Is running two speakers with a 'Y' cable series or parallel?

[KissTone]

This is probably one of those, "Duh! I should know this," kinds of questions, but if I hook up two single-speaker cabs with a simple Rat Shack "Y" cable, would the two speakers be connected in series or parallel. Just trying to figure out the impedance. Thanks.

 

[VanR]

Parallel

 

[rockon1]

Yep parallel. Is that a speaker Y cable? If not its probably not a good idea to use-perhaps at low volumes only. Bob

 

[KissTone]

It's just a little headphone 'Y' splitter that I connect the speaker cables to.

 

[rockon1]

It's just a little headphone 'Y' splitter that I connect the speaker cables to.

That cable isnt designed to handle the power. The wire inside is very small compared to a speaker wire. Might be ok at low volumes but I wouldnt run it loud. Bob

 

[KissTone]

Okay, thanks. I'm just running it at home at low volume right now.

 

[guitarstan]

http://procablesnsound.com/items/speaker-cables/power-y-adapter-70001-detail.htm

This is the way to go :RoCkIn

 

[Whiskey N Beans]

Bump for a question. I have a 1x12 cab and a 12" internal speaker in my amp. I have a Weber Y cable. Can I connect the 8 ohm external and the 8 ohm internal to the Amp. And if so, do I need to use the 4 ohm out jack or 8 ohms (I think 4).

Also, will I get more volume this way, or the same volume cut in half for each speaker? I want to add a closed back cab for some bottom end but I don't have two speaker out jacks on my amp.

Will I lose any tone or hurt anything (the amp or speakers) in the process? How much better would a "series" box connection be? Or, since my amp doesn't do 16 ohms out, series may not work at all for me.

 

[Whiskey N Beans]

bump ... anyone?

 

[Prattacaster]

Two 8 ohm speakers in parallel is a total of 4 ohms, so I would use the 4 ohm tap.
It should be a little louder, I guess you will find out!

 

[Willy59]

You need to know if your amp internal wiring makes the external cabinet jack series or parallel. My amps are parallel, but that doesn't mean they all are; consult the owners manual.

Series or parallel will not change the tone or character of the amp. The added speaker will be louder since you have twice the radiating surface area (2x speaker cone area) so it will move more air at the same power level. The amp will cetainly sound "bigger" as a result of the extension cab.

 

[Whiskey N Beans]

Thanks. My manual (early Budda 1x12 twinmaster) doesn't cover this. That said, likely glad it'll be louder if anything. I like a closed back cab with a 1x12 combo for the extra bottom end. But my other amp has two four ohm outs for this purpose.

 

[mp519rovin]

Mine's not working like that...I have two subwoofers connected via an RCA Y-Cable to a 5.1 receiver, and the audio is getting split in half. I know this because when I unplug one of the subs, it get remarkably louder. When two are connected, it's hard to even hear. How can I fix this? Is it a problem with my cable?

 

[ChargerSG]

They speakers could be out of phase which each other (one has the leads switched), it could also be the cable, or even an impedance mismatch that would lower volume.
You could begin to check the total ohm load of the speakers and what ohm load your amp is.

 

[mark norwine]

Mine's not working like that...I have two subwoofers connected via an RCA Y-Cable to a 5.1 receiver, and the audio is getting split in half. I know this because when I unplug one of the subs, it get remarkably louder. When two are connected, it's hard to even hear. How can I fix this? Is it a problem with my cable?

1.) Welcome to TGP

2.) if you have a question, please start a new thread of your own.....don't dredge up an old, dead, 3-year old topic.

3.) hmmm....5.1....that's home stereo stuff, right? That's not what we discuss in this forum (or really anywhere on TGP for that matter)