Impedence question

[set theorist]

This isn't really an Axe specific question; but can I use two cabinets with different impedance ratings. We are playing a club with two house Marshall cabs. One is 8 ohms and the other is 16. Would anything bad happen if I outputted my Crown SLX 1500 to both cabs?

Thanks.

 

[Jay Mitchell]

but can I use two cabinets with different impedance ratings.

You can within some limitations.

We are playing a club with two house Marshall cabs. One is 8 ohms and the other is 16. Would anything bad happen if I outputted my Crown SLX 1500 to both cabs?

If you connect them in parallel, the 16 ohm cabinet will draw half as much power as the 8 ohm one, and the amp will see a load of 5.33 ohms. This is unlikely to cause damage, but I can't imagine a sonic benefit from operating one cab at a 3dB lower level than the other. If, OTOH, you connect one cab to each channel of the power amp, you can use the level controls on the amp to get the same volume from both cabs. That has the potential to work well.

 

[set theorist]

Thanks Jay. You da man.