four 10" VS. one 10"

[jeff]

 This may sound like a stupid question but is a four 10" speaker cab louder than one 10" speaker cab with the same amp? I realize that with more cone surface area you're pushing more air but by using four, each speaker is only getting 1/4 of the power. So if you have a 40W amp, one 10" gets the 40W but using four 10" each speaker only gets 10W.

If each 10" can only handle 40W, using four, your cab can handle 160W.

So is using four 10" speakers for more volume or for a higher handling capability?

[stingray_65]

You know what, I've always assumed a 4x cab is twice as loud, but never had A/B compared.

I'm really curious now.

Ray

[jeff]

 I like to A/B things. It's hard for me to A/rewire/B things so I thought of this.
If I had two sets for 10" wired in series for 16 ohms. One is connected to the jack. I'll wire a switch to either put them in parallel for 8 ohms or disconnect them and short one speaker for 8 ohms. Is this OK to switch while the amp is on? At no time would the amp see an open load.
                   .  
             ___    
| V------|    \ _____
|           O            O
|           |___   .    |
|           O      /     O
|           |____|___|
|___________|
                    .
             ___ /    
| V------|       ____
|           O            O
|           |___   .    |
|           O     \      O
|           |____|___|
|___________|

[Frankenamp]

+3dB for every doubling of drivers. One ten:=0dB; two tens: +3 dB; four tens: +6 dB. Caveat: same impedance (tubes impedance mismatch makes less power, solid state lower impedance allows more current more power) I suggest series/ parallel wiring to keep impedance the same.