Sk1 Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Hey so I've got an 800 watt cab with 2 15s in it that's 4ohms. I'm thinking about getting a 1200 watt cab that 4 10s to pair with. What size amp head do you think I should need??? This sounds like a really bad math problem lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkin Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 15 minutes ago, Sk1 said: What size amp head do you think I should need??? You need an amp that you like the sound of. That's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 16 minutes ago, Sk1 said: Hey so I've got an 800 watt cab with 2 15s in it that's 4ohms. I'm thinking about getting a 1200 watt cab that 4 10s to pair with. What size amp head do you think I should need??? This sounds like a really bad math problem lol. Probably one thats about the size of the Empire State building with those cabs. But check the impedance will go down to 2 ohms if one cab is already 4 ohms - that will limit your choice a bit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 I went from 500 watts to 800 watts. I play at the same volume but the amp works half as hard and IMO sounds better as a result. The 1200 watt amps that I've seen seem to bring extra clarity and a fuller tone. Plus 2 or even 2.67 ohms is very flexible. The loudest I've ever been was when I used 2 daisy-chained TH500's into a 212 and 2 112's. That was during the sound check. For the gig I had to turn both amps down to 9 o'clock. So really big amps aren't always the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 On your cabs, I'd make sure that the 4x10 is also 4 Ohm. Wouldn't want to mix a 4 Ohm and an 8 Ohm cab personally since the power would be very unbalanced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Yep, make sure the amp can do 2ohms, not many on the market can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 I'm guessing you're fairly new to bass amplification? Sorry if that's not the case. a 2x15 is already a bigger cab than most of us currently use, it sounds like something from the 1970's, nothing wrong with that and a lot of older gear sounds great for not much money. A 4x10 alone is also a big cab by todays standards. Both will probably be louder on their own than you strictly need for any gig. Basically all you need to do is be able to produce the sound you like loud enough to match the drums for volume. Given most drummers that's already extremely loud. Any louder and you'll have to put both bass and drums through the PA. You may decide to run these two together just for the hell of it but unless you want to be antisocial to the rest of your band you'll need to turn down if you do. The other thing is mentioned above, you can't really successfully mix two cabs of different impedances. If your 4x10 is an 8ohm cab then it needs to be paired with another 8 (not your 4ohm cab )so the amp sees 4ohms and the power is shared evenly. If your 4x10 is 4 ohms (less likely) it will match the 2x15 but the amp will 'see' 2 ohms. Not all amps can manage the current needed for that and will shut down or maybe even mis-function. TBH save your money. Play the 2x15 with pretty much any bass amp and it'll be loud enough. Most bass amps are in the 3-500W range nowadays and that is pretty much enough for anything. My first rig was a 2x15Peavey with a 200W amp and it was more than loud enough so a modern 3-500W amp is going to be plenty too. If you hear the 4x10 and prefer it that's great too but choose it because it sounds good not because you want to be louder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sk1 Posted May 25, 2020 Author Share Posted May 25, 2020 I guess I should've specified that I have an 800 watt subway d800 amp head that can do either 4 or 2 ohms so adding the other cab isnt a problem there but not sure if it'll be able to handle the other 1200 watts??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 It will be fine if adding another 4ohm cab in, the cabs will each take half of the power, the only problems will be your back and suspension I suspect, plus finding a venue with a stage big enough (but I`ll bet it will sound great). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt on your Bass? Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 2 hours ago, Sk1 said: I guess I should've specified that I have an 800 watt subway d800 amp head that can do either 4 or 2 ohms so adding the other cab isnt a problem there but not sure if it'll be able to handle the other 1200 watts??? Don't worry about the cab power rating in this situation, if you're thinking about running two cabs, you can't 'underpower' a cab. You can put a 50w amp with a 1200w rated cab for instance. With that amp though I think you'll have plenty of oomph for the cabs. Always check your impedance though as that will cause you problems (fry your amp) if there's a mismatch and your cabs show a load lower than your amps cabability. As above, you may have a diffrrence in power to each cab depending on your choice of cab impedance. Something to be aware of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 5 hours ago, Sk1 said: I guess I should've specified that I have an 800 watt subway d800 amp head that can do either 4 or 2 ohms so adding the other cab isnt a problem there but not sure if it'll be able to handle the other 1200 watts??? Sorry, I misread your post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sk1 Posted May 26, 2020 Author Share Posted May 26, 2020 Hey thanks so much for the help everyone!!!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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