View Full Version : 1 amp or 2???
I have been thinking about this for a while as well as looking at many different brands of speakers and amps but now I have this question.
Everybody know that taking backup is a good idea, but what do you think about this.
Instead of running one amp for my tops, I was thinking of buying two smaller amps and running each amp in bridge mode to power the speakers. If you dont understand that then I will try to explain myself.
Lets say im doing a disco and my amp fails but I dont have a backup solution, well It would be time to pack up and go home. But if you have two amps (1 amp per speaker) and if one amp blows then the night can still continue but only one side will be working untill the other amp cool's down or what ever needs doing to it.
You can now get small 1U amps that are quite powerful these days.
BTW sorry its another amp thread. :(
What are your views on this???
What are your views on this???
absolutely brilliant, and I think we should start a long thread on the subject, but only if we are talking switch-mode amplifiers AKA.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switching_amplifier
:p :D :D :D :p
Danno13
09-04-2008, 09:06 PM
Sounds a good idea to me!
It also means you have an amp ready, if you ever decided to buy/beg/borrow subs..
spin mobile disco
09-04-2008, 09:37 PM
It is really just a take on a powered top really. Each powered speaker had its own amp so if 1 goes down the other speaker should still be working. I run 2 amps 1 or 3 you include my powered sub. I run 1 amp for both tops and have a spare for the tops just incase. The sub is self powered. If sub went dow I woulld remove crossover and run tops in full range mode. If 1 top went continue running with 1 top and 1 sub in mono mode. If main amp went still have backup amp ready for use.
Once had the fast blow fuse go on my amp, had backup amp in place in about 30seconds and music back on 1 minute later. Turns out as it was just fuse I could have repaired on night but as I didnt want to fiddle it was easier to switch amps over.
I think 2 amps are better than 1 but do not see a real advantage of using 2 amps at same time to do a job a single amp can do just as well.
Sapphire Disco
09-04-2008, 10:10 PM
I just put my spare amp on the bottom shelf of my stand plugged in, it adds a bit of extra ballast and could be put into service very quickly if required.
I don't think it's a good Idea to use 2 amps one for each top it's a bit unnecessary, have often thought of using one amp for subs & one for tops but never got round to it.
The way I see it is that the speaker i have been looking at are 8 ohm and Its quite hard to find a good reliable amp that 800 watts rms at 8 ohm per side for example. Its just a bit of lean way. If the speaker is 600 watts 8 ohm for example I dont want a 600 watt amp and run it full tilt. I would rather get a bigger amp and run it at a lower output which will make the amp last longer.
If I am wrong please correct me. :(
Sapphire Disco
09-04-2008, 11:12 PM
800 watts per side is far too much for most functions you would do, I would suggest should you ever need that power just use another set of full range speakers at a different height along with your subs.
800 watts per side is far too much for most functions you would do, I would suggest should you ever need that power just use another set of full range speakers at a different height along with your subs.
I see what you mean but if you look at what I have to ft all my gear in Link (http://www.tolpitsmotors.co.uk/update/uploads/Corsa%20Breeze%20S.jpg) then you can see why. This is not my car btw. Just an example.
I can only take tops around, that why they need to be quite powerful and be able to play all parts of the eq if you get me.
Creature
09-04-2008, 11:31 PM
most of teh time i go out with to tops running 1 amp about 450 watt per channell (small 1U amp) this small rig now covers about 70% of my work (always have spare amp with me)
on teh other extreem the large rig has 4 amps 4 bins & 4 tops so if one or 2 amps go down can just carry on abiet it a bit quieter this rig covers about 25% of my work
the middle rig is 2 amps 2 tops and 2 bins - which if an amp goes down cand soon cable up into one amp. theis covers teh other 5% of my work.
Always have spare amp,mixer,cd decks and speakers with me - but as im often away from home all weekend seems sensible thing to do.
800 watts per side is far too much for most functions you would do
does that not depend on the efficiency of the speakers?
Hmmm...
800 watts per side is far too much for most functions you would do, I would suggest should you ever need that power just use another set of full range speakers at a different height along with your subs.
If the speaker is 600 watts 8 ohm for example I dont want a 600 watt amp and run it full tilt. I would rather get a bigger amp and run it at a lower output which will make the amp last longer.
Richard Veal
10-04-2008, 01:24 AM
I never have understood this so i am prepared to be told i am wrong, but, doesn't an amp in bridge mode with an 8 ohm speaker see the load as 4 ohm? Never been confident using bridge as i'm sure there is some truth in the above because the only time i have ever blown a speaker was in bridge, despite it supposedly being within the capability of the speaker
TonyB
10-04-2008, 01:50 AM
Yes it does sort of. For the impedance to be 8 Ohms, the two channels (left and right) are 4 Ohms each.
DJWilson
10-04-2008, 12:59 PM
I think J (ellaskins) done a few videos on this not sure, i would look but his video list is very long....! www.youtube.com/ellaskins
Excalibur
10-04-2008, 06:04 PM
The way I see it is that the speaker i have been looking at are 8 ohm and Its quite hard to find a good reliable amp that 800 watts rms at 8 ohm per side for example. Its just a bit of lean way. If the speaker is 600 watts 8 ohm for example I dont want a 600 watt amp and run it full tilt. I would rather get a bigger amp and run it at a lower output which will make the amp last longer.
If I am wrong please correct me. :(
I am led to believe that bridging as a matter of course is not a good way to go. Usually it's done with a single sub.
As for amps at the power ryou need,
http://www.ukdj.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9654
http://www.ukdj.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10476
http://www.ukdj.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=28583
http://www.ukdj.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=28580
There are four at various prices, any of which I would use with confidence.
