Will higher impedance make my amp more quiet/ work harder?

[schotter611]

I have a Laney VC15 and the output rating for external cab is 8-16 Ohms so both is okay. I also own a Jensen C10Q/8 Ohm and a Celestion Gold 10 /16Ohm. Both sound fine to me, but I never tested them back to back. So can expect the Jensen to be louder given same volume settings? And would my amp 'work harder' and would it breakup earlier than with the Jensen? THX!

 

[String Tree]

The 16 Ohm will only be a little Quieter than the 8 Ohm.
Let your Ears be the Judge as to what sounds Better.

 

[The Eggman]

If you're mismatching an 8 ohm output with a 16 ohm speaker, then yes, the 16 ohm speaker will slightly reduce the output potential of the amp due to the impedance mismatch.

However - I'm not 100% sure but I suspect the C10Q has a significantly lower sensitivity rating than the gold G10, which basically means it's gonna be more noticeably quieter when being driven with the same output from the amp. The C10Q will probably do a better job of taming the volume even with the impedance matched, in that regard. Also it's just generally better and "safer" to not mismatch impedances.

 

[schotter611]

Good point. I figured the difference would be compensated by the efficiency.

 

[2L man]

I think Celestion and Jensen sensitivities are not direct comparable because Jensen use open IEC baffle on loudspeaker measures and obviously Celestion use closed baffle.

If you drive 8 and 16 ohm speakers same time parallel on same output the 8 ohm speaker use about 2/3 of power (=double what 16 ohm use) which make it about 3db louder. Then C10Q volume comes closer the Gold volume.

If your amp is tube amp using 8 ohm output the "load" increase 50% which usually drop max power and distortion should also increase. I think it is safe and should not wear out power tubes too much faster either

 

[Dacious]

I'm possibly misunderstanding your post - strongly recommend not mismatching speaker load by running the 16ohm speaker into the 8 ohm jack. Many old Fenders would tolerate it - that's tolerate, not run optimally. The Laney 15s are not bad amps but they're not as rugged as old Fenders.

A mismatch is also making the tubes operate against a higher primary impedance and any EL84 pairing is working hard to make 15 watts. I wouldn't do that.

 

[schotter611]

No that’s fine. It says ‚8-16 Ohm‘ next to my external speaker out.

 

[J-bass&Tele]

It says the same on other Laney amps, my Cub10 (old version) is also labeled 8-16Ω on the output jack and yes, I've run 8 or 16Ω loads plenty, for several hours at a time the last 10 years.

No that’s fine. It says ‚8-16 Ohm‘ next to my external speaker out.

 

[J-bass&Tele]

A c10q (8Ω) is the least sensitive 10" speaker I own and is ever so slightly quieter than a Celestion Tube 10 (8Ω) which is rated (sure, by celestion testing) at 94dB. It's quite possible that the scooped out mids of the c10q is the culprit but it still seems quieter.

 

[schotter611]

Actually, I just did a back 2 back with both and yes, the 16Ω Gold and the 8Ω C10q are quite similar in Volume, the latter seeming a tad louder (probably the upper mids/treble more pronounced...). And you know what? They sound much more alike than I thought to be honest...

 

[Silverface]

So can expect the Jensen to be louder given same volume settings?

No.

Good point. I figured the difference would be compensated by the efficiency.

My reason for answering "no" above - do you know the efficiency of both speakers? The "impedance" has absolutely nothing to do with efficiency (actually "sensitivity" in db).

Depending on the difference, a speaker with higher sensitivity AND higher impedance MAY actually be louder than a lower impedance/lower sensitivity speaker.

But IMO if the difference in sensitivity is less than 5db the lower impedance speaker will probably be louder, if both are new. But is they are used and/or one or both has been reconed all bets are off!