Why 16ohm Loads

From detritu–(at)–x.netcom.com Mon Dec 28 11:35:53 CST 1998
From: detritu–(at)–x.netcom.com(Lord Valve)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.amps
Subject: Re: 4×12 at 16ohms???
Date: 27 Dec 1998 21:37:07 GMT
X-NETCOM-Date: Sun Dec 27 1:37:07 PM PST 1998
Xref: geraldo.cc.utexas.edu alt.guitar.amps:148926

In <15875-3686507C-10--(at)--ewsd-242.iap.bryant.webtv.net> DAL–(at)–ebtv.net
(jim black) writes:
>
>I just got a 4×12 cab and I’m wondering why its 16ohms. Wouldn’t it
>produce better if it was wired at 8ohms instead????Why 16??
>
>THANX
>BLACKIE

Lord Valve Speaketh:
First of all, a 16-ohm cabinet *cannot* be rewired to 8 ohms.
It can be wired for 4 ohms, or 64 ohms (not useful) but not 8.
If by “produce better” you mean it would allow the amp to deliver
more wattage, this is only true of solid-state amps…most of
which ship with 8- or 4-ohm cabinets anyway. For a tube amp,
as long as the output impedance selector is matched to the
impedance of the cabinet, the power will be the same at any
impedance. Running a tube amp at 16 ohms is advantageous on
two counts, however; first, it allows the amp’s power to be
developed across the entire output transformer secondary winding
instead of just a portion of it, as would happen with an 8- or 4-
ohm load. Second, the higher impedance minimizes the effect of
speaker-wire resistance, thus improving power transfer.

Lord Valve
Visit my website: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/lord-valve/
Good tube FAQ for newbies. Click the e-mail link and join my
SPAM LIST; just put “SPAM ME” in the header and I’ll sign you
up. (If you only want a set of e-mail catalogs, put “CATS ONLY”
in the header.) I specialize in top quality HAND-SELECTED NOS and
current-production vacuum tubes for guitar and bass amps. Good
prices, fast service. TONS of gear and parts in stock…let’s DEAL!
NOW ACCEPTING VISA AND MASTERCARD!

“It ain’t braggin’, if ya can do it.” – Babe Ruth