Plugging into a 412 and 212?

[D-Rock]

If both cabs are 8 ohms each cab will be getting 1/2 the power, but with the 412 the power is being divided 4 ways, the 212 the power is being divided 2 ways. Each speaker in the 212 will be getting twice the power of the speakers in the 412.

Say 100 watt out total
50 watts to the 212 = 25 watts/speaker
50 watts to the 412 = 12.5 watts/speaker

This is my line of thought too. I run a similar setup with a Mesa Stiletto 412 and a Randal 212, both are 8 ohms with V30's. I have the 212 on the floor and the 412 sitting next to it. The 212 works harder than the 4x12, but it's on the floor so the perception of volume/power is evened out.


It's kind of like opening a water tap full blast that has a small garden hose attached as well as a large fire hose. The garden hose is going to spray harder and faster, while the fire hose will just pour out water slowly like a fountain.

What may be an issue for you is that your 412 has 100+ watt speakers in it. So they are having an even harder time than usual trying to flex and push air when another cab is being twinned off it.

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

If both cabs are 8 ohms each cab will be getting 1/2 the power, but with the 412 the power is being divided 4 ways, the 212 the power is being divided 2 ways. Each speaker in the 212 will be getting twice the power of the speakers in the 412.

Say 100 watt out total
50 watts to the 212 = 25 watts/speaker
50 watts to the 412 = 12.5 watts/speaker

This was what I originally thought but now I'm more confused than before. I'll put the 212 on the bottom and see how that does, but is there still nothing that can be done to spread even power between all speakers?

I'm still curious if I would have this problem with a 215/412.

If it is an 8 ohm 215 then yes you would have the same thing. If you got a 16 ohm 215 then all your speakers would be getting the same power, but you would not have a perfect impedance match to your amp. The total load would be some where around 6-7 ohms.

 

[stephen sawall]

If both cabs are 8 ohms each cab will be getting 1/2 the power, but with the 412 the power is being divided 4 ways, the 212 the power is being divided 2 ways. Each speaker in the 212 will be getting twice the power of the speakers in the 412.

Say 100 watt out total
50 watts to the 212 = 25 watts/speaker
50 watts to the 412 = 12.5 watts/speaker

I believe this is correct.

You could get a 4x15 cab ?

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

Another option is to get the 8 ohm 215, then use that with your 212. that would get you equal power to all speakers.

 

[Spaceboy]

If both cabs are 8 ohms each cab will be getting 1/2 the power, but with the 412 the power is being divided 4 ways, the 212 the power is being divided 2 ways. Each speaker in the 212 will be getting twice the power of the speakers in the 412.

Say 100 watt out total
50 watts to the 212 = 25 watts/speaker
50 watts to the 412 = 12.5 watts/speaker

This was what I originally thought but now I'm more confused than before. I'll put the 212 on the bottom and see how that does, but is there still nothing that can be done to spread even power between all speakers?

I'm still curious if I would have this problem with a 215/412.

If it is an 8 ohm 215 then yes you would have the same thing. If you got a 16 ohm 215 then all your speakers would be getting the same power, but you would not have a perfect impedance match to your amp. The total load would be some where around 6-7 ohms.

I am planning staying within Vader for awhile and all their current production cabs are 8 ohm, including the 215. Would 15s require more power to pump out the same volume as a 12 inch speaker?

Another option is to get the 8 ohm 215, then use that with your 212. that would get you equal power to all speakers.

This is a great idea, actually.

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

The 15s should be close to the same volume as the 12s. It all comes down to the effieciency of the speakers. They will be getting the same amount of power, but the actual loudness of the speaker is equally based on speaker effieciency as power in. If they are also eminence legends then they should be close, or maybe a bit more effiecient due to the larger cone size.

If you want to run all three of your cabs you could always try to find a peavey classic 60 rack power amp to get 50 watts to your 412, then you would have 50 watts to each of your cabs.