Glennb1281734028 Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Hi All, I'm looking at purchasing a VJ and possibly building a 1x12 speaker to match, but during my research I've come across something I was hoping someone could clarify for me... My understanding is that a head and cabinet should be roughly matched as far as wattage is concerned for best performance. Given that the VJ is 5w (is that RMS?), aren't there risks trying to drive a speaker of 70w or even 30 w? From the reading I have done it is implied that trying to drive a larger watt speaker at higher volume levels can cause irrepairable damage to the amp...thoughts? And if I am correct, then why is the matching VJ cabinet running a 70w speaker? Thanks, Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricach Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Absolutely no risk. Only thing that can damage your amp is if the ohms don't match up. Each style of speaker adds its own character to the sound, with the low wattage speakers 'breaking up' a little to add to that sound. The higher wattage won't add this character, but that's sometimes a good thing if the amp has plenty of it on its own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunghaichuan Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Here is some information I posted on another forum: I just bought a Valve Jr head, and I am building a speaker cab. I am currently running it through a pair of Eminence Red Coats rated at 75 watts. Should I get something more rated to the 5 watt range? BTW, this little amp sounds pretty good, even with the big 12" 75 w speakers. I replied: The 75w rating is the maximum power that the amp can put through the speaker and not blow it. You can put 5w into a 75w speaker with no ill effects. What you are looking for is the sensitivity of the speaker. This is expressed in dB/watt/meter. The Cannibis Rex is rated at 102; the Greenback is rated at 98. So for the Cannibis Rex, if you put one watt of power into the speaker and measure the output at 1 meter, the sound pressure level (SPL) is 102 deciBels. Or 98dB for the Greenback. The higher rated speaker theoretically will produce more power, but you may not be able to tell a difference. Hi All' date=' I'm looking at purchasing a VJ and possibly building a 1x12 speaker to match, but during my research I've come across something I was hoping someone could clarify for me... My understanding is that a head and cabinet should be roughly matched as far as wattage is concerned for best performance. Given that the VJ is 5w (is that RMS?), aren't there risks trying to drive a speaker of 70w or even 30 w? From the reading I have done it is implied that trying to drive a larger watt speaker at higher volume levels can cause irrepairable damage to the amp...thoughts? And if I am correct, then why is the matching VJ cabinet running a 70w speaker? Thanks, Glenn[/quote'] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokestack Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 ricach pretty much summed it up. One of the VJ head's great attributes is that you can have loads of fun plugging it into all the other speakers and amps you have, and not take up an inch more space in your house or studio ! I don't have a dedicated cab for my head. I just perch it on top of whichever combo I fancy, be it loaded with Jensen or Celestion, and plug the speaker in. [i'm lucky that most of my combos have the 1/4" jack connection from speaker to amp chassis. I made up a little foot long extension with a free socket for the wires that don't quite reach ;^) ] A combination I really like that many folks might have the opportunity to try is the VJ into a Fender Hot Rod or Blues Deluxe. It really seems to like the sound of that cab... with whichever speaker is loaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoki Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 So since I'm too lazy to do the research and generally uninformed ; ) about this kind of thing is anyone aware of what the most efficient decent sounding and reasonably priced 12" speakers are? Haven't been liking the V30 I've got for the EVJr's and though the CL-80 clone I got from Speaker Warehouse for my Mesa sounds great I can definitely tell it takes a hit in the efficiency that I could do with out - that and that it's in my mesa of course...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpkg Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 So since I'm too lazy to do the research and generally uninformed ; ) about this kind of thing is anyone aware of what the most efficient decent sounding and reasonably priced 12" speakers are? Haven't been liking the V30 I've got for the EVJr's and though the CL-80 clone I got from Speaker Warehouse for my Mesa sounds great I can definitely tell it takes a hit in the efficiency that I could do with out - that and that it's in my mesa of course...... the lady luck is pretty cheap and its SPL is 99... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWANG Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 I'm trying to find 10" speakers with a high sensitivity.. maybe 13db if possible.. so far all I find is eminence red coat series.. 150.00 each.. way to much for me. thinking of a 2X10 cab with high sensitivity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoki Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 the lady luck is pretty cheap and its SPL is 99... Oh yes - them's some words I be wanting to hear - I have been looking for a good reason to justify picking that little cab up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eracer_Team Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Its funny you say your VJ takes a hit with the WGS Class Lead 80 over your WGS V30 clones... The SPL on the CL80 is 99db and the V30 is rated at 100db. You shouldn't be able to hear a volume difference but definitely tone. I have a 2- WGS V30's in a 412 cab and the 2 CL80's in an open back 2x112 cab... The CL80's are brighter and the V30's are a bit darker sounding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoki Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 I guess I must have phrased that wrong......it's the tone that I don't like with the V30 - which is actually a real Celestion - loved em as a kid playing old bassman and bandmasters through 2 and 4 12's, but I guess my tastes have changed. It sounds about right that the V30 is a bit louder and though I'm not aware of what the rating is for either I can definitely tell the difference even if it may be primarily tone based - I do however prefer the tone of the CL and find it suits my F-30 combo (as well as the EVJr apparently!) much better than the V30..... After struggling with that V30 for the last year I think you've got the right thing going there with the CL's in the open back and the V30's in the closed cab - maybe they just were never meant to take the load as a single 12 in a combo....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 I'm certainly not an amp expert, but... If you buy the Valve Junior half-stack, it has the 5W VJ head, and the 70W VJ speaker, with a 12-inch Lady Luck. From what I've heard, it would actually be cheaper to buy the speaker than to build it yourself... it's $129 to buy separate, or $250 for the half-stack. I have it, unmodded, and really like it... playing my Casino, Strat, and acoustic through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefoxicy Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 That Lady Luck freaking rocks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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