Multispeaker vs single speak combos

[M Fowler]

How thick does the air have to be inflated inside the speaker cab area?

[Roe]

multispeakers will have more phase cancellation, typically meaning less highs and a fatter tone. also, bigger cabs tend to sound bigger. I really prefer 4x10 and 4x12, although 2x12 is also good.

[alvarezh]

Roe, I agree 100% on what you say:

I tested with a Fender Low Power Tweed Twin. I built the amp, the cabinet was from Mojotone and a pair of normal production Fender Blues Deluxe 8 ohm speakers.

We went to a small farm just outside of town so we could blast it and placed it by the pool side. I had built it with an impedance selector so it was working at 4 ohms on both and selected 8 ohms on a single. Your observations are exactly spot on as heard by the playing guitarist's ears and mine's.

As you know, with two speakers the output power is divided between them, while the single speaker is working under different conditions power and impedance wise. Do you (or anyone) think this could have an effect? Maybe speakers have "sweet spots" and behave (sound) different under these two different scenarios.

All the best.

[LeftyStrat]

Thanks for all the responses. I made a little chart for single and dual speakers at common diameters. Interesting that a 2x8 has almost the same area as 1x12. Of course, the "area" is calculated for a flat and doesn't take into account the cone area.

1x8":
total area: 50.3"
total circumference: 25.1"
2x8":
total area: 100.5"
total circumference: 50.3"

1x10":
total area: 78.5"
total circumference: 31.4"
2x10":
total area: 157.1"
total circumference: 62.8"

1x12":
total area: 113.1"
total circumference: 37.7"
2x12":
total area: 226.2"
total circumference: 75.4"

1x15":
total area: 176.7"
total circumference: 47.1"
2x15":
total area: 353.4"
total circumference: 94.2"

[Reeltarded]

Just for the saying, 2x12 closed back of similar depth to a 4x12 with same speakers has a lower response Q that is wider and tubby as all get out. Woof woof.

Arf!

[Milkmansound]

Got the amp assembled today after getting quite ill over the weekend. I have to say that the 2x10" version smokes the 1x12" version. Much more low end, much more snap - seems like it is louder somehow.

I am using the same circuit, same exact NOS tube set, same speaker manufacturer... Pretty close a comparison as one can get to my usual Milkman 1x12" combo amp which I have built several of.

So there is my official contribution to this thread

[Milkmansound]

oops double

[LeftyStrat]

Got the amp assembled today after getting quite ill over the weekend. I have to say that the 2x10" version smokes the 1x12" version. Much more low end, much more snap - seems like it is louder somehow.

I am using the same circuit, same exact NOS tube set, same speaker manufacturer... Pretty close a comparison as one can get to my usual Milkman 1x12" combo amp which I have built several of.

So there is my official contribution to this thread

Very good to know. That's about as good a comparison as could be done. Just out of interest, what is the weight difference?

[Milkmansound]

I just weighed it at about 36.2 pounds.

The 12" combo weighs just under 35 pounds.

A little more wood, a little more speaker material... makes sense

[LeftyStrat]

I just weighed it at about 36.2 pounds.

The 12" combo weighs just under 35 pounds.

A little more wood, a little more speaker material... makes sense

A pound or two for better tone. Sounds good to me.