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Post by 63fenderman on Aug 3, 2018 10:54:38 GMT -7
Just ordered one from humbucker. It's the parallel one. I searched all over google and couldn't find definitively but, parallel cables can have one side left unplugged and not damage anything. Right? I can leave this cable plugged in the back of my combo all the time with the internal speakers connected and only connect the other side when I am using it and still have no problems?
Thanks in advance.
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Post by doctorice on Aug 3, 2018 11:32:01 GMT -7
Not quite. You will need to switch which speaker out jack you are using. When you add a second speaker the impedance load presented to the amplifier changes. Let's assume you are running a single 8-ohm speaker. Make sure the cable is plugged into the 8-ohm speaker out on your amp. (Yes, it's ok to not have anything plugged into the other leg of the parallel cable. But it's a bit lazy ) Now, you add a second 8-ohm speaker on the parallel cable. Move the "amp end" of the cable to the 4-ohm speaker output. The math of parallel loads is, in this case, 1/8 + 1/8 = 1/4, then invert that, getting 4 ohms. If you use two 16-ohm speakers, 1/16 + 1/16 = 1/8, indicating an 8-ohm load. AVOID putting two 4-ohms speakers in parallel: that gives a 2-ohm load and most amps are not equipped for that. (There are impedance matching devices on the market that can accommodate this if you need to.) And yes, you can mix 8-ohm and 16-ohm; the load is a little over 5 ohms and it's fine to plug that into the 4-ohm speaker output -- but not into the 8- or 16-ohm outputs. Other combinations (4 + 8, 4 + 16) best avoided as loads are below 4 ohms. Hope this provides what you needed to know without TMI.
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Post by 63fenderman on Aug 3, 2018 11:43:43 GMT -7
Not quite. You will need to switch which speaker out jack you are using. When you add a second speaker the impedance load presented to the amplifier changes. Let's assume you are running a single 8-ohm speaker. Make sure the cable is plugged into the 8-ohm speaker out on your amp. (Yes, it's ok to not have anything plugged into the other leg of the parallel cable. But it's a bit lazy ) Now, you add a second 8-ohm speaker on the parallel cable. Move the "amp end" of the cable to the 4-ohm speaker output. The math of parallel loads is, in this case, 1/8 + 1/8 = 1/4, then invert that, getting 4 ohms. If you use two 16-ohm speakers, 1/16 + 1/16 = 1/8, indicating an 8-ohm load. AVOID putting two 4-ohms speakers in parallel: that gives a 2-ohm load and most amps are not equipped for that. (There are impedance matching devices on the market that can accommodate this if you need to.) And yes, you can mix 8-ohm and 16-ohm; the load is a little over 5 ohms and it's fine to plug that into the 4-ohm speaker output -- but not into the 8- or 16-ohm outputs. Other combinations (4 + 8, 4 + 16) best avoided as loads are below 4 ohms. Hope this provides what you needed to know without TMI. Yeah, I knew impedance would change. Thank you for the info!
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Post by pcns on Aug 3, 2018 11:51:05 GMT -7
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Aug 3, 2018 12:16:25 GMT -7
Be careful with jack that is not plugged into anything as it will be energized with speaker signal. Don’t let it short against anything as that will drastically change the impedance load the amp sees and could result in a release of the magic smoke...
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Post by DeanG on Aug 6, 2018 0:26:31 GMT -7
+1 on the PCNS Y cable.
Robust, well made with quality parts.
Very happy with all of Todd's products I have purchased.
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Post by runninwiththerevil (Matthew) on Mar 18, 2019 19:45:28 GMT -7
Hi Todd, I've seen many refer you regarding the Y speaker cables here. I have a Maz 18 NR in a 112 combo. I just scored a Z 210 and will be needing a Y. Can you help me understand the differences or benefits regarding getting a cable for series or parallel? I understand the difference between the two regarding the technical workings. I'm asking more in regards to sonic differences.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Mar 18, 2019 20:19:59 GMT -7
Hi Todd, I've seen many refer you regarding the Y speaker cables here. I have a Maz 18 NR in a 112 combo. I just scored a Z 210 and will be needing a Y. Can you help me understand the differences or benefits regarding getting a cable for series or parallel? I understand the difference between the two regarding the technical workings. I'm asking more in regards to sonic differences. Definitely asking the right person!
