8 ohm cab into 4 ohm solid state amp?

[pfindeis]

I have a Marshall 5210 solid state that i'm running into a 2 x 12 cab.
the amp has a 4 ohm jack and the 2 x 12 cab has 8 ohm. Each speaker is 16 ohm so i can't rewire it.
Is there a cheap way to get the cabinet down to 4 ohms so i don't get a volume drop?

Pete

[Old Tele man]

...typically, SS-amps can go UP in speaker resistance with NO problem, just get less output power.

[pfindeis]

it just seems to be a big drop having only 50 watts of solid state power to start with.
Seems like i saw a resistor somewhere that clipped to the speaker terminals that would do the job.

[Old Tele man]

...putting an 8-Ohm power resistor in parallel with the 8-Ohm speaker cabinet will yield the 4-Ohm load you're after...however, HALF the amps output power will be "dissipated" in that resistor...with the other HALF going to the cabinet speakers...that's a guaranteed 50% drop in power!

...but, simply using the 8-Ohm speaker cabinet will produce a "load mis-match" that probably introduces a much LESS power drop.

...so, you decide which you're REALLY wanting.

[pfindeis]

...putting an 8-Ohm power resistor in parallel with the 8-Ohm speaker cabinet will yield the 4-Ohm load you're after...however, HALF the amps output power will be "dissipated" in that resistor...with the other HALF going to the cabinet speakers...that's a guaranteed 50% drop in power!

...but, simply using the 8-Ohm speaker cabinet will produce a "load mis-match" that probably introduces a much LESS power drop.

...so, you decide which you're REALLY wanting.

I guess i need another 2 x 12 cab.

thanks for the help,

Pete

[bob-i]

it just seems to be a big drop having only 50 watts of solid state power to start with.
Seems like i saw a resistor somewhere that clipped to the speaker terminals that would do the job.

The power drop ins't that bad, usually about 20% which means the volume drop is very small.

Don't clip a resistor in the terminals, it just drops more power.