my 2x12 project

malaclypse · 7th February 2012

Ok, so I'm having a 2x12 speaker cab built as we speak: solid pine, dovetail joints, oiled finish, with detachable rear panels. As for speakers, I'm getting a g12h and a blue.

Now, I've heard that wiring in series yields a "better" tone that wiring in parallel. Is this a myth? I won't be able to wire it in series anyway because my bedrock 600 series head only has 4 ohm and an 8 ohm output jacks. So I guess my question is, will I be missing out on anything since I'll be wiring in parallel. I figure ill get the 8ohm version of the speakers in case I want to rewire them in series in the future, for a different amp.

Also any tips or similar experiences are appreciated.

malaclypse · 10th February 2012

Bump.

So is anyone aware of any sonic differences between wiring in series and wiring in parallel?

drbob1 · 12th February 2012

I think it may be a myth, but you may have to try it out for yourself to be sure. Gerald Weber from Kendrick says that the output transformer uses more of its winding for 16 ohm outputs so it's got more tone???

sandersd · 17th February 2012

If your amp has multiple outputs (i.e. 4, 8, 16 ohms) wire the cab to use 16 ohms so the OT will use all the windings in the OT. I tried it both ways and it made a difference. If it doesn't you'll just have to wire it to give the proper resistance per the speaker rating.

malaclypse · 17th February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandersd

If your amp has multiple outputs (i.e. 4, 8, 16 ohms) wire the cab to use 16 ohms so the OT will use all the windings in the OT. I tried it both ways and it made a difference. If it doesn't you'll just have to wire it to give the proper resistance per the speaker rating.

unfortunately, my bedrock 600 series only has a 4ohm and an 8 ohm output. no 16 ohm, so i'm forced to wire in parallel, since the speakers dont come in 4 ohm versions.

Muser · 20th February 2012

I just put some 7 ohm speakers together and just make the wiring up. sounds better.

kafka · 20th February 2012

One reason to wire in parallel is that if you burn one speaker out, you still have another in the circuit, so you won't immediately burn out the OT as well.

Assuming you're not also mismatching, if we let R be the impedance of one speaker,

Parallel gives:
P = I^2 * R/2
I^2 = P / R/2 = 2 P/R
I = sqrt(2) * sqrt (P/R) = 1.4 sqrt(P/R)
However, since each speaker carries half the total current,
I for each speaker = .7 sqrt(P/R)

Series:
P = I^2 * 2R
I^2 = P / 2R
I = sqrt(1/2) * sqrt (P/R) = .7 sqrt(P/R)
In series, both speakers carry the total current, so we don't divide by 2.

The amount of magnetism induced in a coil is given by the current, so there won't be any difference in the speaker performance. That said, as Gerald Weber points out, if you're not mismatching, you're using four times as much secondary coil in the OT when you wire in parallel, and that should yield some difference in tone.

HeimBrent · 22nd February 2012

There shouldn't be any difference in tone as a result of the wiring, but the difference in impedance will give one. Amps tend to sound a bit different on different ohm-settings.

Mario-C. · 22nd February 2012

I've read that in series wiring one speaker will affect the other in a 2x12, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

7th February 2012	#1
malaclypse Lives for gear Joined: May 2006 Location: Austin Posts: 756 Thread Starter	my 2x12 project Ok, so I'm having a 2x12 speaker cab built as we speak: solid pine, dovetail joints, oiled finish, with detachable rear panels. As for speakers, I'm getting a g12h and a blue. Now, I've heard that wiring in series yields a "better" tone that wiring in parallel. Is this a myth? I won't be able to wire it in series anyway because my bedrock 600 series head only has 4 ohm and an 8 ohm output jacks. So I guess my question is, will I be missing out on anything since I'll be wiring in parallel. I figure ill get the 8ohm version of the speakers in case I want to rewire them in series in the future, for a different amp. Also any tips or similar experiences are appreciated. __________________

20th February 2012	#6
Muser Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2010 Location: UK Posts: 3,358	I just put some 7 ohm speakers together and just make the wiring up. sounds better. __________________ . .. GREAT!! I have this very same versatile, powerful? and high quality amplifier,,, Quoted frome the Radian6 user guide

20th February 2012	#7
kafka Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,267	One reason to wire in parallel is that if you burn one speaker out, you still have another in the circuit, so you won't immediately burn out the OT as well. Assuming you're not also mismatching, if we let R be the impedance of one speaker, Parallel gives: P = I^2 * R/2 I^2 = P / R/2 = 2 P/R I = sqrt(2) * sqrt (P/R) = 1.4 sqrt(P/R) However, since each speaker carries half the total current, I for each speaker = .7 sqrt(P/R) Series: P = I^2 * 2R I^2 = P / 2R I = sqrt(1/2) * sqrt (P/R) = .7 sqrt(P/R) In series, both speakers carry the total current, so we don't divide by 2. The amount of magnetism induced in a coil is given by the current, so there won't be any difference in the speaker performance. That said, as Gerald Weber points out, if you're not mismatching, you're using four times as much secondary coil in the OT when you wire in parallel, and that should yield some difference in tone. __________________ - It looks just like a Telefunken U47 - with leather. You'll love it ... - Jazz is not dead - it just smells funny. - It doesn't make much difference how the paint is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement.

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10th February 2012	#2
malaclypse Lives for gear Joined: May 2006 Location: Austin Posts: 756 Thread Starter	Bump. So is anyone aware of any sonic differences between wiring in series and wiring in parallel?

12th February 2012	#3
drbob1 Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,420 3 Reviews written	I think it may be a myth, but you may have to try it out for yourself to be sure. Gerald Weber from Kendrick says that the output transformer uses more of its winding for 16 ohm outputs so it's got more tone???

17th February 2012	#4
sandersd Gear Head Joined: Dec 2011 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 71	If your amp has multiple outputs (i.e. 4, 8, 16 ohms) wire the cab to use 16 ohms so the OT will use all the windings in the OT. I tried it both ways and it made a difference. If it doesn't you'll just have to wire it to give the proper resistance per the speaker rating.

22nd February 2012	#8
HeimBrent Gear nut Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 83	There shouldn't be any difference in tone as a result of the wiring, but the difference in impedance will give one. Amps tend to sound a bit different on different ohm-settings.