Four speakers compared to one

[black cherry]

Hi all,

I have a silly question... but maybe not if you think about it.

Say I was playing a 100W head and I had a choice of either playing it through a 4x12 cab or a 1x12 cab. Keeping the amplifier settings the same, would the overall volume coming out of the 4x12 cab be four times louder than the 1x12 cab?

I am no expert in amplifiers or speakers but surely the 4 speakers would represent a bigger load and so the overall power produced by the amplifier must be divided into 4. However there are 4 speakers so the overall volume might be greater?

The mind boggles :think:

[toejam]

If you have a 100-watt head, you'd want your speakers to be able to handle at least 100 watts. For example, 4 speakers X 25 watts each. With a 1x12, you'll need at least a 100-watt speaker or you'll wind up blowing it.

[Spivonious]

4 speakers would be louder, as you're moving more air. Air movement is sound. Due to various properties of physics, it's not 4 times louder, more like 2.5.

You're right though, your amp would have to work harder to power all four speakers than it would with one. Toe also makes a good point. Driving one 25W speaker with a 100W head is a good recipe for blowing up speakers.

[DonP]

It depends of the effciency of the speakers as well.

Some speakers take a small amount of power and make a big sound. Other speakers are wasteful of power.

Look for the db per watt per meter spec. It's usually between 97 and 103.

[markD]

i play 100 watt heads through 1x12 cabs and prefer the sound over a 4x12. the sound is a lot more focused with the 1x12 and the sound of a 4x12 is "softer" in feel not volume, in my opinion. while all the above posts are correct, it still comes down to personal taste. i will take my rivera open back 1x12 cabs over ANY 4x12 ANY day of the week....

[horns666]

One Pussy ..or Four..what's better?

One Titty..or Four..what's better?

One Beer..or Four..what's better?

One Dollar..or Four...what's better?

One Marshall Cab..or Four..what's better?

WTF kind of questions are these??:think::think::think:

[jdr94]

one pussy ..or four..what's better?

One titty..or four..what's better?

One beer..or four..what's better?

One dollar..or four...what's better?

One marshall cab..or four..what's better?

Wtf kind of questions are these??:think::think::think:

[Shawn Lutz]

4x12's get my vote, always have, always will...hell I use 5 4x12's at home just because..well, just because I have em

[horns666]

4x12's get my vote, always have, always will...hell I use 5 4x12's at home just because..well, just because I have em

Shawn and I come from the same school of sonic Thom Foolery..

Five Marshall cabs in a 12'X14' room! It looks awesome and it sounds awesome. Class is dismissed.

[Rupe]

Shawn and I come from the same school of sonic Thom Foolery..

Five Marshall cabs in a 12'X14' room! It looks awesome and it sounds awesome. Class is dismissed.

Damn, I only have 4 4x12's Creating a windstorm in my guitar room...it doesn't get much more fun than that

[horns666]

Damn, I only have 4 4x12's Creating a windstorm in my guitar room...it doesn't get much more fun than that

Well, I would have four, for my Marshall stacks..but I need one for the Bogner.

[darrellm]

You're right though, your amp would have to work harder to power all four speakers than it would with one.

:think: How does that work then?

- your amp is 100w
- your load is 8 ohms for example (be it an 8 ohm single speaker, an 8 ohm 4x12 cab, or an 8 ohm resistor)
- so the power transfer is the same for all 3

Or have I missed something?
....slighly worried 'cos I run my Engl combo, 1x12, thru a 4x12 Marshall cab at gigs (both 8 ohms)....seems OK though

[marcus]

:think: How does that work then?

- your amp is 100w
- your load is 8 ohms for example (be it an 8 ohm single speaker, an 8 ohm 4x12 cab, or an 8 ohm resistor)
- so the power transfer is the same for all 3

Or have I missed something?
....slighly worried 'cos I run my Engl combo, 1x12, thru a 4x12 Marshall cab at gigs (both 8 ohms)....seems OK though

You are absolutely correct. An amp won't work any harder to drive an 8 ohm 4x12 than an 8 ohm 1x12. I am also not convinced that the 4x12 will be any louder than the the 1x12 as measured by a SPL meter. Each speaker in the 4x12 will be getting 1/4 of the power of the speaker in the 1x12, and thus will not be as loud at the one speaker in the 1x12. All things remaining equal, the 4x12 may seem louder due to a more diffuse soundstage.

[marcus]

I forgot to add, the 4x12 will definitely look louder, which is an important factor, psycho-acoustically speaking

[jgcable]

more speakers are always better