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Mar 18, 2019 20:30:09 GMT -7
BTW - I sent Todd a note letting him know you had asked him a question in this thread - you'll hear back on this one (but maybe not tonight - he has a "real" day job)
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Post by pcns on Mar 19, 2019 6:25:38 GMT -7
Hi Todd, I've seen many refer you regarding the Y speaker cables here. I have a Maz 18 NR in a 112 combo. I just scored a Z 210 and will be needing a Y. Can you help me understand the differences or benefits regarding getting a cable for series or parallel? I understand the difference between the two regarding the technical workings. I'm asking more in regards to sonic differences. Hello, The primary difference between series and parallel from a sonic perspective is how tight the combination will feel to you when playing. In a series config the power goes to one speaker and then the other speaker. There is an ever so slight difference in when the speakers fire. This can be perceived as a softer, mushier or fatter depending on how you want to describe it. It can be hard to distinguish. Parallel, all the power hits the cabs/speakers at the same time giving you a tighter, punchier sound. Since electricity travels very fast through the wires (approaches the speed of light) this difference will be very slight. I think that most of the "tone" differences that people here when going between series and parallel is attributed to using different outputs on the amp. For example, two 8ohm speaker cabs wired in series will allow you to use the 16ohm output on an amp. More of the output transformer is being used and there is a slight difference in how the speakers see the power. That will change what you hear. The same set up with a parallel Y able will plug into your 4ohm output and will sound different. I have played around with different amps before and on some amps going between 4 and 16ohm didn't make any difference and others it was very noticeable. Without going total geek here it is important to understand what happening with your amp at different loads (ohms). Here is a reasonable website that explains this in a simple manner. geoffthegreygeek.com/speaker-impedance-changes-amplifier-power/As far as exactly what you will hear different, that will depend on your ears, your amp and what you have been used too. My best advice is to try both and see what you like better. There isn't going to be a right or wrong answer just what you really prefer.
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Post by runninwiththerevil (Matthew) on Mar 19, 2019 10:44:40 GMT -7
Hello, The primary difference between series and parallel from a sonic perspective is how tight the combination will feel to you when playing. In a series config the power goes to one speaker and then the other speaker. There is an ever so slight difference in when the speakers fire. This can be perceived as a softer, mushier or fatter depending on how you want to describe it. It can be hard to distinguish. Parallel, all the power hits the cabs/speakers at the same time giving you a tighter, punchier sound. Since electricity travels very fast through the wires (approaches the speed of light) this difference will be very slight. I think that most of the "tone" differences that people here when going between series and parallel is attributed to using different outputs on the amp. For example, two 8ohm speaker cabs wired in series will allow you to use the 16ohm output on an amp. More of the output transformer is being used and there is a slight difference in how the speakers see the power. That will change what you hear. The same set up with a parallel Y able will plug into your 4ohm output and will sound different. I have played around with different amps before and on some amps going between 4 and 16ohm didn't make any difference and others it was very noticeable. Without going total geek here it is important to understand what happening with your amp at different loads (ohms). Here is a reasonable website that explains this in a simple manner. geoffthegreygeek.com/speaker-impedance-changes-amplifier-power/As far as exactly what you will hear different, that will depend on your ears, your amp and what you have been used too. My best advice is to try both and see what you like better. There isn't going to be a right or wrong answer just what you really prefer. Todd, thank you. That was all helpful on a number of levels. Reconfirmed a couple things I was thinking, and taught me some new stuff as well. I have an older version of the Maz 18 that only have a 4 or 8 ohm output. From all that I'm seeing, this means my only option is to get a Y that puts them parallel, to run out of the 4 ohm output. Since I don't have the 16 ohm output option I would not be able to run in series.
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Post by pcns on Mar 19, 2019 11:10:07 GMT -7
^^ I dont want to confuse the issue but it is typically okay to run at a higher impedance but never lower.
What I mean is you can run 16ohm speakers off of an 8ohm output but it is not okay to run 4ohm speakers off an 8ohm output.
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on Mar 19, 2019 11:12:03 GMT -7
You can run in series at 16 ohm and use the 8 ohm tap. It won't hurt the amp. It will put out a little less power and some folks say give the amp a little more compression others don't hear it. By the same token, you can run an 8 ohm load out of the 4 ohm tap without any problems. You just can't go the other way and run less of a load than the tap is made for.
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