Ashdown Sub bass output

thenextbigthing · #1 10-21-2010, 06:54 AM

I have an ashdown abm evo II and i'm a bit confused how to use the sub output on it. Can you just plug it straight into a cab or is it to be used in some other way? If you can just plug it straight in it would be with an ashdown 1 x 15 cab.

Cheers.

billfitzmaurice · #2 10-21-2010, 07:00 AM

What does the manual say?

KJung · #3 10-21-2010, 07:02 AM

That output is a low passed signal that is designed to drive a powered subwoofer. It is not a 'speaker out' per se. It will not power a speaker, but rather send an 'appropriate' signal to a powered subwoofer designed to reproduce extremely low frequencies.

thenextbigthing · #4 10-21-2010, 07:11 AM

Thanks KJung, so would sending it to the PA be out of the question then?

Also would powing a subwoofer on top of 2 cab be too much of a strain?

Cheers

KJung · #5 10-21-2010, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenextbigthing

Thanks KJung, so would sending it to the PA be out of the question then?

Also would powing a subwoofer on top of 2 cab be too much of a strain?

Cheers

Question 1.... you would most likely want to run a full range signal to the PA using the DI. Using the subwoofer out would only send the lowest frequencies of your sound to the PA, which would most likely just sound muddy out front. I guess if you wanted to be 'fancy', you could send that subwoofer low end signal to the PA (assuming your PA has subwoofers), and turn the volume down, just adding a bit of low end from the PA to reinforce your full range backline rig tone without having much bass come through the main (non sub) PA speakers. Much more of a chance to sound bad than good there.

Question 2.... there would be no more or less 'strain' if you add a powered subwoofer to your rig, since you amp's power section would not be powering the subwoofer (i.e., you would have to purchase a powered subwoofer to use this output). I would think a powered subwoofer that would be loud enough and hefty enough to keep up with your full range signal from you regular speakers would be quite heavy and quite expensive.

I wouldn't bother with any of this IMO

. For most contexts and mixes, that very low end subwoofer tone does nothing but get in the way of an articulate, punchy bass tone that sits nicely in a mix. A good front of house sound person will often get rid of most of the bass guitar frequencies that come through the subs anyway. Of course, most sound persons don't do this, and hence the muddy mess that most bassists have in many concert venues.

IMO there. Again, the sub out to a powered subwoofer would kind of be like sending a signal to only the subwoofer portion of the PA... it would have no impact on the power amp at all.

Edit: Been a while for me on these amps... I have a feeling that sub bass out is primarily meant for the onboard octaver, if I remember correctly. However, not sure if your head has that. If you kick in an octaver (usually a bad idea anyway!), there are very few full range bass cabs that would be capable of reproducing those extremely deep notes as you move down your intruments range.

Hopefully some of the real Ashdown fans will show up to validate (or fix!) my comments and suggestions.

fu22ba55 · #6 10-21-2010, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenextbigthing

Also would powing a subwoofer on top of 2 cab be too much of a strain?

Since the ABM EVOII is a preamp, there's no strain involved at all. It's designed to output a high-pass signal, low-pass signal, and sub-bass signal simultaneously.

You just need to have enough amps and cabs to take advantage of it.

The Sub bass is not just a super-low pass either... it produces additional sub-harmonics (and octaves) like an octave pedal.

eyeballkid · #7 10-21-2010, 07:23 AM

also, you could email ashdown on that one here: http://ashdownmusic.com/contact/index.asp

Ive always found them to be fast and helpful on all technical questions and problems..
ask em the best way/application for it to be used and Im sure they will give you the full scoop.

KJung · #8 10-21-2010, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fu22ba55

Since the ABM EVOII is a preamp, there's no strain involved at all. It's designed to output a high-pass signal, low-pass signal, and sub-bass signal simultaneously.

You just need to have enough amps and cabs to take advantage of it.

The Sub bass is not just a super-low pass either... it produces additional sub-harmonics (and octaves) like an octave pedal.

That's what I was thinking in my edit above... it is designed to take advantage of the octaver type thing on these heads.

thenextbigthing · #9 10-21-2010, 07:25 AM

Thanks for the answers guys, that's cleared it up for me.