BassBodBob Posted October 15 Share Posted October 15 Hello to 'the collective'... New member here! I have a pair of Trace Elliot 1x10''cabs (8ohms each but connected are 4ohms?) and am thinking to add another to make 3.. The amp head would be an Aguilar AG 500 or 700, which does have the capability to run @ 2.67 ohms, which I understand is what I would need? So: Looking to confirm what I think is true. But questions: Is it a good idea? Will it sound as good as with 2 (but just 'more?) The cabs are rated @300w each, so the head is well within that as the feed is split 3 ways, is that correct? I don't understand the physics of ohms and watts and volts etc.. Is it that lower ohms is easier or harder for the amp to work properly? Is it an issue for a modern amp head? Will it not deliver as it should, or get hot, or distort etc..? Or something else? Thank you for your guidance. Regards. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted October 15 Share Posted October 15 Yes three 8ohm cabs would result in 2.67ohms load which if you set your amp to that should be fine Each speaker will receive a 1/3 power each and assuming all the same spec. cabs will sound balanced 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted October 15 Share Posted October 15 (edited) I often run three 8 ohm cabs with an AG700 and it works well. It isn't so much louder as fuller sounding. As a general rule, running an amp into too low an impedance can cause it to overheat because it's being required to deliver more current than it is capable of providing. At low volume levels, it probably won't be an issue, provided the amp is adequately cooled and you aren't asking it to drive 1 ohm or similar. A low impedance load is easier for an amp to drive up to a point, but it's when you push things that problems can arise. Many modern amps have some sort of protection circuitry, which will shut down or mute them if you try to overdrive them. Obviously, you'll need to let the amp cool and address the issue that caused the shutdown before continuing. You're also likely to notice the sound gets dirty prior to the amp shutting off. Of course, if you like a dirty/over-driven sound, you may not notice that until there's a problem. Edited October 15 by Dan Dare 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBodBob Posted October 16 Author Share Posted October 16 Thank you both. Good not to hear that my idea is 'not the best' and that it can be done, cos Dan does it...! Also good to hear that the sound is 'balanced ' and 'fuller tone' which is what I'm after rather then out and out volume... Spooks me a bit to hear about the heat issue..... And that it can be a problem. The specs say it has 2 cooling fans, but I won't be driving it to high levels since my music room is quite small.... so I guess I'll be OK with that too. Regards. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fitzmaurice Posted October 16 Share Posted October 16 FWIW most of the improvement is the result of the third cab being closer to ear level, allowing the mids and highs to be more easily heard. You can come close to the same result with a stand. So long as it's less than 70cm high there's no loss of bass coupling with the floor. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted October 16 Share Posted October 16 3 hours ago, Rob Stevens said: Spooks me a bit to hear about the heat issue..... And that it can be a problem. The specs say it has 2 cooling fans, but I won't be driving it to high levels since my music room is quite small.... so I guess I'll be OK with that too. You don't need to worry, as your amp is rated to drive 2.6 ohms. Unless you really cane it (in which case, you're likely to notice because it will distort), you'll be fine. An amp will only overheat if you try to drive a lower impedance load than it can cope with. There's a safety margin before issues crop up - the impedance of all speakers varies with frequency and the stated impedance is an average. You'll only have problems if you really push things. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted October 17 Share Posted October 17 Or get a 210 for even more flexibility? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted October 17 Share Posted October 17 1 hour ago, Bolo said: Or get a 210 for even more flexibility? That'll likely be 4 ohms, which could cause impedance issues when combined with the others. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 17 Share Posted October 17 Do 3 cabs sound better than 2? Well you are moving more air, so if that air sounds good, more will probably sound better. In my case, I used to run 1, 2 and 3 Bergantino AE112's, depending on the band and venue. 2 cabs sounded great, but 3 sounded better and was my favourite config. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBodBob Posted October 17 Author Share Posted October 17 Again . Thanks to all for your input. Dan's reassurance that my compatibility worry is unfounded. Bill, I currently have my 2 on a small stand to elevate them....! Thanks. I also think it looks better..... Bolo, I have 2 10's now so adding another 2x10 would give me 4, and I don't want 4. That would probably blow my windows out if I let it... But thanks anyway. Chris. My thinking is to have exactly what you are endorsing. Oh and as an aside. Dan.... Are you from Wisconsin...? Regards. Rob 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted October 17 Share Posted October 17 1 hour ago, Rob Stevens said: Oh and as an aside. Dan.... Are you from Wisconsin...? No. London. "The Hog County" is an old nickname for Hampshire, where I live now following my retirement. