Name: Steve Kennedy
Email: steve@pacair.com
Subject: 212-HD 130
Thread: 95
Time: Sat, 2 Jun 2001 02:48:52 UTC
I agree, they should have used two 4 ohm drivers in series or two 16 ohm drivers in parallel. 16 ohms aren't as common and 8 ohms are more universally usable in the line.
As to WHY, well I have my guesses...
It is my opinion that Music Man stocked basically one type of high-power speaker of each size to get quantity buys and simplified tracking and production management.
Since they made MORE of the 112 models than they did 212 models, they probably bought 8-ohm drivers for this reason too.
My 210RD-100-EVM has two 10" 8-0hm EVM drivers in parallel for a 4-ohm load to the amp too! Even though the chassis plate on the back is silkscreened "Switch to 4-ohm position when using an extension speaker cabinet as it is in parallel".
I think it stems more from money saved in quantity buys, less hassle to stock and track fewer different types of drivers, etc.
If they stocked 8-ohm 10", they can use the same drivers in the 410, 210 and 110 models.
If they stocked 8-ohm 12", these can be used in the 112 & 212 combos, as well as the 412 GS speaker cabinets. These cabinets had to be 8 ohms each so they could potentially sell two with every head. You can't get there with 4-ohm or 16 ohm drivers, you need 8 ohm drivers.
Since a full "Eric Clapton Stack" was 8 drivers and your 212 has only two, you can see the logic behind using 8 ohm drivers exclusively (from their production standpoint).
Steve