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Ridiculous Question...


killemall8

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It is the simplest of mods to add a switched speaker output to a combo amp (If it doesn't already have one). The main requirement is that the cabinet load is appropriate for the amp. Obviously a cabinet of the same impedance as the internal speaker(s) is fine, as it replaces the internal speakers (which get switched out) with an identical load, so the amp is happy.

A lot of transistor amps just have a minimum impedance into which they are safe to use. Higher impedances are safe, but mean you'll get less power from the amp (all other things, such as speaker efficiencies being equal). Valve (tube) amps are more critical and need the correct load for the output transformer. Some have transformer taps to allow other loads as well.

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how do you add a speaker output?

You get an output socket that has a switch built into it (they are commonly available). They have 3 terminals. You remove the 2 wires that go internally from the amp to your combo amp's internal speaker(s) and wire them to the new output socket instead. You then add 2 wires from the output socket back to your amp's internal speakers, but one of them comes from the output jack's switch (the 3rd terminal). The other wire is just commoned, i.e. joined to the same terminal as the original wire coming from the amp.

What happens is that, when nothing is plugged into the socket (i.e. no external cabinet) the switch is closed, and so your internal speakers are connect as normal. When an external cabinet is plugged in, the switch opens, thus disconnecting the internal speakers, and connecting the external cabinet instead.

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