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted October 17 Share Posted October 17 7 hours ago, Dan Dare said: That'll likely be 4 ohms, which could cause impedance issues when combined with the others. A quick google tells me there's no shortage of 8ohm 210s. It could yield a 110, 210, 310 or 410 configuration for any size room or stage together with the current cabs. Possibly more convenient to carry too. I like 12 inchers myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted October 17 Share Posted October 17 An 8 ohm 210 would be a mishmash of drivers that would not be appreciably louder than the 310 stack. They would only be getting a half share of power each in the 210. Tonally there would be no idea what is going to eventuate until tested. Stick to te 310 plan. But for home use I can't see the need. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted October 18 Share Posted October 18 11 hours ago, Bolo said: I like 12 inchers myself. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBodBob Posted October 18 Author Share Posted October 18 Thanks Guys for taking the time to comment on this. Bolo.. Yes you are right.. But I won't be troubling any stage anytime soon... Nowhere near good enough for that. Not unless something miraculous happens to my 'ageing brain'. Mr. Downunder... Thanks for thinking '3' is an OK plan.. And....You are right too.. There is no need....! But I fancy it...And it will more than I will ever need, and negates the wanting to upgrade/ change again sometime down the line, unless something either breaks or blows...!! R 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonK Posted October 18 Share Posted October 18 I'm not brave enough to run three cabs - but running two amps via a signal splitter box (so long as it has a phase switch) sounds awesome, and with class D amps carrying an extra head isn't a burden. I've got an Aguilar 350 & Ashdown Retroglide, Radial Bassbone to split the signal, and then as my other thread shows a whole load of trace cabs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBodBob Posted October 18 Author Share Posted October 18 Simon that's all beyond me... So I'll just leave all that technical 'mullarkey' to those that know what they're doing!! R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted October 18 Share Posted October 18 On 16/10/2024 at 15:10, Rob Stevens said: I won't be driving it to high levels since my music room is quite small Erm... you want to run 3x cabs in a small music room?! Wow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted October 18 Share Posted October 18 The conversation towards meeting some folks for a jam has a better chance at success with a 310 stack on your application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 18 Share Posted October 18 5 hours ago, SimonK said: I'm not brave enough to run three cabs . . . . 5 hours ago, Rob Stevens said: Simon that's all beyond me. . . . All you need is 3 cabs at 8 ohms each and an amp which can run at 2.67 ohms. That's it. All you need to know. No bravery or technical knowledge required. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonK Posted October 19 Share Posted October 19 9 hours ago, chris_b said: All you need is 3 cabs at 8 ohms each and an amp which can run at 2.67 ohms. That's it. All you need to know. No bravery or technical knowledge required. ...you trust your cabs more than I do - have you ever connected an ohm-meter to your cabs to see what they actually read? I've had thermal cut-off issues with amps in the middle of gigs before, while if you run two amps simultaneously there is a running backup! (I should probably add that I have only once been arsed to bring a double amp set up to a gig (albeit always have a little Aguillar 350 in my flighcase as a backup), but if I ever did want more than a couple cabs I would definitely do a multiple amp thing rather than connecting all to the same amp - running two amps sounds better as well so long as you can avoid any phase problems). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted October 19 Share Posted October 19 Multimeter DC ohm resistance across the driver is roughly 3/4 of the averaged cabinet acoustic impedance seen by an amp. So don't let a 6ohm DCR on an 8 ohm cab scare you. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonK Posted October 19 Share Posted October 19 4 hours ago, Downunderwonder said: Multimeter DC ohm resistance across the driver is roughly 3/4 of the averaged cabinet acoustic impedance seen by an amp. So don't let a 6ohm DCR on an 8 ohm cab scare you. Thats interesting and reassuring - do you happen to know why - is it just multi meter readings being a bit inaccurate or is there a cleverer reason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bremen Posted October 19 Share Posted October 19 Voice Coils impedance varies with frequency; multimeters read DC , that is zero Hz. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bremen Posted October 19 Share Posted October 19 On 17/10/2024 at 17:48, chris_b said: if that air sounds good 🥰 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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