I have not bought wisely

[heavaway]

Hello. I have painted myself into a corner and would welcome suggestions. [size=4][font=Calibri][color=#000000]I have been careful about money and managed to assemble the following kit: [/color][color=#000000]HH PA Amplifier, [/color] [color=#000000]Ashdown 4 x 10 bass cab, Ashdown 2 x 10 bass cab.[/color] [color=#000000]All good so far.[/color] [color=#000000]The 2 x 10 cab is 4 ohms.[/color] [color=#000000]The 4 x 10 cab is 8 ohms.[/color] [color=#000000]The HH says it cant go lower than 4 ohms.[/color] [color=#000000]Now, looking this up on the internet, I have frightened myself.[/color] [color=#000000]I am unsure if I can simply plug the two speakers into the two sockets on the back of the Amp, or if I’m now in some kind of Ohm hell.[/color] [color=#000000]Some sage words would be very welcome.[/color][/font][/size] I am assuming my only way out is to find another budget amp, split the signal from my bass and feed it into what will effectively be two rigs - one of the speakers powered by one of the amps and he other speaker powered by the other amp - does that sound right?

Edited April 28, 2017 by heavaway

[markstuk]

Yup - the overall ohmage of your two cabs is 2.7 Ohms.. Weird that the 410 is 8 ohms and the 210 4 ohms, but you have what you have...

Your amp might be stable into 2.7 Ohms (all of these things are an approximation) but if you push it, it may well go pop..

Is the amp an MA100?

Edited April 28, 2017 by markstuk

[Jack]

Hello!

Yes, you will indeed run into an impedance problem with that set up. Unfortunately the minimum impedance that they amp can take is 4R as you've said, so that means that [b]either[/b] your 2x10 or 4x10 would be just fine. Unfortunately, running them [b]both together[/b] will result in a load of 2R67 for the head, which is very bad news.

Some points to think about:

Are you sure that you have the cabinets impedance right? I can't think of an Ashdown 2x10" that's 4R.....

Can you provide model numbers of the amp and both cabs for us please?

Will one of the cabs (probably the 4x10") be loud enough on it's own? Do you really need a 6x10"?

If it's really looking bleak then there are plenty of other amps and cabs out there, no need to run two amps if you don't want to.

Edited April 28, 2017 by Jack

[obbm]

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1493389273' post='3288015']
Weird that the 410 is 8 ohms and the 210 4 ohms, but you have what you have...
[/quote]

That would be right.
4x10 is 4x8-ohms are in series/parallel.
2x10 is 2 x 8-ohms in parallel.

[Jack]

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1493389592' post='3288020']
That would be right.
4x10 is 4x8-ohms are in series/parallel.
2x10 is 2 x 8-ohms in parallel.
[/quote]

Not always though, plenty of 4R drivers about to allow for either 4 or 8 in 2x10" or 4x10".

Just another reason to bemoan 4 ohm cabinets. Why do manufacturers persist?

[Chienmortbb]

The others are right about the impedances. The MA100 or MA150 are as you say PA amps that have a simple two was baxandall EQ system but are also designed as mic inputs they won't be ideal for bass.

[Beer of the Bass]

If your 4-ohm 2x10 uses two 8 ohm drivers in parallel (which it almost certainly will), you could rewire it with the drivers in series to become a 16 ohm cab. Then both cabs together would be a 5.3 ohm load with the 2x10 using half as much of the amp's power as the 4x10, which seems ideal. You would want to disconnect any crossover and tweeter components in the 2x10" if you went this route.

Edited April 28, 2017 by Beer of the Bass

[Ashdown Engineering]

Whats the 2x10? Nearly every 2x10 cab we've ever made has been 8 Ohm...

[Elfrasho]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1493391738' post='3288043']
If your 4-ohm 2x10 uses two 8 ohm drivers in parallel (which it almost certainly will), you could rewire it with the drivers in series to become a 16 ohm cab. Then both cabs together would be a 5.3 ohm load with the 2x10 using half as much of the amp's power as the 4x10, which seems ideal. You would want to disconnect any crossover and tweeter components in the 2x10" if you went this route.
[/quote]

This would be mychoice of thing to do if you are insistent in using both cabs.

[Luulox]

The title of this thread will be the title of my autobiography.

[xgsjx]

Now, if your 2x10 is 4Ω, and you did rewire it to make it a 16Ω cab, that would be one of the few 4x10 & 2x10 rigs that would actually give each driver the same power!
Why don't more cab builders do that?

[blunderthumbs]

[quote name='Ashdown Engineering' timestamp='1493393107' post='3288057']
Whats the 2x10? Nearly every 2x10 cab we've ever made has been 8 Ohm...
[/quote]
+1 for the 2x10 cab Ohm rating. I've never seen an Ashdown 2x10 cab that is not 8 ohms

[Phil Starr]

All the advice is right so far and I wouldn't doubt Ashdown, nice to see you on here guys Always helpful people I find.

It's possible that someone has replaced the drivers at some stage I guess, 8ohm drivers are the most commonly available which will give you a 4ohm cab. you need to check before you proceed. If you have access to a meter than any resistance above about 5ohms would indicate an 8ohm cab. The impedance is always a little higher than the DC resistance. Alternatively you might be able to take the speakers out and they may have the impedance marked on the back of the magnet. If they are 8's and you always want to use the two cabs together the series route is the one to go for. I'd imagine though that your 4x10 is going to be loud enough for most things.

[EBS_freak]

Sell the PA head, sell the 210 - put it towards funding a bass amp. That HH is going to hold you back.

A 410 with a decent bass head would make for a great rig.