am I overpower my cabs?

[PatO]

I'm just finally starting to get a handle on how the wattage and ohm ratings matter between my amp and cabs. I've never had huge problems with my rig, so it has never really come up as an issue but now that I am starting to understand this I think I have a problem.

my current rig is a Mesa Boogie M6 Carbine. It sends 600W @ 2 or 4ohm and 320W @ 8 ohm. My cabs are Bag End S15d and S15xd both rated for 200W @ 8ohm.

So with this setup, am i to conclude that with both cabs running together I'm sending 600W to speakers that can only handle 200W? In that case, am I running risk of blowing them? Also, if I were to only run one of the cabs at 8ohm, I'm still sending 320W to a 200W rated cab....

I guess I'm wondering if I should be looking to alter my rig in order to avoid catastrophic issues in the future.

[Mr. Foxen]

You'll get plenty of warning in the form of horrible sound if you cabs aren't coping, listen out for it, cut some bass/volume if you hear it. Even cabs rated above max output can still suffer, so best do it by ear.

[PatO]

I don't hear my speakers giving me trouble in this current configuration, but I do see it jumping a ton on the s15d when my gain and volume are boosted up a little bit.

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

You'll get plenty of warning in the form of horrible sound if you cabs aren't coping, listen out for it, cut some bass/volume if you hear it. Even cabs rated above max output can still suffer, so best do it by ear.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by PatO

So with this setup, am i to conclude that with both cabs running together I'm sending 600W to speakers that can only handle 200W?

No. Your power will be split between the two cabinets. That's up to 300W apiece. You will still have the ability to damage the drivers but I doubt you will be using your amp to its maximum. Kepp your ears open for any signs of distress and if you hear any turn down immediately.

Paul

[smogg]

When you have both 8ohm speakers hooked up, your amp sees a 4ohm load. The two speakers then share the 600watts resulting in each cab receiving 300w. You would have to get really abusive with the EQ & volume to cause problems.

[smogg]

Ahh, BP beat me to it...lol

[PatO]

Thanks folks. I'll keep my ears open. One last piece for consideration, this past saturday I was doing an outdoor gig with both cabs, I had to push the amp louder than I normally do because the monitors weren't loud enough. I noticed that the s15d was kicking pretty hard, much more dramatic bounce on the cone than normal. Would that be because of the excessive power being sent? or just because I'm not used to watching the speaker at volumes that high?

[anonymous02282011]

It could be.

I saw that kind of movement on a cab of mine . . . .

. . . . just before I blew the speaker.

What does your EQ look like?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by PatO

Thanks folks. I'll keep my ears open. One last piece for consideration, this past saturday I was doing an outdoor gig with both cabs, I had to push the amp louder than I normally do because the monitors weren't loud enough. I noticed that the s15d was kicking pretty hard, much more dramatic bounce on the cone than normal. Would that be because of the excessive power being sent? or just because I'm not used to watching the speaker at volumes that high?

could be either. but generally, cones that bounce that much are built to bounce that much, and unless you're really really slamming them and you can hear problems, you're usually ok.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by PatO

I was doing an outdoor gig with both cabs, I had to push the amp louder than I normally do because the monitors weren't loud enough. I noticed that the s15d was kicking pretty hard, much more dramatic bounce on the cone than normal. Would that be because of the excessive power being sent? or just because I'm not used to watching the speaker at volumes that high?

It's because you were outdoors, where at least four times the power is required for the same levels as indoors due to the lack of boundary loading.

[R. Laevinus]

...I've heard 'use your ears' a lot before in regards to over-powering cabs, but here's a question - what does it sound like?

I've never turned my head (Traynor YBA-200, 200w) up to full on my 2x10 cab (Yamaha BBT210S, 250w) because the cones so some serious moving at 50 or 60%, and I don't want them to take a vacation across the room - but it doesn't sound odd, and I'm wondering if I'm missing the warning signs or if I could turn up louder.

So what does a speaker in pain sound like?

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

...I've heard 'use your ears' a lot before in regards to over-powering cabs, but here's a question - what does it sound like?

I've never turned my head (Traynor YBA-200, 200w) up to full on my 2x10 cab (Yamaha BBT210S, 250w) because the cones so some serious moving at 50 or 60%, and I don't want them to take a vacation across the room - but it doesn't sound odd, and I'm wondering if I'm missing the warning signs or if I could turn up louder.

So what does a speaker in pain sound like?

You will generally see more movement of the cones with a tube head and a ported cab. It is a result of the different low end damping characteristics (vs. SS) of a tube power section.

To the OP: You should be fine. Those Bag End cabs are pretty sturdy. I used a pair for about a year with a 500W head and didn't have any problems.

[PatO]

thanks again everyone. I'll ease my worry and continue to love every second of my bag ends. the mesa on the other hand, its great - but I'm not attached to it like my s15d

[R. Laevinus]

Originally Posted by PSPookie

You will generally see more movement of the cones with a tube head and a ported cab. It is a result of the different low end damping characteristics (vs. SS) of a tube power section.

...so you're saying I ought to be able to crank my amp to 11 without the drivers deciding it's all just too much?

[ghiadub]

well, since you can run it at 2ohms, why not add a couple more bag ends and end the worry?

I did just that with my walkabout and am digging it even more. I added some s-10s that sit on top of my s-15s and it is HUGE.

[waleross]

Make sure your dog has ear-muffs.........

[VisualShock]

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

So what does a speaker in pain sound like?

I'd say a little bit like a 2-stroke engine (and if this becomes the TB reference to distorting cabs I want royalties and citations!)

It usually has a bit of a fart to it, somewhere between a flap and a crackle. IMPE Pay no attention to the distance travelled by the speaker cone itself, unless it's measured in feet :P

[PatO]

Originally Posted by ghiadub

well, since you can run it at 2ohms, why not add a couple more bag ends and end the worry?

I did just that with my walkabout and am digging it even more. I added some s-10s that sit on top of my s-15s and it is HUGE.

I'd like to hear that rig, I've been thinking about the Bag End 2x12 but that looks pretty killer.
Those are the s10d and s10x-d right? Do you have the s15x-d on the bottom, I can't see the red center on either 15.

[RickenBoogie]

It sounds awful when a speaker starts to strain. Buzzy, farty, sort of like a bad overdrive, not smooth at all. Turn down something when this occurs, (volume, gain, low eq).

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by smogg

Ahh, BP beat me to it...lol

You of all people should know the BP is something no one wants to be associated with!.

Paul