Can I use an 8 ohm and a 16 ohm cab with the same head?

[ala02c]

Yes or no? Ive read some contradicting things and dont want to blow the OT or fry something.

I have a plexi clone with 4-8-16 ohm out.
Thanks for the help!

[ToneGrail]

Not a good idea. If you run both cabs in parallel, you would be at 5.33 ohms. If you set you head on 8 ohms, you risk damage to your transformer via flyback voltages. If you set the head on 4ohms. You risk damage to your tubes. Some heads like Bassmans are more tolerant of mismatches. However, I don't believe Marshalls fall into that category.

Maybe one of the tech gurus can chime in and correct me if I'm mistaken.

[michael patrick]

If you set the head to 4 ohms you should be alright. You always want to try to match the two, but with a Marshall you can do a mismatch with the total load HIGHER than the setting on the amp by a factor of no more than two (8 ohm setting with a 16 ohm cab, fer example).

[ala02c]

so your saying i can run the two cabs with my amp set on 4 ohms, right? do i daisy chain the cabs or run two spkr cables from the amp?

[GCDEF]

Originally Posted by ala02c

so your saying i can run the two cabs with my amp set on 4 ohms, right? do i daisy chain the cabs or run two spkr cables from the amp?

Keep in mind the 8 ohm cabinet will receive twice the power. At 4 ohms your amp will be okay though. Either way you hook it up the end result will be the same.

[ala02c]

its prob better that the 412 gets more power anyway (its 8 ohm), thanks ill try running them at 4 ohms at practice tomorrow i guess!

[michael patrick]

Originally Posted by ala02c

so your saying i can run the two cabs with my amp set on 4 ohms, right? do i daisy chain the cabs or run two spkr cables from the amp?

Hook up each cab to a separate speaker out. They will be in parallel and as was previously mentioned the head will see a total load of 5.333 ohms.

If you daisy chain the cabs they'll be in series and you'll wind up with a total load of 24 ohms.