Peavey VTM 60 question

[broconnell10]

Gear I have:

Peavey VTM 60

Vader 212 (8ohm)
Vader 215 (8ohm)

I am wondering the best way to hook up the 2 cabinets to the head. I have been told a few different ways.

One was to run the cabinets in series: Amp > Cab > Cab

The other was to run one cab into the head at 16 ohms and one in the cab at 8 ohms.

I just don't want to blow my head and/or speakers up.

Any help?

 

[Racerxrated]

Yeah probably not the suggested way..2 8 ohm cabs need to use 2 4 ohm outs from the amp. So my Marshall is set to 8 ohms, for instance, when using both speaker outs into my 2 16 ohm cabs. Not sure about series. If you went 4 ohm out into one cab, then out of that cab to the next I think you'd be OK? Hopefully more chime in..

 

[broconnell10]

So what I am gathering is to run in series, or use one cab...safely, anyway. I was also told that running one cab into the 16 ohm and one cab into the 8 ohm wouldn't cause too much stress on the power tubes, but it is always safer to max impedance

 

[broconnell10]

Also, does anyone know what the "Not used" jack is for?

 

[broconnell10]

Now I was just told that if I want to run in parallel, to plug one cab into the 8 ohm and the other into the 4 ohm. They said it would run as a 4 ohm that way. Anyone know if that is true?

 

[apophis]

daisy chain both cabs, and test the speaker cable tip for resistance. That would be the proper ohm setting.

 

[broconnell10]

Well, I know each cab is 8 ohms. If I daisy chain that would lead me to believe to hook it into the 16 ohm. I am mostly trying to figure out how to run the cabinets parallel. Running in series causes a drop in volume.

 

[apophis]

the volume drop thing is new to me..sorry

 

[bubbastain]

You can hook up the first 8 ohm cab to the 8 ohm speaker out and the second 8 ohm cab to the 4 ohm speaker out. OR you can run a cable from the 4 ohm speaker out into the first 8 ohm cab and a cable from the out jack of that cab into the second 8 ohm cab. This is assuming that your cabs have an in and out jack for daisy chaining. The "Not Used" jack is to be used if you are running a fourth 16 ohm cab. Yes, you can hook up 4 16 ohm cabs to that fucker!

 

[broconnell10]

Thanks so much. I appreciate the help.

 

[jrh_67]

Wow! I used to have a VTM 120 in the eighties......

didn't know those things were still around... They were built like tanks though...lol

 

[Hung Huy Tran]

Wow! I used to have a VTM 120 in the eighties......

didn't know those things were still around... They were built like tanks though...lol

That's why they are still around. Here is mine.

 

[broconnell10]

I see that you have those dip switches blocked off, any reason for that?

 

[broconnell10]

Also, quick question about tubes. I need to replace my tubes in the near future. What are the best combinations of tubes, both preamp and power tubes?

 

[Hung Huy Tran]

I see that you have those dip switches blocked off, any reason for that?

These amps originally came with a removable cover for the dip switches. I rarely adjust the dip switches so I leave it in place.

 

[Hung Huy Tran]

Also, quick question about tubes. I need to replace my tubes in the near future. What are the best combinations of tubes, both preamp and power tubes?

I've had good luck with Sovtek, JJ, Svetlana, and Ruby power tubes. I preferred the JJs but I'm happy with any of those.

For preamp tubes I like Tung sols and/or EH, or older Chinese tubes from the late 80s or early 90s in V1 and V2. Sovtek lps in V3 and most any JJ in v4. I've even ran EH preamp tubes in all preamp positions. Works for me anyway.

 

[dallasb]

Similar to my old PV Butcher

 

[broconnell10]

Similar to my old PV Butcher

Yup, the Butchers are very similar to the VTM series. I do want a Butcher, though.

 

[chunktone]

Now I was just told that if I want to run in parallel, to plug one cab into the 8 ohm and the other into the 4 ohm. They said it would run as a 4 ohm that way. Anyone know if that is true?

This is true. Run 1 cab on the 8 ohm and the other on the 4 ohm tap.

 

[broconnell10]

Now I was just told that if I want to run in parallel, to plug one cab into the 8 ohm and the other into the 4 ohm. They said it would run as a 4 ohm that way. Anyone know if that is true?

This is true. Run 1 cab on the 8 ohm and the other on the 4 ohm tap.

Thanks for the confirmation. I switched it to that and it seems to sound much better. I still need to retube it, but that can wait a little while.