AMPEG Portaflex 550 HEAD with PF210 cab

[GRAHAM SG1]

`The above should say Portaflex 500 head`

I have searched for the answer to this but there are 1000s of posts on the PF350/500

My question is simply this;

The Ampeg PF500 head is rated at 500 watts RMS at 4 ohms but the PF210 matching cab is rated at 450 watts RMS at 8 ohms, does this mean that the head will not put out the 500 watts when used with this cab so I would need two 8 ohm cabs to get the full power ?

[open.eadg]

Yes, and yes. The amp is ~300W @ 8 ohms, this means for full power just add another 8 ohm cab.

[GRAHAM SG1]

So Ampeg play the portability card on this amp/cab (Portaflex !) which is fine if you dont want the PF500 heads full power, but if you want the full beans you have to buy another cab which doubles the amount of gear, they should make a choice of 4 or 8 ohm PF115/210 cabs (as other companies do) then they could claim a one box solution to portability issues when using half or full power .

[hover]

Personally, I find the volume difference negligible in anything but the most extreme settings, as the sensitivity of the cab is where it needs to be, and I applaud the expandability of the series for it.

as always, you have other options if you don't find these favorable.

[Slowgypsy]

Originally Posted by GRAHAM SG1

So Ampeg play the portability card on this amp/cab (Portaflex !) which is fine if you dont want the PF500 heads full power, but if you want the full beans you have to buy another cab which doubles the amount of gear, they should make a choice of 4 or 8 ohm PF115/210 cabs (as other companies do) then they could claim a one box solution to portability issues when using half or full power .

NFN... but... it really doesn't matter one iota whether the cab was rated for 450 watts, 500 watts or 550 watts. If you're thinking one is going to be louder than the other... forget it... they'll all sound the same in the real world.

[sad_katz]

Originally Posted by GRAHAM SG1

does this mean that the head will not put out the 500 watts when used with this cab so I would need two 8 ohm cabs to get the full power ?

Short answer: Yes, you need another 8-ohm cab, and *then* dime the volume and EQ knobs to get the full power

[Latanza Heist]

I'm curious as to whether a 2x10 & 1x15 is the way to go or 2 1x15s?

[stiles72]

Originally Posted by GRAHAM SG1

So Ampeg play the portability card on this amp/cab (Portaflex !) which is fine if you dont want the PF500 heads full power, but if you want the full beans you have to buy another cab which doubles the amount of gear, they should make a choice of 4 or 8 ohm PF115/210 cabs (as other companies do) then they could claim a one box solution to portability issues when using half or full power .

But simply running one 4 ohm 15" cab at 500 watts isn't going to sound that much louder than an 8 ohm at 350 watts or whatever the math works out as. Adding multiple drivers (quantity [2] 15" drivers) will increase your volume. Either way - the PF500 into the PF115 has more than enough balls so you shouldn't have anything to worry about- and it does give you the flexibility to expand in the future if you want to add another cab. If you only had a 4 ohm single 15", there is no way to add another cab to increase your volume since the PF500 has a 4 ohm minimum load.

[wonderjosh]

Originally Posted by Latanza Heist

I'm curious as to whether a 2x10 & 1x15 is the way to go or 2 1x15s?

Stop spamming every Portaflex thread on the board dooood!

Get another 115.

[Latanza Heist]

sorry lol... i just wanna reason to know what the 210 offers that is diff to the 115..? thanks

[GRAHAM SG1]

IME 350 watts is not enough in my band, I had a GKMB210 which did not cut it, I added an extra cab to that which gave great volume but too boomy ultimately, I am happy with my current rig (TC BH500 with 2xBC212s) but for rehearsals I just want a single cab/head solution, I had hoped a 4 ohm cab would give the amps full rating which would be enough but have never tried different cabs, I could take a single BC212 with my head but they are 8 ohms and only 250 watts so not enough guts .
I have just read about the Barefaced Super Twelve, now that looks good !

[sevenorchids]

As others have stated, you wouldn't be able to "hear" the difference between 350W and 500W. You would certainly be able to tell the difference between one speaker and two speakers though. Also, keep in mind that an identical (if that was possible) 4 ohm and 8 ohm speaker would appear to reproduce at the same levels. A 4 ohm 15" wouldn't be able to reproduce the full "500 Watts".

Don't get hung up on "watts" as a measure of loudness.

[jeff7bass]

I think a better question is what cab is a better 210, the PF-210 or the SVT-210 which pairs with the VR head. I like the SVT cab but have yet to hear the PF cab. The SVT210 stacks vertically quite well (when pairing) and the sound is pure classic rock!

Yeah I would get hung up on the watts either. Very few 210’s can bear the brunt of a full 500 watts and if they do, they’re pricey!

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by GRAHAM SG1

IME 350 watts is not enough in my band, I had a GKMB210 which did not cut it, I added an extra cab to that which gave great volume but too boomy ultimately, I am happy with my current rig (TC BH500 with 2xBC212s) but for rehearsals I just want a single cab/head solution, I had hoped a 4 ohm cab would give the amps full rating which would be enough but have never tried different cabs, I could take a single BC212 with my head but they are 8 ohms and only 250 watts so not enough guts .

You are way too hung up on numbers. Here's a couple universal truths:

1. The volume difference between 300 and 500w is negligible and manifests itself as headroom.

2. The volume difference between one cab and two cabs is quite significant, and it's by far the best way to create more volume, even if you don't add wattage. Yes, you will get a bump of low end (which you referred to as "too boomy"), but that's what tone knobs are for.

3. Power handling ratings on cabs are almost always based on what the voice coil burns out at, not on what the cab takes in real life, which is often significantly lower.

4. Having common sense will prevent you from blowing out a cab with a head that has more wattage than the cab can handle. Rule of thumb: If it sounds like it's going to explode, it likely will explode.