Peavey Classic VT Series Speaker Load Question

[Johnrcurry]

I just acquired a Peavey Classic VT Series 212 amp and I have a question about the speaker configuration. The amp has two 8 ohm speakers wired in parallel. That yields a total load of 4 ohms. The amp has two speaker jacks. One is labelled "MAIN" "8 ohms" the other is labelled "AUX." "4 ohms" (See attached picture). It seems to me the built in speakers, what I would consider the "main" speakers, ought to be plugged into the 4 ohm jack, not the 8 ohm jack. Also, the 4 ohm jack is a switching jack, but it does not disconnect the 8 ohm input. The amp will work with speakers plugged into either or both jacks. Can someone help me understand how this speaker set up is supposed to work? Should the built in speakers be plugged into the 4 ohm jack? Can I safely plug a 4 ohm load into the 4 ohm jack and an 8 ohm load into the 8 ohm jack at the same time?

Thanks

John

[nashvillebill]

Are you certain they are 8 ohm speakers (not 16) in parallel, or are they possibly 4 ohm speakers in series (which would yield 8 ohms)? edit: Are they the original speakers, by the way?

I've got the VT schematic but they don't show speakers, and the VT manual is not on the Peavey site. My Peavey speaker list doesn't include the VT either. (The Classic VTX--which I have-- is different; its taps are 4 ohm for the mains and 2 ohms for the Aux, and its speakers are 8 ohms wired in parallel to yield 4 ohms)

If they are truly yielding 4 ohms, they should be in the 4 ohm tap. (On the VTX, when using the Aux tap, the number is for the total load after the additional cab is plugged in, so with the 4 ohm internal speakers plugged into the Main, and plugging in another 4 ohm cab into the Aux jack , yields 2 ohms total which is what the Aux jack is labeled)

[Enzo]

The switching is on the AUX jack, which simply selects the 4 ohm transformer secondary instead of 8 ohms. The two jacks are really in parallel. If anything is plugged into the AUX jack then we are in 4 ohm land.

The speakers are probably stock, and were originally plugged into the MAIN jack. yes, then the impedance would be "wrong", but the amp won;t care. If you want to plug it into the AUX jack instead to make the impedance "right" then it will be fine as well.

[Johnrcurry]

Bill and Enzo, thanks for your responses. The speakers do appear to be original; black square magnets with an Eminence manufacturer code (67) and an 8048 date code. Individually they measure 7.4 ohms and at the input plug they measure 4.1 ohms.

Enzo, would it also be safe to have the built in speakers plugged into the 4 AUX. jack along with an 8 ohm cabinet plugged into the MAIN jack?

Thanks

John

[Enzo]

Safe? As in will the amp blow up? probably safe. But that is an 8 ohm and a 4 ohm load in parallel to the amp, so 2.67 ohms. I doubt the amp would be happy with that.

Remember the jacks are in parallel, the only difference between them is the AUX one selects the amp output tap that will be active.


They could have used any number of speakers in that. The square magnet Emis are used in larger amps like the Mace, and might have numbers like 70777033 and/or 12854 on them. The original Classic might have had smaller magnet speakers like the 12820 7077707.

[Johnrcurry]

Got it. Thanks.

John

P.S. The speakers in this amp are numbered 12820PA, as you suggested.