3 Aguilar Cab Setup Question

[behndy]

hey all.

i've been running a QSC GX5 into a pair of Aggy GS112's as my stage rig for awhile. just picked up an Aggy GS115 to go with them. i've been going out the 1/4 from my Sansamp PBDI (it's last in the chain on my pedalboard), into a 1/4 female -> 2 male adapter so that the same signal is split into two, one for each channel of the QSC poweramp.

am i doing it wrong? seems to be working fine, but all of my previous experiences have been with bass heads into a single cab.

with the GS115 do i just run another splitter of off one side of the first splitter to another power amp? the QSC only puts out about 400 watts at the 4 ohms the Aggy 12's are rated at. i assume i'll need another poweramp. i don't know a lot about daisy chaining cabs, and i'm not sure if you can with the Aggy 12's, or if it's a bad idea. i THINK that would lower the impedance to 2 ohms, which would drop the power being pushed to them?

so, is it a bad idea to split the signal again? is there a better way to do it? do i need another poweramp to push the new 15?

thanks much!

-0behn desu0-

[RickenBoogie]

You need to know what the poweramps minimum impedance is first. If your 2 cabs are 4 ohms, adding another will drop the impedance even lower. I know this isn't alot of help, but it is where you need to start. Using Y-cords for speaker cables is NOT a good idea, but back up a second, and find out the amps impedance needs.

[Catdaddy]

Originally Posted by behndy

hey all.

i've been running a QSC GX5 into a pair of Aggy GS112's as my stage rig for awhile. just picked up an Aggy GS115 to go with them. i've been going out the 1/4 from my Sansamp PBDI (it's last in the chain on my pedalboard), into a 1/4 female -> 2 male adapter so that the same signal is split into two, one for each channel of the QSC poweramp.

am i doing it wrong? seems to be working fine, but all of my previous experiences have been with bass heads into a single cab.

with the GS115 do i just run another splitter of off one side of the first splitter to another power amp? the QSC only puts out about 400 watts at the 4 ohms the Aggy 12's are rated at. i assume i'll need another poweramp. i don't know a lot about daisy chaining cabs, and i'm not sure if you can with the Aggy 12's, or if it's a bad idea. i THINK that would lower the impedance to 2 ohms, which would drop the power being pushed to them?

so, is it a bad idea to split the signal again? is there a better way to do it? do i need another poweramp to push the new 15?

thanks much!

-0behn desu0-

I run two GS 112's powered by a B-Max split into each side of a Stewart poweramp. My GS 112's are 8 OHMS each, and as far as I know, that's the only way they come. Yours might be custom or something. Anyway, if they are in fact 8 OHMS, than you will have no problem adding another 8 OHM cab to one side of your power amp--don't use a Y adaptor, just daisy chain the two cabs. You might want to google "comb filtering" to make sure you know what you are getting into before using different size drivers like that.

[cb56]

I agree with catdaddy. I used to run 3 gs112s with a a stereo power amp. Connect the input like you already are and daisychain the two 12s powered by channel A then run the 15 from channel B.

[IvanMike]

Originally Posted by cb56

I agree with catdaddy. I used to run 3 gs112s with a a stereo power amp. Connect the input like you already are and daisychain the two 12s powered by channel A then run the 15 from channel B.

exactly - balance the cabs levels with the individual poweramp input levels. In this setup the side with the 2 2x12s will see a 4 ohm load and the side with the 1x15 sees an 8. stack them all vertically and see how they sound.

[behndy]

hurm. i think i AM tripping. everything i can find online spec-wise about the GS112's says that CatDaddio's super right. they are 8 ohms. even the Deltalite II upgrade would make them at 8 ohms. and mine are not upgraded. so.... yeah.... i'm pretty sure they're 8 ohms. ohms is a funny word. ohhhhhhhhhhhmssssssss. sorry.... i ramble.

SO.... bear with me if i'm being stupid.... i'm super ignorant about this.... but here's the ratings on the GX5 i have right now....

