4x10 cab on top of a 2x10 cab?

[JoshBassDude]

I've seen a few photos of bassists using this stacking order. What difference does it make?

[EBS_freak]

Bottom cab (assuming the impedance is the same) will get the same power as the top cab but its distributed between two speakers instead of 4. By having the 4 on the top, the speakers closer to the players ears are all going to be operating identically. If you have the 2x10 on top of the 4x10, the top 4 speakers will not be operating the same and there will be a slight imbalance in volume (albeit slight).

This imbalance will be less noticeable down by your feet.

Edited September 1, 2017 by EBS_freak

[chris_b]

[quote name='JoshBassDude' timestamp='1504257131' post='3363667']
I've seen a few photos of bassists using this stacking order. What difference does it make?
[/quote]
No difference. . . . a lot of difference. . . . depends the cabs, the amp and the impedance.

[Stylon Pilson]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1504258093' post='3363682']
Bottom cab (assuming the impedance is the same) will get the same power as the top cab but its distributed between two speakers instead of 4. By having the 4 on the top, the speakers closer to the players ears are all going to be operating identically. If you have the 2x10 on top of the 4x10, the top 4 speakers will not be operating the same and there will be a slight imbalance in volume (albeit slight).

This imbalance will be less noticeable down by your feet.
[/quote]

If we continue to assume that the impedance is the same, the speakers in the 2x10 are being pushed twice as hard as the ones in the 4x10. Which means that having them down by your feet means that you're less likely to notice if they're struggling.

In fact, maybe that answers the question. The reason why the 2x10 is down at the bottom is because it's broken, and is now just there to make the stack look bigger.

S.P.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1504258093' post='3363682']
Bottom cab (assuming the impedance is the same) will get the same power as the top cab but its distributed between two speakers instead of 4.
[/quote]If that's the case you want the 210 on top, so that you'll hear if it's distorting before the drivers are endangered. For equal power distribution the 410 impedance should be half that of the 210 impedance. However, in most cases they're both loaded with 8 ohm drivers, with the 410 impedance 8 ohms, the 210 impedance 4 ohms. The correct arrangement would be to have the 210 drivers series wired for 16 ohms, but that's seldom the case.

Edited September 1, 2017 by Bill Fitzmaurice

[chris_b]

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' timestamp='1504265316' post='3363761']
If we continue to assume that the impedance is the same, the speakers in the 2x10 are being pushed twice as hard as the ones in the 4x10. [/quote]

. . . . or, if the amp is driving the 210 satisfactorily, the 410 is working half as hard.

Or another way. . . . if the amp is putting out enough power to be within the working range of the 210 there is no danger to either cab.

[Guest Jecklin]

When Gary Willis Was endorsed by Eden he used his 210 under the 410 as it threw out more bottom end and would overpower the 410 if put on top.

I got this from some interview or other he did in the late 90's

[Lozz196]

Whenever I`ve had a 210/410 set-up the 210 has gobe on the top, mainly due to the 410 in general being on castors, and my OCD deems it unacceptable for the smaller cab to be on the bottom anyway.

Not the most technical of reasons, but hey-ho, would be a boring world if we were all the same. There`s also the serious point that if the 210 and 410 are getting the same amount of power from the amp (if each cab is same ohm-rated) then I`d prefer to be able to hear if the 210 is struggling.

[jrixn1]

It's sometimes easier to pick up a 4x10 and put it on a 2x10, rather than the other way around, because:

- the 4x10's handles are higher up, so you don't have to bend as far down to pick it up

- once picked up, you don't have to lift it as high (because the 2x10 you're placing it on is not that tall).

Of course, this might be negated if the 4x10 was significantly heavier than the 2x10. My rig from ages ago was a Hartke 410TP (4x10) on top of a 2.5XL (2x10). In that case, they actually both weighed the same as each other (30kg each!).

[bigjimmyc]

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1504266709' post='3363777']
If that's the case you want the 210 on top, so that you'll hear if it's distorting before the drivers are endangered. For equal power distribution the 410 impedance should be half that of the 210 impedance. However, in most cases they're both loaded with 8 ohm drivers, with the 410 impedance 8 ohms, the 210 impedance 4 ohms. The correct arrangement would be to have the 210 drivers series wired for 16 ohms, but that's seldom the case.
[/quote]
Worth considering a high wattage 2x10 4-ohm to add to an existing 8-ohm 4x10. Just rewire the 2x10 as series instead of parallel to make it 16-ohm.

If you want to continue to use it as a 4-ohm cab, wire each driver to one connector on the plate, and then employ a series cable for 16-ohm or run two cables in parallel for 4-ohm.

Now to find the money for that nice Eden 2x10.....