Using Dual speaker outputs vs. one

[alanfc]

This may be incredibly obvious to some, but I was wondering,,,

Since I have 2 amp outputs and 2 speakers in my cab,

is there a sonic difference between using the single output (as I have it now) to drive the pair of speakers vs.
using one amp output for one speaker and one amp output for another speaker, wired separately.

I ask because I have 8 ohm outs on my Rivera, currently using the single output & driving a pair of 16 ohms speakers configured as a total 8 ohm load. But I have alot of 8 ohm speakers sitting around that I'd like to try. My idea is to have two cables going out to the cab with the speakers having their own inputs.
Science says it'll work but I'm curious about how it would sound different.

thanks

[Wally]

One difference will occur in that the total load will be 4 ohms instead of the 8. The amp is prepared to accept that mismatch, I think, or Rivera would not have provided for the possibility of running two 8 ohm loads, right?
If you worked up your present cab to run each of those 16 ohm speakers separately into those two outputs, you would still have an 8 ohm load, which is what the OT optimally wants to see. IF you had another cab identical to the one you have now and ran both cabs out of those two outputs, then you would hear what the difference is between the 8 ohm load and the 4 ohm load with identical speakers. This arrangement would probably yield a slightly brighter tone and slightly higher output. You would definitely be pushing more air, right?
When you are running different speakers...unmatched as far as tonality and even efficiency... as you are proposing to do, then it is difficult to assess one sound compared to another. It can be very interesting, but the comparison of sonics is attributable to the speaker's impedance, efficiency, power handling, construction...many variables. That doesn't negate the value of experimentation. I would think that it would be of more interest to simply run the single 8 ohms one at a time out of the primary 8 ohm output and compare the differences there. The amp is happiest at that load, and you could tell the difference between various speakers instead of mixing unlike speakers together. After assessing the individual speakers, then you might find some pairs that compliment each other with their differences. You would not want to run speakers of unequal efficiency together because on of them will not be heard very well...the higher efficiency speaker will produce more volume. You would want near equal efficiency. THen the differences in sonic qualities could be interesting.

[alanfc]

Thank you this is perfect, everything I needed!