Comparing Speaker Cab Wiring

[Rhomco]

Has anyone compared the difference in overall sound coming from a 2-12 speaker cab that has two 8 OHM speakers wired in Series VS. Parallel??? As a reference, the same exact amp head and cab with the same exact speakers. Only the wiring is changing. I understand the different OHMs values going either way and I have a head with 4/8/16 OHM outputs.
Curious,
Rob

[pgissi]

The difference is the most dramatic in a 2x12 because your going from a circuit with 2 coils (which are inductors) in parallel to one with 2 coils in series. The differences are more subtle when comparing 4x12's using parallel-series versus series-parallel wiring per celestions spec (beware that some info on the web regarding which is which is contradictory, may show par-ser as ser-par etc.

As long as you match the OT for load impedance when comparing the wiring types, your comparisons will be more apples to apples. But if not then your throwing in another condition that will affect the outcome of your a/b testing and that would be impedance mismatching. It imparts its own sonics.

So 2 8 ohm spkrs in parallel wants to see a 4 ohm tap from the amp
2 8 ohm spkrs in series wants to see a 16 ohm tap from the amp


This may provide the best perspective and for clean tones my preference is parallel with any cab but for OD tones I 100% prefer series-parallel with a 4x12 and lean series for a 2x12 but that depends on speaker and amp.

Its something you have to try on a case by case basis, too many variables but think of it as another tonal tweak.

For me, the enhanced damping in parallel when playing OD tones is not constructive but works well for clean tones. In OD I want the coloration of series wiring, it not only has a different tone, but feel as well. I feel as if the mids and highs have a more liquid smooth quality to them, seem to fall off the fretboard and fingers more easily.



http://www.webervst.com/sptalk.html

I have two 8 Ohm speakers that I can wire either parallel or series to my tube amp for an impedance of either 4 or 16 Ohm. My amp has both 4 and 16 Ohm output taps. Are there any sonic differences or benefits of series over parallel wiring or vice versa?
Gerald, connecting two speakers in parallel is an old trick to smooth out speaker response and enhance the damping of either speaker. HIFI designers took it one step further by connecting two speakers of different sizes in parallel. A speaker has a large impedance increase at its fundamental resonance, and depending on the installation, this can cause the speaker to sound boomy or out of control. By connecting two speakers in parallel, particularly two speakers of different sizes with different resonant frequencies, each speaker will tend to quench or dampen the boominess of the other. Since no two speakers are exactly alike, even two of the same size, that damping will occur, however slight, for any speakers connected in parallel. For speakers connected in series, there appears to be less control, and more of what is called 'back EMF' from the speakers fed back into the output circuit. While that seems rather chaotic, many players prefer the series connection, as it gives them a more textured tone, enhanced breakup, and overall a more desireable tone for guitar work. It's totally subjective, of course, and many factors affect the end result, such as voice coil size, gap energy, closed back/open back, output circuit damping, etc. The

[Rhomco]

I want a dirty but not fuzzy/pedally 60's R&R Tone so if I use the cab at 16 Ohms (Series) my head will grunt harder than if I use the cab at 4 Ohms (Parallel) with the head set at 4 Ohms?
Dialin it in.
Rob

[pgissi]

I want a dirty but not fuzzy/pedally 60's R&R Tone so if I use the cab at 16 Ohms (Series) my head will grunt harder than if I use the cab at 4 Ohms (Parallel) with the head set at 4 Ohms?
Dialin it in.
Rob


I don't perceive it as more or less fuzzy although that can be related to this

I personally like series-parallel because it does seem to be less fizzy and buzzy in the high end when in overdrive, the upper mids and highs are somewhat smoothed with an overall jump in mid emphasis. On high overdrive settings it seems to be more pleasant for me where parallel was raspy but it depends on other conditions.

If you match load impedance harder is not a word I would use since matching impedance means your at the ideal energy transfer between an amps output tranny tap and the speaker load.

Its hard to give an answer since adjectives like "harder" "grunt" "fuzzy" "dirty" can mean different things to us. You may like what I hear in parallel as raspy as harder, not sure if you want that.

IMO with series wired 2x12, there is a noticeable mid emphasis and this may not be to your liking with some amps if they are naturally mid heavy or if you dial in lots o mids, it may be too much of a good thing.

I think when Weber said "enhanced breakup or textured tone" he meant in the mids, which is what the elec guitar is, its a mid dominant instrument and much of what we perceive as overdrive, breakup occurs in the mids.

its best to try to see what works for you and the specific gear you have. You may like with amp a but not b