Multi Amps Or Single

[501damian501]

Hello i would just like some views on amps, would it be best to run tops and subs off single amp running at 4ohms or seperate amps running at 8ohms, cheers damian

[paull]

I always take two amps even if I am only running 1 set of full range spekaers.

The last thing you need at a weeding is an amp being pushed at 4 Amps to go bang!!! if you have two it may be embarasing for a few minutes, but you will at least be able to carry on.

[CRAZY K]

Hello i would just like some views on amps, would it be best to run tops and subs off single amp running at 4ohms or seperate amps running at 8ohms, cheers damian

You will get various opinions depending on how much room you have to carry equipment around and how much power you need.

Also depends if your buying different tops, subs, amps and crossovers---could get complicated.

Im for an easy life--so I bought a single powered mixer amp that feeds top and subs using a by pass filter and its matched by the manufacturer so the speakers are the right impedances etc.

Plug and play:D

CRAZY K

[soundmaster mobile disco]

My peavey 18 inch bass bins along with my peavey 15inch tops run of a single peavey pv 1500 amp.This is giving maximum power at 8ohm.
So go for a single amp option!

[Excalibur]

It's a six and two threes.
Single amp, easy peasy, amp into subs, hi out into tops, done and dusted. Take a spare amp, as suggested. However:
If you have space, don't mind a bit of extra wiring, and would like a quality increase, and more control-
Two amps, with either an active crossover, or one amp with crossovers built in. ( for simplicity, I'll go with external crossover )
Mixer into crossover input, low out into one amp feeding subs, hi out into amp feeding tops. Big gain is total control of sound, better separation of frequencies, and is linked to the reason why some people prefer active speakers.
I do either depending on which speakers I'm using, and the venue. You pays your money.............................

[DJ INDIE]

i use a hybrid system that has 3 amps in the sub box - 1 for sub, 2 for tops - theory being if one amp goes i will be able to either daisy chain to still have 3 running or at the worst be left with 2.

and i still take a spare to cover any other bad luck that may happen!

[Creature]

nearly always out with 4 amps these days (unless im using the small rig) 2 for 4 tops and 2 for 4 bins :):)

[501damian501]

why 4 bins ?

[Creature]

it gives teh depth of sound im after :):)

[pagan_flame]

Active - each speaker has its own amp. (I run a single active sub these days, Creature, which at 1.6kW puts out more bass than my twin Peaveys ever did) ;) Very unlikely that all of the active amps will fail at the same time.

If you run one amp and it goes down, you have - no amps.

Run two amps, and if one falls over you still have one amp left.

[rob1963]

If you run one amp and it goes down, you have - no amps.

Presumably though, people who only run one amp will carry a spare like I do.

[Cj_The_Dj]

can some let me know what ohms 4ohms and 4ohms make when linked from the bass bins.

also how do you link to amps togther

i would use one amp to two pair of speakers.

[soundtracker]

Presumably though, people who only run one amp will carry a spare like I do.

Because you are a true professional Rob:)

[rob1963]

Because you are a true professional Rob:)

I think you're mixing me up with someone else, but thanks Soundtracker!

I'll send the fiver to the usual address ;)

:D

[Excalibur]

nearly always out with 4 amps these days (unless im using the small rig) 2 for 4 tops and 2 for 4 bins :):)


why 4 bins ?
Cos he's power crazed and likes to, like me! ;) :D


Active - each speaker has its own amp. (I run a single active sub these days, Creature, which at 1.6kW puts out more bass than my twin Peaveys ever did) ;) Very unlikely that all of the active amps will fail at the same time.
If you run one amp and it goes down, you have - no amps.

Run two amps, and if one falls over you still have one amp left.
One of the most convimcing arguments for active speakers.


Presumably though, people who only run one amp will carry a spare like I do.
Is it a lightweight one then? :confused:


can some let me know what ohms 4ohms and 4ohms make when linked from the bass bins.

also how do you link to amps togther
4 ohms, if linked by the correct sockets, big bang if not.
Link amps by active crossover is best, or there are amps with crossovers built in which can make it very easy.


