Powering subs

[bluishbob]

Hey all.

Those of you who have subs/bass speakers with seperate amps, do you have them running in sterio or mono.

I can't see how it would affect subs running them mono.

Its just, when i get subs, i would want them to be 400/500 watts, but a 800/1000 watt amp in 8ohms (or even if they were 4ohm cabs) would be really expensive.

If they were 8ohms would it be just as good to run them in parallel and find an amp that runs about 1600/2000 bridged at 4ohms.

[Excalibur]

Hey all.

Those of you who have subs/bass speakers with seperate amps, do you have them running in sterio or mono.

I can't see how it would affect subs running them mono.

Its just, when i get subs, i would want them to be 400/500 watts, but a 800/1000 watt amp in 8ohms (or even if they were 4ohm cabs) would be really expensive.

If they were 8ohms would it be just as good to run them in parallel and find an amp that runs about 1600/2000 bridged at 4ohms.

Amps giving around 600-750w per side into 4ohms can be found for around £200. I for one don't think that's expensive in the scheme of things.
Subs in this category I have found Carlsbro, and Deltec at around £425. If you want power you will have to pay, I fear.:(

[bluishbob]

got any suggestions as to makes?

I know that currently on ebay you can pick up a some good amps (crest, QSC, Crown) for very low prices but i had assumed it was due to christmas

[Danno13]

I run my subs in mono to get more out of the amp. Providing its a decent amp (I use a Crown Xti 1000), it should be fine at 4ohm bridged.. although no doubt some will disagree.

[Excalibur]

I run my subs in mono to get more out of the amp. Providing its a decent amp (I use a Crown Xti 1000), it should be fine at 4ohm bridged.. although no doubt some will disagree.

Only if the amp is 2ohm stable. 4ohms bridged is equivalent to 2ohms per channel. Acceptable if you know what you are doing, but not my personal choice. Only my preference, not an edict cast in stone!:)

[CRAZY K]

Hey all.

Those of you who have subs/bass speakers with seperate amps, do you have them running in sterio or mono.

I can't see how it would affect subs running them mono.

Its just, when i get subs, i would want them to be 400/500 watts, but a 800/1000 watt amp in 8ohms (or even if they were 4ohm cabs) would be really expensive.

If they were 8ohms would it be just as good to run them in parallel and find an amp that runs about 1600/2000 bridged at 4ohms.

Do you really need a separate amp?

Try a pair of these

www.thomann.de/gb/peavey_prosub_messenger_subwoofer.htm?partner_id=8 7171

If your amp is big enough you could run both tops and subs together using these Peavey Subs, the ratiing is 500 watts program, 1000 watts peak, its probably 250 watts RMS.

Unless your covering bigger functions (over 300 people) do you need to be any louder ---would have though that was loud enough?

I was turned off Yamaha when I was buying a set up with subs because they suggested separate amps--its ok if you have plenty of transport and a roadie:D

CRAZY K

[Excalibur]

got any suggestions as to makes?

I know that currently on ebay you can pick up a some good amps (crest, QSC, Crown) for very low prices but i had assumed it was due to christmas

http://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=10044

[bluishbob]

TO be honest ...yes.

I don't think that 1200 watts total RMS is a big enough eyetem. The one i use at school is this size and i push it quite close to the limit. I would prefer to have more head room.

Plus i hope that in the next few years i can go into band PA

[Excalibur]

TO be honest ...yes.

I don't think that 1200 watts total RMS is a big enough eyetem. The one i use at school is this size and i push it quite close to the limit. I would prefer to have more head room.

Plus i hope that in the next few years i can go into band PA

If you are talking of 1200w for Subs, and 1200w for tops, it's way big enough. My small rig has 400w to Subs and 300w to tops, and rarely struggles. In the forseeable future, it will have the capability of 750w and 750w respectively, so at that point I would not expect to find many venues too big for it.
Separate amps for subs and tops are such a big improvement in sound quality, plus the back up amp is already there!

[bluishbob]

Separate amps for subs and tops are such a big improvement in sound quality, plus the back up amp is already there!


Exactly. I am looking at eventually running peavey pro 15s (300watts RMS) with 400/500watt subs as a basic rig. Then maybe adding another set of pros or maybe some 500watt 2 way cabs for big things. Making it a nice comortable 2000/2500 watts RMS.

[Excalibur]

Exactly. I am looking at eventually running peavey pro 15s (300watts RMS) with 400/500watt subs as a basic rig. Then maybe adding another set of pros or maybe some 500watt 2 way cabs for big things. Making it a nice comortable 2000/2500 watts RMS.

I know initial cost is a factor, but if that's where you're headed, consider UL15 plus UL115 as a system. 2k total capability easy, only four boxes, and they sound superb. If you started with the tops first, they would be big and bassy enough for loads of venues.

[Tom]

I think that 2000-2500 watts its way to much at the moment. You need to think what are you doing now. Most places round where i live have medium sized room and i can fill the room with 800 watts rms total. I have had complaints from how loud my speaker are.

Dont forget its not all about watts. When looking at speakers, look at the sensitivity. The higher it is the louder the speaker will be.

When i look at speakers i will only give them a second look if they have a high spl even if the speaker is only 100 watts for example.


From my 800 watts rms rig im using at the moment im running about 125db. Thats more than loud enough, well for me anyway. And if i need that bit more i use my sub which is 800 watts which is 133db spl.

Have a look at this - Link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_pressure)

Scroll down till you see a graph. Have a little look on SPL.