Which is better for more volume 2 cabs or one cab with higher wattage amp

[JeezyMcNuggles]

If you add a low sensitivity cab to a high sensitivity one it's just about possible to make it quieter overall. E.g. 300W amp at 4 ohms, 200 at 8 ohms, 4x10 rated at 100db@1W@1m. Total SPL = 123dB. Add a 2x10 with 94db SPL, and the 4x10 is now putting out nearer ~122dB, the 2x10 ~116dB, combined is 122... so now it's actually quieter than it was by 1dB. In practice you wouldn't notice the 1dB, but it would be disappointing to add a cabinet and add no perceived loudness. You'd get a boost in the low end, though, which might help, and you might be able to shift the EQ which might mean you could get 124dB out of the combination, but you wouldn't notice that either. That's an extreme example, though.

Boost in the low end...hmmm...louder? (hands tossing) Same power. More speakers. More sound. Just saying.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Boost in the low end...hmmm...louder? (hands tossing) Same power. More speakers. More sound. Just saying.

In the example I gave there wouldn't have been any appreciable change in perceived loudness anywhere in the frequency spectrum, so for practical purposes not louder.

 

[zortation]

When I crank up the volume to full on the current head it makes a very muddy distroted almost fart sound and when I turn it down to where it doesn't make that sound it's too quiet I don't know if it's because of something I'm the head but would getting a knew 400-550 watt head 4ohm

How would I found out if it has broken drivers?

The general rule is if you need to turn the amp volume past 12:00 to be heard, then you need change something, bigger amp, another cab etc.

 

[baxter_x]

Or simply reconsider your eq. A too massive scoop in the midst leads to what he describes in my opinion