Because you are a true professional Rob:)
Is there another Rob on here now? :confused: Doesn't sound like the one we all know! ;) ;) :D :D

[Cj_The_Dj]

4 ohms, if linked by the correct sockets, big bang if not.
Link amps by active crossover is best, or there are amps with crossovers built in which can make it very easy.





i dont want 2 leads a side from using externall cross overs and its never gone bang lol

[Excalibur]

i dont want 2 leads a side from using externall cross overs and its never gone bang lol

It won't go bang as long as you feed the tops from the hi out on the subs. If you were to feed your subs from a parallel link out of your tops, thereby running a full range signal to both, you would achieve 2ohms per side, which most amps will not stand. Yes I know some do, but that's not the point.
If I understand you correctly about two leads per side, you already have two leads per side, it's just that one only goes from sub to top. You would only be altering the length. ;)

[PropellerHeadCase]

One of the most convimcing arguments for active speakers.

Don't know about that, so few of the active speakers out there allow you to drive the speaker with an external amp should the internal amp blow (there are some, well, one I know of for definite - if you're handy with a soldering iron I guess you could do it yourself), if you're driving a satellite from an active sub then you're doubly screwed.

[Jaggiebunnett]

3 is my lucky number:)
2 M1400i's each bridged @ 4ohm into 2 subs (2 left and 2 right)
1 Peavey DECA 1200 for me modified bose in stereo, all in a 6 space rack.
Quite inefficient but plenty of headroom.
If 1 amp goes down its just a quick juggle of cables to go to 2 or even 1 :Censored: and "bob's yer uncle"

[pagan_flame]

Presumably though, people who only run one amp will carry a spare like I do.

Oh very practical - so when one amp goes down and everything goes quiet, how quick can you get the other one plugged in and connected up?

Not quick enough to avoid the slow hand-clap / angry bride's father, I'll bet... :D

[rob1963]

Oh very practical - so when one amp goes down and everything goes quiet, how quick can you get the other one plugged in and connected up?

Not quick enough to avoid the slow hand-clap / angry bride's father, I'll bet... :D

You're probably right, Pagan.

However, I've not yet had an amp pack up on me, so I've never experienced that problem fortunately!

:)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Oh very practical - so when one amp goes down and everything goes quiet, how quick can you get the other one plugged in and connected up?

Not quick enough to avoid the slow hand-clap / angry bride's father, I'll bet... :D

Let's be honest though, having spare equipment with you is much better than having none or leaving it at home.

If it takes 10 minutes to get another amp up and running, then fine. Better that, than to stand and stare at people and apologise 'cos you don't have a spare.

[Jaggiebunnett]

can some let me know what ohms 4ohms and 4ohms make when linked from the bass bins.

also how do you link to amps togther

I would use one amp to two pair of speakers.
4ohm and 4ohm in parallel (2 speakers hooked together like from the amp to your bin then back out of the bin to your top) is 2 ohm.
It is unlikely that the bin and top are 4 ohms a piece.
More likely they are 8ohm (get an ohm meter and check, should read 6 to 8ohms if speaker is 8 ohms)

[pagan_flame]

Let's be honest though, having spare equipment with you is much better than having none or leaving it at home.

If it takes 10 minutes to get another amp up and running, then fine. Better that, than to stand and stare at people and apologise 'cos you don't have a spare.

But better still is to have a multi-amp setup (Point Of Thread Alert) - so if one packs in, there is no embarassing silence at all!

However, having all active speakers AND an amp / passive speaker system with you in the van as backup may be slight overkill, it could be argued... But that's what I have... :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

But better still is to have a multi-amp setup (Point Of Thread Alert) - so if one packs in, there is no embarassing silence at all!



I suppose the same could be said of active speakers. You'd have to be fairly unlucky to have all 4 amps go in your 450s after all...;)

[Sapphire Disco]

Never had an amp go , have had the fuse in the mains lead go, luckily had a spare lead and tried that first, lost about 2mins no one really noticed.

[nigelwright7557]

I know its done but I have never been happy with amps inside the same box as the speakers. Unless the circuit boards are shock mounted the PCB's will take an awful lot of vibration.

I prefer seperate amps and speakers.
I always carry 2 amps in case one dies.