Thank you for taking the time to search for amps. :)
The only one that looks intresting is the KAM KXR2000 but at only 670 watts rms at 8 ohm. Would this be enough extra power for a 600 watt 8 ohm speaker???
Excalibur
10-04-2008, 09:01 PM
Thank you for taking the time to search for amps. :)
The only one that looks intresting is the KAM KXR2000 but at only 670 watts rms at 8 ohm. Would this be enough extra power for a 600 watt 8 ohm speaker???
There are people who suggest only running 300watts into it, to avoid blowing speakers up.;) In my opinion, it's big enough, but bigger would be nicer, as in
http://www.decks.co.uk/products/amps/c_mark/G098E
Better than KAM in my opinion. ;)
There are people who suggest only running 300watts into it, to avoid blowing speakers up.;) In my opinion, it's big enough, but bigger would be nicer, as in
http://www.decks.co.uk/products/amps/c_mark/G098E
Better than KAM in my opinion. ;)
That amp seems a lot better. 1000 watts rms at 8 ohm. Just run the amp at just over half way I take it and thats my 600 watts without making the amp run to hard.
pagan_flame
10-04-2008, 10:22 PM
That amp seems a lot better. 1000 watts rms at 8 ohm. Just run the amp at just over half way I take it and thats my 600 watts without making the amp run to hard.
No. Run all your amps flat out and control the volume from your input level. To make your sound louder, add more speakers (not an option if carrying the lot in a Corsa) or change your speakers to a set with a 4 Ohm rating.
Running 2 amps into 2 x 8 Ohm speakers will give exactly the same output as one amp powering 2 x 8 Ohm speakers connected together.
I run 2 Mackie SRM 450's (400w RMS) plus one sub (800w RMS) = 1600w RMS / 3.2kW peak. Will fit very nicely into a Corsa (I know, I have one).
Also - Weight = 30kg? The SRM 450 weighs only 23kg with the amp on board... :eek:
Go active, young Paduan. http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/vader.gif
I run 2 Mackie SRM 450's (400w RMS) plus one sub (800w RMS) = 1600w RMS / 3.2kW peak. Will fit very nicely into a Corsa (I know, I have one).
Go active, young Paduan. http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/vader.gif
I would love to take my sub out but for me to do that I would have to leave the Denon gear at home as that is in a rack case.
The idea was to replace the speakers I have with louder ones. The only speakers i have found are 12" at 600 watts rms at 8 ohm (Sensitivity: 97dB (1W @ 1m) MAX SPL: 125dB) at just under £250 each.
TBH I cant find anything else that can match that. I have heard these speakers and they do sound really good for the price.
Jaggiebunnett
11-04-2008, 01:59 AM
I use 2 Mackie 1400i (http://djtronix.com/mackiem1400i.html) amps in bridge to run my 2 pairs of subs.
the amps will bridge into 4 ohms so 1 amp for each side (subs are 8 ohms each)
The set-up a built in redundancy... if one Mackie goes down I use the working Mackie to power My Bose 802s and use the Peavey DECA 1200 (normally use on Bose tops) for the subs since it is 600 watts per side into 4 ohms as opposed to the Mackie 1400i which only does 500 watts a side at 4 ohms (700 a side at 2 ohms)
Would take less than a min to switch the wiring, about 4 min if I want to keep the music going too..lol
Before I got the Mackie amps I was looking at the comparable behringer Europower 1500 (http://mall.prodj.com/index.php?function=detail&id=748&module=Products):D
pagan_flame
11-04-2008, 07:44 AM
I would love to take my sub out but for me to do that I would have to leave the Denon gear at home as that is in a rack case.
Time to ditch the Corsa and buy yourself an Astra estate then... ;)
Time to ditch the Corsa and buy yourself an Astra estate then... ;)
If only it was possible. Still waiting to hear from the bank then hopefully it will be a nice vw golf estate (diesel power :D)
pagan_flame
11-04-2008, 04:17 PM
If only it was possible. Still waiting to hear from the bank then hopefully it will be a nice vw golf estate (diesel power :D)
An Astravan will come in much cheaper than a VW, and they come in diesel flavour...
One Vision
11-04-2008, 04:29 PM
Apologies for going off topic a wee bit here.
Hya Jaggiebunnett am not sure how true this is fella so nobody jump down on me on this but I was told a while back that the name Peavey over in the states is something laughable in the pa world, how true is this?
Compared to other systems over there what are the general views in the states as to the quality of Peavey?
Corabar Steve
11-04-2008, 04:33 PM
Must admit, I've always thought of them as more of a guitar amp kind of company. (probably down to me having one of their amps many moons ago, nice bit of kit too.)
theoloyla
11-04-2008, 04:48 PM
In 42 years of dj'ing I have had a mixer catch fire, speakers fail, mikes pack up, cd players die and various lights cease functioning - but other than the odd blown fuse I have never had an amp die. I currently run a Peavey 900 which has shown no signs on unreliability over the years that I have run it but if ever it should fail I always have the KAM 300,which I use for line dancing, in the van. It is not as powerful but it would do. I could change it over in less than 5 minutes.
pagan_flame
11-04-2008, 06:13 PM
Peavey amps - as indestructible as a tank, weigh about the same. :D
An Astravan will come in much cheaper than a VW, and they come in diesel flavour...
True but VW are more reliable than Vauxhall. I Have probmes with my car, nothing to major but thats not the point.
theoloyla
13-04-2008, 03:06 PM
Peavey amps - as indestructible as a tank, weigh about the same. :D
Too true!:)
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