# 8Ω / both channels driven / 1 kHz: 500 W
# 8Ω / single channel driven / 1 kHz; 600 W
# 4Ω / both channels driven / 1 kHz; 700 W
# 4Ω / single channel driven / 1 kHz; 850 W
# 2Ω / both channels driven / 1 kHz: 350 W

.....from the manual.

right now i have each channel going to it's own GS112. if i set it up like CatDIDDY and Cb56 (is that a CB4 reference? "you thought you were hard because you lived on CB4? well Cell Block FITTY SIX!!! WHAT IS IT?!?") suggest where one channel is daisy chained to the two GS112's and the other channel is going to the GS115, then i'll have....

each GS112 running at 4 ohms impedance so they will be sharing the 700 watts the GX5 says it pushes out per channel at 4 ohms?

and the GS115 being pushed by 500 watts at 8 ohms? is it true that the impedance of the GS115 won't be changed because it's on a separate channel then the GS112's? or is there some weird Magic Hour stuff going on that makes them all sum down to 2 ohms even though they are on different channels? murrr?

and.... finally.... probably another stupid question.... what do i do to daisy-chain the two GS112's? right now i run a channel into each with a speakon to speakon cable. there is a speakon and 2 1/4 jacks on the back of the GS series. i..... dunno how to hook up speakers so they are daisy chained. i'm a bit of a failure as a geek in this regard. i'm sorry.

thanks much! sorry if this stuff is basic for y'all.... it's my first time running a rig like this.

rokk!

-0behn desu0-

[behndy]

annnnnnnnnnnnnnd.... as SOON as i hit send IvanMike chimed in with an answer to one of the questions. you rokk sir. ROKK. i was wading through your ohms sticky. good stuff. very informative.

so...... i guess just...... HOW THE FRAK DO YOU DAISY CHAIN THE SPEAKERS TOGETHER??!?!?

...... whew....... i'm tired now.

thanks!

-0behn desu0-

[behndy]

ot- IvanMike - did Thor end up covering that gig for you? i notice the "HELP ME!!!" sig is gone.

blerf!

-0behn desu0-

[Catdaddy]

Originally Posted by behndy

annnnnnnnnnnnnnd.... as SOON as i hit send IvanMike chimed in with an answer to one of the questions. you rokk sir. ROKK. i was wading through your ohms sticky. good stuff. very informative.

so...... i guess just...... HOW THE FRAK DO YOU DAISY CHAIN THE SPEAKERS TOGETHER??!?!?

...... whew....... i'm tired now.

thanks!

-0behn desu0-

You've got one speakon and two 1/4" jacks on the back of each cab. Plug the output from one side of your stereo amp into one of these, and plug another speaker cable into one of the remaining jacks on the back of that cab, running it to the cab you want to "daisy chain" and plugging it into one of it's jacks. Don't plug anything else into either of those speakers. Of course, you should already have determined that they are both 8 OHMS, thus giving you a combined load of 4 OHMS.

[behndy]

very nice. thanks Catcha! i kinda thought that was the way to go about it... but confirmation? goooooooood.

so, i guess the final thing i'm being a dummy about is the way i'm splitting the signal from my pedalboard for the separate amp channel inputs? what's the correct way?

like i said, i'm just going Sansamp 1/4 out into a cheapo female -> 2 male adapter.

wrong? better way is?

i'm going to the practice spot way early to mash on my new, beefier setup.

thanks!

-0behn desu0-

[Catdaddy]

That's the only way I know to go about it. Except that when it comes to cables and such, it always pays in the long run to use the best you can get. Good luck!

[behndy]

yah... i have been looking for a better quality splitter. glad i don't have to find some rare boutique $2000 Splitter Box Of LOVE.

thanks for all help everybody!

WOOT! (new gear makes me GIDDY.)

-0behn desu0-

[bothroysnvts]

I have 2 questions for you!
- Did you pick up that GS115 on the S.F. Area Craigslist?
-And most importantly, how does it sound?!?!?

[JimmyM]

splitter box of love...lol! freakin' hippie!

[cb56]

cb56 = my initials and the year I was born
I'm surprised that you can't plug one cable into one channel (input) of that amp and have it internally jumped to both sides (2 channel mono) I've only owned a couple power amps but both could do that.

