Using an Extension Cabinet with a Combo Amp
Using an Extension Cabinet with a Combo Amp
My combo has an external speaker jack, and I’m thinking of adding a 1x12 extension cab for bigger gigs. Does this noticeably improve fullness, or is it mostly about volume?
Using an Extension Cabinet with a Combo Amp
I run my combo with an extension cab all the time, and the biggest difference I notice is the way the sound spreads on stage.
Instead of a narrow beam coming from one speaker, the wider footprint makes it easier to hear yourself and helps the band balance without turning up as much.
Instead of a narrow beam coming from one speaker, the wider footprint makes it easier to hear yourself and helps the band balance without turning up as much.
Using an Extension Cabinet with a Combo Amp
Just make sure the impedance matches what your amp expects when running both speakers.
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MetalPlayer
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Using an Extension Cabinet with a Combo Amp
It can add both volume and low-end, especially if the extra cab has a different speaker that complements the combo.
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Solarflares
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Re: Using an Extension Cabinet with a Combo Amp
Sometimes it’s easy. Some makers are quite comprehensive in providing a good selection of speaker output sockets of different impedances. For instance, the simple Victory Baron combo has an 8ohm speaker and an 8ohm output. There are also two sockets for combined 8ohm speakers, if you wished to use an external cab, although this runs the amp at 4ohms.
If it’s the easy scenario, then you’d generally buy an external speaker with the same impedance as your internal one, and aim for similar efficiency.
But we can get creative. A lot of times in the past, with the limited options, it was necessary to replace the internal speaker in order to use an external. Like if you only had an 8 ohm out, and your internal speaker was 8ohms.
Then, you’d have to use two 16ohm speakers in parallel, and wire a through Jack socket on your cab (or two 4ohm speakers in series - which gives an alternative response/flavour.
Myself, I like to use all the output transformer’s secondary winding, in order to get maximum Iron and Eddy Currents etc. So if my amp has a 16ohm tap, then I would aim to use it in most cases. Of course, you can’t buy 32ohm speakers, and series wiring isn’t for everyone - usually requiring a little breakout box.
But anyway, all I would say is that if the amp has a 16ohm capability, then I would aim to use that if possible - rather than the 8 or 4ohm options.
9 times out of 10, it will be easy.
If it’s the easy scenario, then you’d generally buy an external speaker with the same impedance as your internal one, and aim for similar efficiency.
But we can get creative. A lot of times in the past, with the limited options, it was necessary to replace the internal speaker in order to use an external. Like if you only had an 8 ohm out, and your internal speaker was 8ohms.
Then, you’d have to use two 16ohm speakers in parallel, and wire a through Jack socket on your cab (or two 4ohm speakers in series - which gives an alternative response/flavour.
Myself, I like to use all the output transformer’s secondary winding, in order to get maximum Iron and Eddy Currents etc. So if my amp has a 16ohm tap, then I would aim to use it in most cases. Of course, you can’t buy 32ohm speakers, and series wiring isn’t for everyone - usually requiring a little breakout box.
But anyway, all I would say is that if the amp has a 16ohm capability, then I would aim to use that if possible - rather than the 8 or 4ohm options.
9 times out of 10, it will be easy.