Let me add a caution that is related to your post but not what you asked. With TH350 head, be sure both cabs are 8 Ohms! If either is a 4 ohm cab you will be showing the TH350 a load lower than 4 Ohms which will cause you a problem with the amp shutting down and possibly being damaged.

I'm not sure what the ratings are for the new TH heads, but the old TH 500 is only rated for a 4 Ohm minimum load. I'm not sure about the old TH700, but I think the new 700 can handle a minimum 2.67 Ohm load and so would work with an 8 and 4 Ohm speaker cab both connected.

CHECK THE MANUAL and/or look carefully at the minimum rated load printed on the back of the head by the speaker outputs.
 
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#4
Right on. I was about to bring up the concern of output/ impedance. I know the 2x12 bottom cab will handle 800 watts at 4ohms. So if I'm going with the old TH500, the new top cab would have to be 4ohms with minimum of 500 watt power?
 
#5
StaggerLee said:
Right on. I was about to bring up the concern of output/ impedance. I know the 2x12 bottom cab will handle 800 watts at 4ohms. So if I'm going with the old TH500, the new top cab would have to be 4ohms with minimum of 500 watt power?
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No...with the TH350 and my older TH500 (not sure about the new TH500) the lowest impedance load the amp can support is 4 Ohms. That means ONLY one 4 Ohm cab or two 8 Ohm cabs.

Two 4 Ohm cabs present a 2 Ohm combined load to the head and not even the new TH700 can handle that...it is rated for 2.67 Ohms minimum. Think about that as one 4 Ohm and one 8 Ohm cab or three 8 Ohm cabs.
 
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#7
StaggerLee said:
Appreciate the clarification. So my only stackable option is an 8ohm cab that has a wattage output equal to or greater than the amp wattage..
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Bass cabs usually run 4 or 8 ohms. If you want to stack cabs you would want TWO 8 ohm cabs so they will be a combined 4ohm load.

If your current cab is a 4ohm cab? You are already maxed out and should not add another cab.
 
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#9
Generally the Wattage rating on the cab should be equal to or more than what your amp can deliver. Remember though that a single cab hooked up gets all the Watts the amp delivers. Multiple cabs will split that power.

In the case of a cab that is marked at 500 Watts at 8 Ohms. If your amp delivers 500 Watts or fewer Watts into an 8 Ohm load you are fine. Don't worry about what the amp can do into 4 Ohm or 2 Ohm impedance loads. You are showing the amp an 8 Ohm load and the 8 Ohm power rating capability of the amp is all you care about.

If your amp can produce say 800 Watts into 4 Ohms, then a single 4 Ohm cab should be rated at 800 Watts at 4 Ohms (that will usually be marked right on the speaker connection area of the cab). If you hook up two 8 Ohm speakers the amp will see a 4 Ohm load and be capable of producing the same 800 Watts as with a single 4 Ohm cab. However, each of the two cabs will only get 400 Watts...they split it. In this case you could use two 8 Ohm cabs rated for a minimum of 400 Watts each...remember that the cab having capability to accept more Watts than the amp can produce is fine, the other way around is going to put your speaker(s) at risk.

Does that help? I'll save combining 8 and 4 Ohm cabs (a 2.67 Ohm impedance load) and how single and multi-driver cabs connected together distribute power discussion for another time.

One last caution! If you buy a used cab, be sure you know if it has the original speaker or if it has been replaced with a speaker of another impedance rating. I can take a cab with an 8 Ohm 12" speaker and replace it with an identical looking 4 Ohm 12" speaker. On new cabs I feel comfortable trusting the marking on the speaker input area, but on used cabs always be sure the real operating impedance is what is marked on the input plate.
 
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#12
pglaser01 said:
Once you figure all that out, one recommendation.

buy an additional cab first and try it out with the 350. Adding more speakers and a lower ohm load, you may find you don’t even need a higher wattage cab
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Apologies if this was meant as a joke, but the OP says his cab is a 4 ohm one. Adding another cab would result in less than a 4 ohms load, which his head won’t handle.
 
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#14
I’d give it some serious consideration. Are just bored? I used a 2x12 UL Epifani cab for years and years. The lightweight and convenience of it was priceless.

If a gig required more volume the large FOH handled it. Never was I buried on stage by the volume of the band.

I can see getting a head with more wattage but I’d do everything I could to realize a 2x12 is pretty capable.

ymmv
 
#15
soulstew said:
Apologies if this was meant as a joke, but the OP says his cab is a 4 ohm one. Adding another cab would result in less than a 4 ohms load, which his head won’t handle.
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not meant as a joke, I suppose I should have read further to see that the Neo v1 was actually a 4ohm. My apologies I just was saying, after you figure out the ohms issue, the OP may find another head isn’t actually warranted with two cabs at the appropriate ohms
 
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#16
USAJO said:
I’d give it some serious consideration. Are just bored? I used a 2x12 UL Epifani cab for years and years. The lightweight and convenience of it was priceless.

If a gig required more volume the large FOH handled it. Never was I buried on stage by the volume of the band.

I can see getting a head with more wattage but I’d do everything I could to realize a 2x12 is pretty capable.

ymmv
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Hit the nail on the head. I got the itch a few weeks ago to improve my set up which very well could have stemmed from boredom lol. At the end of the day, I just need an upgraded head to get me where I want to be. This GK Neo 2x12 is super light, convenient, and powerful enough for any gig.
 
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#17
StaggerLee said:
Hit the nail on the head. I got the itch a few weeks ago to improve my set up which very well could have stemmed from boredom lol. At the end of the day, I just need an upgraded head to get me where I want to be. This GK Neo 2x12 is super light, convenient, and powerful enough for any gig.
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I bought into the NEO 212 early on with 8ohm option. Teamed with a Fusion 550 there really was no gig it couldn't full very well. Outside I brought the NEO 412. I think more for looks than need.
 
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