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Speaker handling

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 11:58 am
by Jamone
Can I use a 25 watt speaker with my Dual Dark 50 switched down to 25 watts or do I still need to use a 50 watt+ speaker?

Re: Speaker handling

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 4:10 pm
by Les Paul Lover
Jamone wrote:
Sat Jun 30, 2018 11:58 am
Can I use a 25 watt speaker with my Dual Dark 50 switched down to 25 watts or do I still need to use a 50 watt+ speaker?

In theory, it's safe.
I wouldn't like to do it myself because of the risk of having it on full power is there.

Re: Speaker handling

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 8:20 am
by Hubaxe
well usualy the rule is to have a speaker rated twice the amp power. eg Amp 25W, speaker should be 50W. But that is theory, now if you don't push the volume, it should be fine.

Re: Speaker handling

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 10:24 pm
by Jamone
Ok thank you!

Re: Speaker handling

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 10:36 pm
by fiveightandten
Jamone wrote:
Sat Jun 30, 2018 11:58 am
Can I use a 25 watt speaker with my Dual Dark 50 switched down to 25 watts or do I still need to use a 50 watt+ speaker?
What speaker is it? Celestions are generally somewhat underrated. Some other manufacturers are not. Some speakers with paper voice coils will catch on fire if you exceed their rating.

It really depends on the speaker and how hard you're pushing it.

-Nick

Re: Speaker handling

Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 3:28 am
by Mr Mustard
fiveightandten wrote:
Tue Jul 03, 2018 10:36 pm
Some speakers with paper voice coils will catch on fire if you exceed their rating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRE7IahmbyQ :lol:

Re: Speaker handling

Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:39 pm
by Jamone
I'm looking at a quiet practice setup with my current amps. I have a Dual Dark 50 that can go down to 25w and a Revv 100 that can go down to 10w. I was hoping to get something like an 8" speaker cab.

Re: Speaker handling

Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:52 pm
by fiveightandten
Mr Mustard wrote:
Wed Jul 04, 2018 3:28 am
fiveightandten wrote:
Tue Jul 03, 2018 10:36 pm
Some speakers with paper voice coils will catch on fire if you exceed their rating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRE7IahmbyQ :lol:
:lol:

I once set fire to the speakers and fiberglass insulation in an old Fender 2x12 during a recording session. Cranked Marshall 2203 into the 2x12 (and an unmiced 4x12 to soak up some of the power, which clearly didn’t help enough). It smelled like burnt marshmallows in the isolation booth.
Jamone wrote:
Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:39 pm
I'm looking at a quiet practice setup with my current amps. I have a Dual Dark 50 that can go down to 25w and a Revv 100 that can go down to 10w. I was hoping to get something like an 8" speaker cab.
Quiet? If you’ll be playing bedroom level quiet, don’t even worry about it. 25W will be more than enough. Though, I can’t say you’ll be happy with the sound of an 8” speaker.

Re: Speaker handling

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 1:21 pm
by Jamone
I'm more concerned about feel vs tone. I tried some of the digital stuff and that sensitivity just isn't there which imo only creates bad habits.

So the plan is to use my Dual Dark in the 25w mode and dial down the volume with the attenuator. And then maybe use a smaller speaker to help reduce the volume vs pure attenuation.

Re: Speaker handling

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:04 am
by fiveightandten
Jamone wrote:
Thu Jul 05, 2018 1:21 pm
I'm more concerned about feel vs tone. I tried some of the digital stuff and that sensitivity just isn't there which imo only creates bad habits.

So the plan is to use my Dual Dark in the 25w mode and dial down the volume with the attenuator. And then maybe use a smaller speaker to help reduce the volume vs pure attenuation.
If you're playing at bedroom volumes, the speaker will contribute absolutely nothing to the feel. Small speakers don't reduce volume, inefficient speakers do. Small speakers just sound smaller (smaller magnet = less low end).

That being said, at low volumes, an inefficient speaker won't make much of a difference over an efficient one. I'd get a 12" speaker of your choice. You want the amp and the attenuator to be doing all the work. The attenuator will make the biggest difference. If you're concerned with feel, you will absolutely need a reactive load. A resistive load attenuator will not provide any sort of natural cranked amp feel at low volumes.

I'd recommend something like the Fryette Power Station, Suhr reactive load + a cab IR, Two Notes Torpedo Reload, or Universal Audio OX. I have the Power Station and it's fantastic at producing natural cranked amp tones at very low volumes. You'd need the V2 Power Station to play at very low volume. The V1 doesn't do that very well.

FYI, I recorded this with the Power Station, silently, with my girlfriend sleeping in the next room and the amps all the way up. It does cranked amp sounds at any volume.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGM7RBTRbuw

Fun fact about cranking an amp up without the blaring speaker; you can hear the sound coming through the tubes and output transformer.

-Nick

Re: Speaker handling

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 3:17 pm
by Jamone
Ok I'll look into those. Thank you!