Dumb impedence question

[James M]

I just bought a Peavey Classic 30 (thanks Rouge.Guineapig!), and will probably swap out the speaker when it gets here. The Peavey website says it is 30 watts into 8 or 16 ohms...does that mean I can use either an 8 or 16 ohm speaker? That is probably a really dumb question, but I kinda thought impedence was more fixed than that....


Thanks!

[SatelliteAmps]

No, that means there is an 8Ω and a 16Ω tap on the output transformer. The speaker should be hooked to the correct one. If there is no labeled taps on the chassis, then it is hard wired inside the amp, and needs to be switched to work at its optimum.

[rockon1]

The Classic 30 uses a 16 ohm internal speaker. When a 16 ohm extension cab is plugged into the extension jack it switches to 8 ohms. Sometimes people use dummy jacks in the ext jack to use an 8 ohm internal speaker but thats another story. Bob

[James M]

The Classic 30 uses a 16 ohm internal speaker. When a 16 ohm extension cab is plugged into the extension jack it switches to 8 ohms. Sometimes people use dummy jacks in the ext jack to use an 8 ohm internal speaker but thats another story. Bob

So, just to be doubly sure, I can put in a replacement 16 ohm speaker and be ok?

[WaltC]

yup. If you look on the stock speaker (or measure it) you'll see it's 16 ohms.

[James M]

Awesome...thanks!

[Spudman]

I have a C30 too.
Would installing an 8 ohm speaker with a dummy plug in place in the Ext. Speaker jack yield a more responsive or better sounding amp?

[rockon1]

I have a C30 too.
Would installing an 8 ohm speaker with a dummy plug in place in the Ext. Speaker jack yield a more responsive or better sounding amp?

Shouldnt make a difference tonally. It only gives you the option of using an internal 8 ohm speaker. Once you do that though you cant use the extension jack-at least without an impedance mismatch. Bob

[SatelliteAmps]

Yes it will make a difference. If you don't use a dummy plug then you will be on the 16Ω tap with an 8Ω speaker. Running them at the correctly matched impedance will let the amp run correctly, and louder.

[rockon1]

Yes it will make a difference. If you don't use a dummy plug then you will be on the 16Ω tap with an 8Ω speaker. Running them at the correctly matched impedance will let the amp run correctly, and louder.

He asked if using an 8 ohm speaker with a dummy plug would "yield a more responsive or better sounding amp" . In other words 8 ohm speaker with 8 ohm amp setting vs 16 ohm speaker with a 16 ohm amp setting. Bob

[SatelliteAmps]

Sorry. Not how I read it. Rockon1 is correct, properly matched will sound the same, regardless of 16 or 8 ohms.

[mike shaw]

Does the same apply to a C20 - the dummy jack switching impedances?