Advice on GB Shuttlemax 9.2 and Berg HS410

[Tweezle]

Hello all,

I have heard and love the sound of these two together and have bought both for my studio. The only concern I have is that the Genz Benz Shuttlemax 9.2 has a 900 Watt power rating at 4 Ohm and the Bergantino cab has less, 800 Watt 4 Ohm. I'd mostly be using a Warwick RB Fortress and no effects.

I have done a search on this forum, but would like some advice on this specific pairing.

Has anyone here got any advice on running these 2 together? I wouldn't be using it anywhere near full and if needed would mike and DI through the PA if extra volume was needed.

Would like to know what ballpark would be safe volume wise to keep the cab happy. Would a compressor be advised or some kind of attenuator? What EQ settings would place too much strain even at lower volumes?

I will of course use my ears, but any further practical advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Thrill-House]

I dont have that exact setup, but i do have the shuttle 9.0 (has the same power amp as the 9.2 i believe) running into a GK Neo 4x10 (also 800 watts). As long as you dont crank the shuttle all the way, you shouldnt have a problem. Just use your ears, when it starts to sound like something is wrong, turn it down.

That being said, the Shuttle 9 and shuttlemax 9.2 are VERY loud, when they say it puts out 900 watts, they mean it. I played a gig last night a small bar, and the shuttle and 4x10 were easily a match for the house PA, and it was only at about 9:00. To be on the safe side, i would keep the master volume below 3:00 or so, but i doubt you will need to go that loud very often.

As for the compressor, i dont think it would really help much, unless its something you usually use. The cab is rated at 800 watts, a mere 100 watts less than the head, so it should able to handle most of the amp settings you will throw at it. One thing to definitely remember is the EQ controls on the shuttlemax 9.2 (just like the shuttle 9.0) are "active" controls... which basically means 12:00 is flat, and turning it up past that means you are boosting the frequencies, instead of just "cutting them less" like standard EQ controls. A little turn of the knob goes a long way, so keep that in mind.

Anyway, enjoy the amp! It was definitely a good purchase!

[RickenBoogie]

Here's the thing- ANY amp can blow ANY speaker cab. The ratings of the cab are almost meaningless. The 410 is rated for 800 watts, at which point the voice coil will melt. It will begin straining and farting out well before that point. So, the only thing you need to do is use common sense. If the cab starts straining, you've reached it's maximum volume limit, back off the volume and/or the low eq, (which eats your power). Otherwise, all is well. Enjoy the rig.

[pbasswil]

You're absolutely fine with these two. Wattages are a very inexact thing to start with. Every little change in your gain structure and EQ (and even how low you play) alters how much power is actually hitting your speakers. And every manufacturer uses a different system to assign power specs.*

Speakers are generally assigned the highest wattage figure they can handle before they blow up! It's more or less: how much heat can they dissipate before meltdown.

The actual musically useful power speakers can convert into a good sound is considerably lower.
But then, you would never crank the master volume on your amp to 10, would you? (Would you?? :^D )

You have the right idea when you say you'll use your ears. Always ease up your volume when you can listen closely for driver distress. Your sound will get ugly quite a bit before you actually damage the speaker.

The real danger is when both
a) your speaker is woefully too small for your amp but you keep turning up anyway,
plus
b) some guitar is deafening you so badly that you can't even hear your speaker's cries for mercy! :^D

Use your ear and your common sense, and you'll be fine. That's a terrific rig.

[pbasswil]

Oh yeah, one more thing: As Rickenboogie hinted, low EQ is something to be aware of. Boosted lows can require a lot of extra watts from your amp.

Say, for example, your tests show you that (with your bass cranked, and amp input gain at a medium level) your speaker sound good and unstrained up to about 2 o'clock on the Master volume -- when your EQ is flat.

Well if you're happily playing like that, but then decide to crank the low EQ, you may suddenly be doubling or quadrupling your power output!

Consider added lows to be equivalent to adding master volume. Always ease it up the lows, and listen to make sure the speaker is comfortable with it.

If your tone requires a goose of lows while you're playing real loud, you may have to compensate by easing down the master volume, to avoid overpowering a speaker.

[Tweezle]

Thanks all for the advice, that's cleared a few things up for me.

[rodl2005]

Originally Posted by pbasswil

Oh yeah, one more thing: As Rickenboogie hinted, low EQ is something to be aware of.

If your tone requires a goose of lows while you're playing real loud, you may have to compensate by easing down the master volume, to avoid overpowering a speaker.

+1 to all this & what Rickenboogie said.
IF you DO find you NEED to add more lows & you're playing at a damn loud level, it's often a good, safe idea to CUT the hi's & hi-mids etc. Therefore, in essence, giving you a bass 'boost' without the potential damage to yr speakers.
I always try cutting eq's before trying a boost.

[Red Planet]

Originally Posted by Tweezle

Hello all,

I have heard and love the sound of these two together and have bought both for my studio. The only concern I have is that the Genz Benz Shuttlemax 9.2 has a 900 Watt power rating at 4 Ohm and the Bergantino cab has less, 800 Watt 4 Ohm. I'd mostly be using a Warwick RB Fortress and no effects.

I have done a search on this forum, but would like some advice on this specific pairing.

Has anyone here got any advice on running these 2 together? I wouldn't be using it anywhere near full and if needed would mike and DI through the PA if extra volume was needed.

Would like to know what ballpark would be safe volume wise to keep the cab happy. Would a compressor be advised or some kind of attenuator? What EQ settings would place too much strain even at lower volumes?

I will of course use my ears, but any further practical advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Don't worry about it. Your'e not going to blow that cab. Play the two as you will. Congrats on the new rig and enjoy.

[agedhorse]

Originally Posted by rodl2005

IF you DO find you NEED to add more lows & you're playing at a damn loud level, it's often a good, safe idea to CUT the hi's & hi-mids etc. Therefore, in essence, giving you a bass 'boost' without the potential damage to yr speakers.

Doesn't work this way. The danger of increasing low end AND pushing the box hard above it's rated power is exceeding the mechanical limits of the speakers which may be as much as 50% below the thermal or RMS rating at very low frequencies depening on the cabinet.

Generally, as long as common sense is used, it's not going to be a problem.

[5StringPocket]

The GB Shuttlemax 9.2 and Berg HS410 should be a good match and make a slamming rig. Use your ears and common sense and enjoy!

[pbasswil]

Originally Posted by agedhorse

Doesn't work this way. The danger of increasing low end AND pushing the box hard above it's rated power is exceeding the mechanical limits of the speakers which may be as much as 50% below the thermal or RMS rating at very low frequencies depening on the cabinet.

Generally, as long as common sense is used, it's not going to be a problem.

Point taken that it's actually pretty hard to destroy a driver; thanks.

But in my low EQ caution example above, I was saying that if you're playing at a certain very loud level that you've figured out is the loudest your box will go before optimum sound starts to degrade, isn't additionally cranking the lows going to put you past that threshold (into "ugly")? Even if it's below any danger of physical damage.
So compensating for the added lows with a slight reduction of the master is what you need to do to bring you back to the max. sweet-sounding level?

It's great to have you engineering pros here to keep an eye on our understanding.