I hope you guys are well! Question about using multiple speaker cabinets with my PS-2A.
My set up would be:
Head into Power Station / Power Station using both speaker outputs powering
a 16 ohm speaker for each output. (2 separate 16 ohm cabs)
I understand that Power Station speaker ohm selector switch should be set at 8 ohms for this configuration.
Should I set my ohm setting on my head at 8 ohm even though I am only using 1 output on my amp?
I want to make sure I have correct setting on my head so that if I bypass the Power Station my amp and cabs are matched on the ohms.
A far as using both speaker outs on the power station, is it ok to use speakers of different power ratings as long as the ohms are the same?
Yes, set the AMP IN impedance to 8 ohms. That way you will still match in Bypass mode.
No problem to use different power rating of speakers that are of the same impedance. Just keep in mind that one cab may play slightly louder that the other.
When you have a moment, kindly advise for the correct ohm outputs, inputs, and switch selections for the following setup to ensure no ohm mismatch when in bypass mode:
Amp head into PS2 ( amp head has one 8ohm output jack and two 4ohm output jacks)
PS2 output is two 1x12 8 ohm cabinets (one cabinet connected to each of the PS2 outputs)
Questions:
The cable leaving my amp head should go out of the 8ohm or 4ohm output?
Ohm switch into the PS2 (from the amp) will use which selection?
Ohm out switch (for the two outputted cabs) will have which ohm selected?
To ensure proper impedance matching and avoid mismatches in bypass and operate mode with your PS-2 and amplifier setup, follow these steps:
Cable from Amp Head to PS-2:
Since your amp head has an 8-ohm output jack, and the PS-2 is a reactive load that matches the amplifier’s impedance, use the 8-ohm output from your amp head to connect to the PS-2. This ensures that the load seen by your amp head is correctly matched.
Ohm Switch for Input to the PS-2:
Set the Input Ohm Switch on the PS-2 to 8 ohms, matching the 8-ohm output from your amp head. This maintains optimal load conditions for your amplifier when it’s connected to the PS-2’s reactive load.
Ohm Switch for Output to Cabinets:
Since you are using two 8-ohm cabinets connected to the PS-2, and the PS-2’s output jacks are wired in parallel, you need to calculate the total load impedance. Two 8-ohm cabinets in parallel result in a 4-ohm total load. Therefore, set the Output Ohm Switch on the PS-2 to 4 ohms.
This setup will ensure proper impedance matching throughout your signal chain, both in active and bypass modes, preserving tone and protecting your amplifier.
Just wanted to confirm my understanding… based on the instructions above since two 8 ohm cabs in parallel are equal to 4 ohms TOTAL, why am I running the amp output to the ps2 via the 8ohm jack of my amp head (and then selecting 8ohm on the ps2)? Would it make more sense to run the amp head out of the of 4 ohms jack to the ps2, so that when I am in bypass mode on the ps2, I have the 4 ohm jack of the amp head connected to 4ohm of TOTAL load of the cabinets?
Check the user manual of your amp, does it say to use the 8 Ohm tap first for any reason, and then use the 4 ohms?
Yes that’s a good idea provided you can leave the 8 Ohm tap unconnected. No, because the Fryette Power Station PS-2 does not have a bypass mode that directly routes the amplifier input to the speaker output, completely bypassing its internal circuits. The reactive load and input and output transformers are always in circuit.
Feel free to experiment with the connections you prefer, there should be very little difference in tone between choosing the different taps, I guess it is even noticeable (listen for very high pitch difference due to varying leakage inductance - nerd mode off). Personally I cannot tell the difference.
@stephensawall yes you are right! This was bugging me so I was re-reading the manual last night and realised this. Then feel into a peaceful sleep with my new level of knowledge. Then woke up in a cold sweat as I remembered this question but fell back asleep thinking I would have time to correct my mistake!
I will be using the PS2 primarily with a Boogie Mark IV and don’t see anything in the manual about having the 8 ohm jack “always” connected. (I’m assuming that’s what you meant by “leaving the 8 ohm tap unconnected”). In summary, it sounds like I should be using one of the 4ohm jacks on the Boogie for the given scenario of two 8 ohm speakers connected to the PS2.
I’ll also use the PS2 with my Marks II, III, and I Reissue, so I’ll check those manuals as well.
I own a Mark IV and PS-100. The IV gets loud fast.
There isn’t anything about preferable in any of the Mesa manuals. There is some information about mismatch.
@Boogie yeah that’s the way if you want to bypass the power station! If you just want to attenuate/re-amp then any tap will do. I was reading a manual of a Fender combo last week, that stipulated the 8 Ohm tap must always be connected. So I was just checking that edge case; didn’t know it was a Mark IV. I had a DC-5 about 25 years ago - I really liked the clean channel, you could pull one of the knobs for a crunchy gain boost. I never got on with overdrive channel. Sorry for the mistake! And thanks for the correction @stephensawall - Fryette community is smart
The confirmation is much appreciated @stephensawall!!! You are absolutely correct about the MK IV getting loud very quickly. This is the reason for my PS2 purchase.
@dan I’ll be mostly using the attenuation function of the PS2, but want to make sure I don’t damage the amp head on the rare occasion I flip the bypass switch. As you can tell from my UN… love the boogie sound! Especially with a Strat.
Thank you again for the quick response on my questions on a weekend! @stephensawall thank you as well for being a lifesaver/amp-saver!
this would have taken me ages to type 
- nerd mode off). Personally I cannot tell the difference.