• From: braintree essex
  • Registered: 2010-02-22
  • Posts: 221

Topic: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

silly question but not sure if to get 8ohms or 16ohms? 2x12 throught 100 watt head?? is there a differance?
or is it just to do with if its in series or parallel? big_smile

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

I'm not an expert at this and get confused from time to time, but if you have 2 16 ohm speakers wired in series the power will stay 16 ohms.  If you wire in parallel you will have 2 16 ohm speakers and will drom the ohms to 8.  The lower the ohms the more wattage is pushing the driver (speaker) So if your 100 watt marshall is running 16 ohms your not using the maximum power out of the amp, your not really using 100 watts even if you push it wide open. 

Its best to start with what your amp suggests before playing around with it.  If you drop the ohms too low the amp will, and could make too much power for the transformers to handle and you will blow the amp.  NEVER drop down lower then 2 ohms, and for safe keeping don't go past 4 ohms.

We did this with a power mixer.  Somebody didn't know what they were doing and dasiy chained 3 8ohm speaker cabinets together.  2 8ohm cabs was 4ohm, and 3 8ohm cabs dropped it to about 2ohms we think.  It blew almost instantly ending a very short practice. 

So yes there is a difference but I belive it to be a difference in power and overall volume not as much on tone.  However I'm sure a guitarist can find a sound they think sound better then the other if they experiment.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

It depends on the ratings of your speakers and how they are wired. If you mismatch your amp and cabinet you risk ruining your amp's transformer.

  • From: braintree essex
  • Registered: 2010-02-22
  • Posts: 221

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

I'm gonna buy 2 evm12  and run my Marshall dsl 100 thru it! What's the best way to do this?

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

The DSL has the option of being run at 4-8 or can power a SINGLE 16ohm cabinet.  The Marshall 1936 cab is wired for 8ohms mono or 16 stereo if you're looking for a matching cab.  I don't think there is any sonic difference in 8 or 16 ohms, one isn't louder than the other.  Most amps seem to always at least have an 8 ohm output so if you have a cab made to accept 8 ohms you should be covered for the most part if you decide to get another amp.  Even if you were running an amp at 4 ohms into an 8 or 16ohm cab, its better than doing 16 ohms into an 8 or 4ohm cab.  That is when you will have problems and probably a repair bill.

  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

Some people say that a Marshall sounds best pushing a 16Ω load. I'm not sure that I could tell much difference between 8 or 16.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

As long as the amp matches the cabinet, you will be fine.

The nice thing about 16ohm is you can make them 8 ohm depending on how you have them wired. I usually go between 8 and 16 ohm.

You should not be able to hear a difference between 8 and 16 ohm.

If your amp only puts out 8 ohms and your cab is 16 ohms (higher) you are still fine. You just don't want a 8 ohm amp going into a (lower) 4 ohm speaker (very bad). Most amp's user manuals explain this.

The EVMs I ordered were 16 ohm, and I like em.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 176

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

AD3THREE wrote:

I'm not an expert at this and get confused from time to time, but if you have 2 16 ohm speakers wired in series the power will stay 16 ohms.  If you wire in parallel you will have 2 16 ohm speakers and will drom the ohms to 8.

Wrong!
2 16 ohms speakers wired in series make 32 ohms, not 16!
2 16 ohms speakers wired in parallel make 8 ohms.

A simple way of looking at (and remembering) things is this: series multiplies, parallel divides.
As a general rule you have a lot more possible combinations with 8 ohms speakers than with 16 ohms, which is why shops sell a lot more 8 than 16 ohms speakers.  wink

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

twistingcrow wrote:

2 16 ohms speakers wired in series make 32 ohms, not 16!
2 16 ohms speakers wired in parallel make 8 ohms.

A simple way of looking at (and remembering) things is this: series multiplies, parallel divides.
As a general rule you have a lot more possible combinations with 8 ohms speakers than with 16 ohms, which is why shops sell a lot more 8 than 16 ohms speakers.  wink

this is is how I know from another example.
If I have a 4x12 cabinet with four 16ohm speakers...

I can do one of two things:
1. Go 4x12 in series making 16 ohms
2. Go two 2x12 in parallel for two 8 ohms in one cabinet


My question is this... if I have two 16 ohm cabs, both plugged into the back of my amp, do I set the amp at 16 ohms or 8ohms?

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

10 Reply by Vej (edited by Vej 2011-04-26 16:26:34)

  • Vej
  • Vej
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  • From: Sacramento
  • Registered: 2010-01-03
  • Posts: 6

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

My question is this... if I have two 16 ohm cabs, both plugged into the back of my amp, do I set the amp at 16 ohms or 8ohms?

8 ohms...

2 - 16 ohm cabs ran parallel = 8 ohms total load.

  • macg1
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

I cannot tell the difference, but Scott Henderson swears he can.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

Vej wrote:
NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

My question is this... if I have two 16 ohm cabs, both plugged into the back of my amp, do I set the amp at 16 ohms or 8ohms?

8 ohms...

2 - 16 ohm cabs ran parallel = 8 ohms total load.

OK.... so if I have TWO 8 ohm speaker cabinets, my amp should be set to 4 ohms and not 8???

Just making sure I'm getting this!  wink

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

macg1 wrote:

I cannot tell the difference, but Scott Henderson swears he can.

So does Eric Johnson..but who am I to judge.

  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 176

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:
Vej wrote:
NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

My question is this... if I have two 16 ohm cabs, both plugged into the back of my amp, do I set the amp at 16 ohms or 8ohms?

8 ohms...

2 - 16 ohm cabs ran parallel = 8 ohms total load.

OK.... so if I have TWO 8 ohm speaker cabinets, my amp should be set to 4 ohms and not 8???

Just making sure I'm getting this!  wink


100% correct.

  • Registered: 2008-03-07
  • Posts: 508

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

Hey everybody

If you have trouble understanding Speaker impeadance and how to

work out the various configurations , download the spreadsheet from

http://www.duncanamps.com/technical/impedance.html

it is invaluable !!!!

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion. wink
  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: can anyone tell me if there is a differance between 8ohm and 16ohm?

SOFTMC wrote:

Hey everybody

If you have trouble understanding Speaker impeadance and how to

work out the various configurations , download the spreadsheet from

http://www.duncanamps.com/technical/impedance.html

it is invaluable !!!!

Now THAT'S good...Thank you.

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