Speaker outs and Cab extensions

[XLayaR]

Hey all, I'm planning on getting a combo amp and I've been seeing alot of 'cabinet extension'. What's the difference between speaker outs and cab extensions?

For what I know, speaker outs have impedance whereas cab extensions do not, do correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm planning on using this amp to do recording and for gigging, I'll save for a head but not so soon. I remember starting a thread on recording and someone told me for speaker out I need a wattage/power dump, whereas for cab extension I do not.

Please enlighten me on this before I make a hasty purchase. Thanks!

 

[lightice]

Same thing.

Speaker out and cab extension

It just means you use another speaker from some other source as your audio output.

All speakers have impedance.

Whoever told you for speaker out you need a power dump?
That's just wrong information.

If you get an amp in a head format, you will need an extension/speaker or some form of load on the amp's output transformer.
If you want to listen to your playing, then it will be a speaker in a cab or salvaged from a combo amp.

As for amps in a combo unit, the speaker is already attached. Some amp makers allow you to plug in an extension speaker that will disconnect the internal speaker. Or run it in parallel while you switch the output impedance to match 2 speakers running in parallel.

Oh, I forgot to mention.

They are the same thing, but you'd probably see

Speaker out - On head amps (Does not have an attached speaker)
Cabinet Extension / Extension Cabinet - On combo amps (already has an attached speaker)

 

[XLayaR]

Sorry I didn't state this. I meant that the power dump is needed if I were to run the head through a DI into my recording AI and amp simulator.

Someone told me cab extension no need power dump whereas speaker out, from a head, needs. This is the part I'm confused about.

 

[lightice]

A speaker out IS a cabinet extension. It is the power amp section's output
So to cut the confusion, we'll just keep the term OTOP.

You have 2 methods of recording:

Mic the speaker or

As you've said
Run the OTOP into a form of power soak device that runs into a DI etc.

But a mic'ed speaker will always sound better.

Let's assume you did not use a power soak:-

The OTOP is pumping out wattage, if you put it straight into a recording device, you might blow something.

Why do you want to get a combo and get a head later?
Why not just get a combo amp that will suit your needs for now and forseeable future?

Let's take an AC30 for example
In head form and in combo form, the amp is essentially the same.
Just that one comes with a built in speaker, another has to run to a separate speaker.
Amps are the same:

Made of preamp section + poweramp section

From reading what you've stated, you seem to think they are different?
Be rest assured they are the same.

A combo can be converted into a 'head' by removing the amp from the cabinet, and placing it in a cabinet with a speaker. And a 'combo' can be converted to a head by doing the reverse. All electronic components (except speaker and wiring to the speaker ) are the same.

Whoever told you otherwise is blowing some puff up a chimney.

So when doing recording or plugging in anything into the 'Speaker out/Cabinet Extension' make sure the impedance is correct.

I forgot to add
--------------------------------------------
Maybe the person who told you this is confused with 'Headphone out' and 'speaker out' and 'cabinet extension'.

A headphone out can be directly recorded to computer.

 

[XLayaR]

Ah thanks so much for that piece of info. I would prefer mic-ing up but HDB know....I'll see what I can do, since I already have the necessary equipment for both.

 

[lightice]

No problem, I hope the info helps you and your work.

Here's my suggestion.

Play in a separate room from where the amp is.
In that room, make sure you have heavy drapes covering the windows.

Then mic the amp from that room and play elsewhere.
If you can put the amp on a table , face it to a corner of the room.

In that corner, line it somehow with acoustic foam so the sound waves do not bounce straight off the corner.

This will reduce the volume somewhat.
Try it, let us know how it works out.

And I suggest to buy the best combo amp you can afford for your work and don't bother with a head version unless you want something tonally different.