500 Watt Amp Vs. 300 Watt Cab

vardan109 · #1 12-13-2010, 01:17 AM

Here is technical question for you all. I have a Basson 300 Watt 4x12 Cab running on a Hartke 500 Watt Amp. What are the advantages and disadvantages? The one thing that I am concerned about is blowing out my cab. Thoughts/Suggestions anyone?

JimmyM · #2 12-13-2010, 01:24 AM

keep the volume lower than the cab can handle and it will be fine. if not, you'll blow the cab. pretty simple, really.

brndn123 · #3 12-13-2010, 01:24 AM

As long as you don't crank your amp to full volume you should be ok. However, its definitely possible, especially if you're the type of guy the turns ur amp up a little bit after every tune at a gig or practice

4Mal · #4 12-13-2010, 01:27 AM

It really is simple. If your cab sounds like it's hurting... Time to turn down...

vardan109 · #5 12-13-2010, 01:40 AM

How can I determine how much wattage my amp is producing when I turn it up?

JimmyM · #6 12-13-2010, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vardan109

How can I determine how much wattage my amp is producing when I turn it up?

you can't. but you can usually tell when you're playing too loudly for the cab...it will make nasty sounds like it ate too many bean and cheese burritos from 7-11.

BassIan · #7 12-13-2010, 01:46 AM

I'll chime in and agree with 4Mal and JimmyM. Use your ears and discretion. If it sounds bad, you'll have to turn down. It's not necessarily bad to have more power on tap than the cabinet's rating. It's common to see this approach in professional audio systems.

Have fun.

JimmyM · #8 12-13-2010, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassIan

I'll chime in and agree with 4Mal and JimmyM. Use your ears and discretion. If it sounds bad, you'll have to turn down. It's not necessarily bad to have more power on tap than the cabinet's rating. It's common to see this approach in profession audio systems.

true dat. it's also common for those audio pros to have experience and common sense enough to know not to crank the stuff past what their cabs can take. hopefully the op has good common sense, though...i'm betting that he does

vardan109 · #9 12-13-2010, 01:55 AM

This is all true. I still have the time to return it and get an cab that can handle more power; just to be on the safe side.

Shoewreck · #10 12-13-2010, 01:59 AM

What is impedance of your cab? Your amp is most likely rated 500W@4 Ohms, that means it can output just about 300W@8 Ohms. If so, you don't have a power mismatch. Still, if drivers rattle, you're probably threating them wrong.

T-Bird · #11 12-13-2010, 02:01 AM

Hi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vardan109

How can I determine how much wattage my amp is producing when I turn it up?

You can measure the signal strenght and frequency spectrum of your instrument and you can measure the amplification factor of your amp using those figures, but all that is moot in this case. Just use Your ears, just like every other poster has said.

Regards
Sam

vardan109 · #12 12-13-2010, 02:05 AM

Don't know I have to check it again. The amp is a Basson 4x12. Would I have to manually switch the impedence to 300W@8 ohms?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoewreck

What is impedance of your cab? Your amp is most likely rated 500W@4 Ohms, that means it can output just about 300W@8 Ohms. If so, you don't have a power mismatch.

BassIan · #13 12-13-2010, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vardan109

This is all true. I still have the time to return it and get an cab that can handle more power; just to be on the safe side.

Does it sound good to you and produce enough volume for your practices/gigs? If so, why change it? You'll be fine with the setup you have now.

The same warnings apply regardless of the power rating. If it sounds bad, chances are you have to turn down.

zarigunn · #14 12-13-2010, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

It really is simple. If your cab sounds like it's hurting... Time to turn down...

it sounds good tough..

billfitzmaurice · #15 12-13-2010, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vardan109

Suggestions anyone?

Read the FAQ.

JimmyM · #16 12-13-2010, 08:43 AM

i just looked it up because the basson 412 is supposed to handle like 1500w and 300w didn't sound right to me...you bought the basson GUITAR cab. dude, take it back. guitar cabs will easily blow with too much low end.

zarigunn · #17 12-13-2010, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i just looked it up because the basson 412 is supposed to handle like 1500w and 300w didn't sound right to me...you bought the basson GUITAR cab. dude, take it back. guitar cabs will easily blow with too much low end.

that 's what i did think too

Basson is made to handle power..
its know to have a verry powerfull head to handle a basson cab so i already did look strange to me

RickenBoogie · #18 12-13-2010, 06:17 PM

I was wondering that myself, a 300 watt 412 doesn't sound like a bass cab at all. RETURN IT!!

vardan109 · #19 12-14-2010, 01:01 AM

I switched it up. Now Im running an 800 watt Hartke 8x10 with the 500 watt amp. What do you guys think about this set up?

JimmyM · #20 12-14-2010, 01:19 AM

hydrive cab? much better choice. very nice cabs, those hydrives.