Picking up my Randall amp today. Ohm question???

[BenBeatle1225]

Well, boys and gals. I think I may have had a speaker wire issue.picking up my solid state Randall 120W amp today! The amp tech took it and had no problems, I did not troubleshoot this before because I bought a brand new speaker cable and just didnt think of it. Now splawns are solid, the cab is amazing. So I am picking it up today and to reiterate, I am plugging the 8ohm option on amp into 16 ohm splawn. There has been a discussion of matching ohms, compared to amp being lower on ohms then the cab. I am getting a lot of mixed reviews.???

 

[skullfxr]

What Randall specifically? What cab/speaker configuration?

 

[Racerxrated]

Well, boys and gals. I think I may have had a speaker wire issue.picking up my solid state Randall 120W amp today! The amp tech took it and had no problems, I did not troubleshoot this before because I bought a brand new speaker cable and just didnt think of it. Now splawns are solid, the cab is amazing. So I am picking it up today and to reiterate, I am plugging the 8ohm option on amp into 16 ohm splawn. There has been a discussion of matching ohms, compared to amp being lower on ohms then the cab. I am getting a lot of mixed reviews.???

My experience with SS power sections is limited to an older Randall RG100es, and an HH M900 power amp. If the power rating on the amp is say 800w at 4 ohms, then if you plug an 8 ohm cab to it the output gets cut in half at 400w, at 16ohms the power is around 160 or so. That's how my HH amp works anyway.

 

[skullfxr]

Well, boys and gals. I think I may have had a speaker wire issue.picking up my solid state Randall 120W amp today! The amp tech took it and had no problems, I did not troubleshoot this before because I bought a brand new speaker cable and just didnt think of it. Now splawns are solid, the cab is amazing. So I am picking it up today and to reiterate, I am plugging the 8ohm option on amp into 16 ohm splawn. There has been a discussion of matching ohms, compared to amp being lower on ohms then the cab. I am getting a lot of mixed reviews.???

Going from 8 ohm output of the amp into a 16 ohm cab should be fine. Generally lower to higher is safe, you may just notice a difference in volume or even tone compared to a correct match.

With a solid state amp it should be a non-issue. My OCD though still likes a match, or at least lower to higher.

100% this.

I always match if I can, even though 8ohms into 16ohms is fine.

But like I just said it's general rule of thumb to match.

 

[Devin]

So I am picking it up today and to reiterate, I am plugging the 8ohm option on amp into 16 ohm splawn.

Why? Does the amp not have a 16 ohm output?

 

[splawner]

Ben beatle you are fine plugging into 8 ohms on your head and using a 16 ohm cab...

 

[BenBeatle1225]

@Devin.. no just a 4 or 8 option!!

 

[Racerxrated]

@Devin.. no just a 4 or 8 option!!

Like I said, your amps actual output will be cut in half by using a 16 ohm cab. But it’s safe to do. It’ll just be noticeably quieter.