Bass speaker hookup

[DJTHEDJ2005]

I have 2 Eminence Beta 15A bass speakers and a Kustom cab. I also have a Peavey Firebass 700 watt amp. How do I hook up these speakers? The Peavey amp is 2 ohm. Do I hook them speaker to speaker, positive to positive, negative to negative? Attach to 1/4 inch jack on cab?

 

[Glowbug]

If they're 8 ohm, single voice coil:

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

You won't be able to get all the power your amp can do out of a 4 ohm load, though.

 

[chrisb]

really a question for musical instrument amp or PA specialists, but I'd imagine the Peavy's 2 ohm spec is maximum load rating - no doubt it'd be safe to connect higher impedance load - probably with extra safety margin and less distortion

if two separate boxes, it's probably safer to use something like speak-on or XLR connectors rather than 1/4" phone plug and risk shorting something out if hot-jacking

 

[dave w p]

They need to be wired in parallel to ensure lowering the impedance as Glowplug suggests. The trouble is they will need to have two wires in one plug either at the amp end or the speaker so you need to ensure that this is possible or think about purchasing connectors that can take two wires.
The HIFI site

 

[bentoronto]

If you like the way they boom, wire in series so they will be less damped (and save a bundle on copper costs).

Even if due to math and power supply rail voltage, the Peavey looks like it makes more power at 2 ohms, it is a non-issue at anything below clipping and barely worth fussing about if those are rare and inaudible peaks.

 

[chris661]

I'd second the need for speakOn. At that much power, 1/4" jacks are not the way to do it. The power ratings are massively different. SpeakOn stuff will deliver around 70 amps, last time I checked. A 1/4" socket would have melted by then. Not to mention the cabinet leaks (I know about these, single 12" sealed guitar cab, 2 sockets)...