Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

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MikeC
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by MikeC »

You should always match your speaker impedance with the amp's impedance. This is safe and provides for maximum power to the speaker. But for a short time you should be OK to connect your 4-ohm speaker to your Pro Junior. Just don't dime it/thrash it. Turn the volume up slowly to ensure the speaker is sounding OK (i.e. it has no sound issue/rubs or it makes no sound whatsoever). Get the right impedance speaker back in there asap.
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by Miza »

I have an Lpad attenuator, would it help the situation, or make it worse?
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by MikeC »

Miza wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 7:58 pm I have an Lpad attenuator, would it help the situation, or make it worse?
Wattage of that L-Pad???
Much better if you just plug the speaker straight in IMO. Follow what I said & also ensure you have good connections.
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by rickenbackerkid »

robthemac wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 7:47 pm Probably a dumb question, but what if you just jammed a high-current 4 Ohm resistor in series with the speaker's coil?
This will work. But you want a big fat resistor that can handle the power. And you want to mount it securely.

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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by rickenbackerkid »

a 100% mismatch is fine, but your PJ will be working very hard to drive a 4ohm speaker. And the PJ's (if stock) have a cute small OT, so it's probably not the best practice. However I'd say go for it, but maybe don't use it like that all the time.

Also - if you're interested in a speaker for the PJ, I have a Celestion Vintage 10 I've been meaning to sell. It makes a PJ sound really big compared to the stock speaker.

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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by Miza »

rickenbackerkid wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:43 pm
robthemac wrote: Wed Jun 28, 2023 7:47 pm Probably a dumb question, but what if you just jammed a high-current 4 Ohm resistor in series with the speaker's coil?
This will work. But you want a big fat resistor that can handle the power. And you want to mount it securely.
Something like
https://a.aliexpress.com/_m03SHMs
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by rickenbackerkid »

Exactly. That's a nice one to use as you can mount it in the cab with a couple screws and use some heat shrink to cover the wires.

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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by sizzlingbadger »

If you use resistor then half the output power will be lost as heat in the resistor, it will essentially act as a silent, second speaker ;-)

Don't bother, just try the 4 ohm as Mike says.
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by Dharmajester »

I highly recommend the Iron Man attenuator ( big version ). It's particularly transparent , will take 100watts and has a z matcher so you can set the input to the impedance of your amp's output and the output to the impedance of your speaker. Doesn't have a 2 ohm setting though so Super Reverb users are still in the land of the fucked.
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by MikeC »

Dharmajester wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:50 pm I highly recommend the Iron Man attenuator ( big version ). It's particularly transparent , will take 100watts and has a z matcher so you can set the input to the impedance of your amp's output and the output to the impedance of your speaker. Doesn't have a 2 ohm setting though so Super Reverb users are still in the land of the fucked.
That's a pricey solution!
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by Miza »

MikeC wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:52 pm
Dharmajester wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:50 pm I highly recommend the Iron Man attenuator ( big version ). It's particularly transparent , will take 100watts and has a z matcher so you can set the input to the impedance of your amp's output and the output to the impedance of your speaker. Doesn't have a 2 ohm setting though so Super Reverb users are still in the land of the fucked.
That's a pricey solution!
Indeed. The most I've spent so far on this cab is $25 on screws and bolts.

What cable do people recommend for making a speaker cables? Jaycar have a 16AWG speaker cable, but I've read ordinary power cable is also fine?
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by AiRdAd »

My Fryette power station has got an input ohms selector (4,8,16) and output ohms selector (4,8,16) - I wonder if that means I can mismatch the speakers with the amp, as long as I've got the sectors correct. I always match the amp with the cabinet, but I should probably read the manual :-)
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Miza wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 9:50 pm
MikeC wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:52 pm
Dharmajester wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:50 pm I highly recommend the Iron Man attenuator ( big version ). It's particularly transparent , will take 100watts and has a z matcher so you can set the input to the impedance of your amp's output and the output to the impedance of your speaker. Doesn't have a 2 ohm setting though so Super Reverb users are still in the land of the fucked.
That's a pricey solution!
Indeed. The most I've spent so far on this cab is $25 on screws and bolts.

What cable do people recommend for making a speaker cables? Jaycar have a 16AWG speaker cable, but I've read ordinary power cable is also fine?
5amp power cord is fine
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Re: Speaker / Amp impedance mismatch...

Post by robthemac »

AiRdAd wrote: Fri Jun 30, 2023 6:56 am My Fryette power station has got an input ohms selector (4,8,16) and output ohms selector (4,8,16) - I wonder if that means I can mismatch the speakers with the amp, as long as I've got the sectors correct. I always match the amp with the cabinet, but I should probably read the manual :-)
Yeah pretty sure the PS is designed for exactly this, can use any amp and cab.
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