[Catdaddy]

Originally Posted by cb56

cb56 = my initials and the year I was born
I'm surprised that you can't plug one cable into one channel (input) of that amp and have it internally jumped to both sides (2 channel mono) I've only owned a couple power amps but both could do that.

I think most any stereo power amp will run bridged mono, as you suggest. But the amp has to work harder and runs much hotter, and you usually don't really need all the power that will provide. Plus, you are only going to be able to run two 8 OHM cabs for a total of four OHMS. I don't believe that many power amps will run bridged mono into two OHMS. I must say, however, that I am far from being an expert!

[behndy]

cb56 - yah... i think the qsc only runs bridged mono down to 4 ohms. the manual's oddly vague on bridged mono, and my rig's at practice so i can't look at the back right now. i THINK i remember a switch in the back for stereo/bridged mono. but i think CachaDaddy's right, and it should have enough power running stereo.

boTHroYsnOTs - yahpers on the SfBay cl find. the guy was... interesting. he had a buncha stuff setup at a storage place, had run an electrical chord into a light fixture for power ( i guess storage spaces don't have outlets in their rooms. makes sense.), and was using the GS115 as a sub in his... "home surround sound unit". his words, not mine. the satelite speakers were a 2x6 car stereo speaker box. kinda neat in a DYI way. oh yAh... the amp?an older (freaking HUGE) Eden Nemesis tupe amp head. if you need a biga$$ head, he probably has a listing. he said he's sellling that too. so, i heard aome Venetian Snares through it pretty loud, and played through it about half way up. SEEMS good.... today's the first day i get to run it all out tho. cab is in really good ahape, so even if there's something wrong with the speamer (it seemed fine) then it'll still be worth it to replace the speaker with a Deltalite II. i was considering that for the 12's anyways to get a bit more mid.

Notorious J.I.M.'y m - sheeeeeeeet. i BURN hippies. get a job you lazy slackers. NO MORE JAM BANDS!!!! i was just afraid some tone nazi was going to tell me how i might as well put some kittens in a blender if didn't get a splittter made by Grrzlbleg Electronics. and it HAS to be one released between 1982 and 1986 because that's the only years tha Mr Somebody worked there, and since they moved their production overseas and started selling them through Guitar Center after 1986, every model after that was poo. they pop up once every 33 years, only during times of great social upheaval, for between $3,000 and $4,500. they originally sold for $6. anybody not willing to refinance for the right pedal is as bad as Hitler. and drinks Kitten Blender Milkshakes.

i've... spent time on the pedalboard section. love you guys!

-0behn desu0-

[IvanMike]

cb56 is referring to input bridging, which is different than bridging the outputs of the power amp. a lot of amps will let you run a mono line into one side and internally or externally let you send that same signal to the other side - they still operate independently though.

my y cable is an overpriced but durable as heck planet waves 1 male to two female. then i use two 1 foot male to male patch cords to make it male to 2xmale. whenever you do this make sure it's all mono as some of these y cords are stereo TRS to mono TS.

Originally Posted by Catdaddy

I think most any stereo power amp will run bridged mono, as you suggest. But the amp has to work harder and runs much hotter, and you usually don't really need all the power that will provide. Plus, you are only going to be able to run two 8 OHM cabs for a total of four OHMS. I don't believe that many power amps will run bridged mono into two OHMS. I must say, however, that I am far from being an expert!

[behndy]

neat! thanks for the info Ivan The Mike! ..... 'cause calling you Mike The Ivan MIGHT be deemed rascist.

gahf. was just re-reading the thread to see if i missed anything... and i SWEAR i know how to spell "speakers". freaking typo-laden iphone touchscreen keyboard. my paws aren't even THAN meaty.

that's good stuffs to know about the inner workings of amps and their views on working stereo vs mono. i'm getting to my practice spot in about 2 hours, so i should know then, but having 2 12's run off of 700 watts @4 ohms with a 15 run off of 500 wqtts @8 ohms should be pretty freaking loud right? i'm just competing with a (self-admitted loud) drummer and a synth player/vocalist with backing tracks through a pa with 2 15's.

ne?

[cb56]

Ivanmike is right, I wasn't talking about bridged mono, sort of an internal y cord for the inputs is what i meant so you could run the same signal to both inputs of the power amp.