Speaker Ohm Requirement / Wiring Help

[IndyWS6]

Greetings

I recently picked-up an empty Mesa Recto 4x12 cabinet. If I want to retain the functions of the stock jack plate (mono/stereo operation) what ohm speakers do I need to put in it? I assume, based on the short section of lead left on the jack plate that they were wired series-parallel, but don't know that for a fact. Can any of you cabinet experts help?

Thanks in advance...

 

[LP Freak]

If it's like a Marshall you'll need 16ohm speakers......then when you run stereo you'll have 2-8ohm loads.

 

[IndyWS6]

I don't think it is, but I'm not certain - I want to say that it used 8-ohm speakers. That's why I need an expert on Mesa gear

 

[Greazygeo]

Looks like you need four 8 ohm speakers....you could use 16 ohm speakers...the ratings would change to 16 ohm at the "in" jack with each stereo jack being 8 ohms....the mono / stereo switching would still work, just different loads.

 

[LP Freak]

Looks like you need four 8 ohm speakers....you could use 16 ohm speakers...the ratings would change to 16 ohm at the "in" jack with each stereo jack being 8 ohms....the mono / stereo switching would still work, just different loads.

This ^

 

[Loudness250]

Looks like it used 8 ohm speakers. But I don't see why you could not just use 16 ohm speakers and the jack would still work correctly..??? Especially if your amp has a 16 ohm tap, you would want to use it to it's full potential. I'm sure others will chime in on this but I don't see why you couldn't just use whatever speakers you want. Like 4- 16ohm speakers and then the split for stereo would be 8 ohms. If you do your research on the internet you can find out how they wired it.

 

[roadifier]

Mesa cabs use 8 ohm speakers, wired in two series pairs for the two 4 ohm outs, then parallel for the 8 ohm jack.

 

[IndyWS6]

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated I did some research but couldn't find anything definitive...

Follow-on question: is it really better to run the amp at a 16 ohm load? I've heard that but don't know if it's true or snake oil. So, four 8 ohm speakers in series-parallel would provide an 8 ohm load when using all four and 4 ohms on each jack if split stereo, correct? Similarly, four 16 ohm speakers in series-parallel would provide a 16 ohm load when using all four and 8 ohms on each jack if split stereo. Just want to make sure before I buy a quad of something...

Thanks again...

 

[mrkmas]

Mesa cabs use 8 ohm speakers, wired in two series pairs for the two 4 ohm outs, then parallel for the 8 ohm jack.

This man knows his stuff

 

[JakeAC5253]

Follow-on question: is it really better to run the amp at a 16 ohm load? I've heard that but don't know if it's true or snake oil. So, four 8 ohm speakers in series-parallel would provide an 8 ohm load when using all four and 4 ohms on each jack if split stereo, correct? Similarly, four 16 ohm speakers in series-parallel would provide a 16 ohm load when using all four and 8 ohms on each jack if split stereo. Just want to make sure before I buy a quad of something...

Thanks again...

There is a difference, but it's not definitive. 16 ohms will give you a little bit of a spongier feel and more high end. 8 ohms will be more fluid playing. It's amp dependant really, but the Recto cab sounds lovely at 8 ohms with just about every amp at Greg's house... which is a lot of amps haha.

 

[roadifier]

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated I did some research but couldn't find anything definitive...

Follow-on question: is it really better to run the amp at a 16 ohm load? I've heard that but don't know if it's true or snake oil. So, four 8 ohm speakers in series-parallel would provide an 8 ohm load when using all four and 4 ohms on each jack if split stereo, correct? Similarly, four 16 ohm speakers in series-parallel would provide a 16 ohm load when using all four and 8 ohms on each jack if split stereo. Just want to make sure before I buy a quad of something...

Thanks again...

I'm not sure if it is better, but some people think it sounds better, but I like the 8 ohm outs on my mesa's, Mesa made their amps sound best out the 8 ohm jack. yes, you are correct, four 8 ohm speakers in series-parallel provides 8 ohm will all four, and 4 ohm split. and if you want to use 16 ohm speakers, it would work the same way, 16 ohm with all four, and 8 ohm for split pairs.

 

[IndyWS6]

Thanks for all of the quick replies - much appreciated.

Since the difference in tone when using 8 ohm vs 16 ohm is slight and somewhat subjective, and the recommendation is that Mesa works well with an 8 ohm load, I think I'll go with a quad of 8 ohm speakers. For the most part, this cabinet will be used with either a rack rig with a Simul 2:90 for power or a 100W Hughes & Kettner Switchblade. I'm leaning toward Greenbacks or V30's...

Thanks again for the help

 

[roadifier]

I will take a picture of the jack plate later so you can see how to wire it up.

 

[IndyWS6]

I will take a picture of the jack plate later so you can see how to wire it up.

Thank you, sir

 

[roadifier]

The jack on the bootom left is the 8 ohm in, the one above it is the out, the two to the left are the 4 ohm in. Hope this helps!

 

[IndyWS6]

The jack on the bootom left is the 8 ohm in, the one above it is the out, the two to the left are the 4 ohm in. Hope this helps!

Awesome! Thanks

Love this forum

 

[racerevlon]

With a Switchblade, go 16-ohm...trust me.

 

[IndyWS6]

With a Switchblade, go 16-ohm...trust me.

Why?