Bass Head to External Power Amp?

BlacknWhite · #1 11-16-2012, 09:36 PM

Hey guys just looking for some advice. I have a Behringer BVT 5500 bass head (550 Watts @ 4 ohms) and am running it through an Ampeg SVT 610HLF (4ohms 600 watt RMS 1200 watt peak). I love the tone I get through the head but it just doesn't seem to be powerful enough. Is it possible to run the head as a pre amp and out to an external power amp. If so what would be the best way to do it? Here is a shot of the back of my bass head and the connections.

walterw · #2 11-16-2012, 10:40 PM

absolutely;

the "preamp output" and "effects loop send" will both work for that. send one of them into a power amp and off you go.

lowfreq33 · #3 11-16-2012, 10:44 PM

Don't waste your money. Doubling the wattage will only get you 3 decibels, and put you at much greater risk of blowing speakers.

I'm having a hard time believing that 550 watts through a 610 isn't powerful enough. How is your EQ set?

BlacknWhite · #4 11-16-2012, 10:47 PM

I have my EQ in the "Frown" Normally with the mids slightly boosted

BlacknWhite · #5 11-16-2012, 10:52 PM

I am for the first time running my Head through a power conditioner... Is that an issue can that be robing power from my Head?

walterw · #6 11-16-2012, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

I'm having a hard time believing that 550 watts through a 610 isn't powerful enough.

good point, assuming the behringer specs are legit.

550 watts into a 6x10 set for a "frowny face" EQ should be barking.

the power conditioner is irrelevant (so much so that you probably don't need it).

BlacknWhite · #7 03-21-2013, 06:30 PM

Ditched the Behringer Head and picked up a Hartke LH500. Much better now lol

TheRealKong · #8 03-21-2013, 06:35 PM

Good decision! I always felt like Behringer lies a bit about power ratings.

BlacknWhite · #9 03-21-2013, 07:54 PM

They for sure do lie! Plus I only used the Head for about 4 months and within that time the overall tone of the head had already started to deteriorate.You get what you pay for I guess. Hartke was worth the extra coin.

BassLift · #10 03-21-2013, 08:03 PM

not trying to jack this thread, I was just about to start a thread pretty much asking the same question. I'm about to get another 410 to stack on my current one and wanted to power it with a separate power amp to maximize wattage, would i use the "slave out" in the effects loop of my current head? also, while i'm in here, how do i use bridge mono mode on a power amp?

BlacknWhite · #11 03-21-2013, 08:34 PM

Can your current head handle the extra cab? Whats the min Load it can take and how many ohms are your cabs rated at? If your head can take another cab I wouldn't bother with the power amp. I was just going to do that because my head was already at its min load.

BassLift · #12 03-21-2013, 08:47 PM

the head is a GBE1200, both cabs are 1000w @ 4ohms, I could run the GBE through each cab if i set it to 2ohms, but then each cab would only be getting 600w max. Though 1200w seems like a lot (and i guess it is), i wouldn't want to max out the head while never getting close to the potential of the cabs. I'd rather be able to utilize the GBE for one cab and a separate, 1000w power amp for the second, i can always lower my volume from there.

dukeorock · #13 03-21-2013, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassLift

the head is a GBE1200, both cabs are 1000w @ 4ohms, I could run the GBE through each cab if i set it to 2ohms, but then each cab would only be getting 600w max. Though 1200w seems like a lot (and i guess it is), i wouldn't want to max out the head while never getting close to the potential of the cabs. I'd rather be able to utilize the GBE for one cab and a separate, 1000w power amp for the second, i can always lower my volume from there.

Once you get a second cab that amp should really come to life...honestly you should be brutally loud with the second cab and running full power at 2 ohms on the amp

BlacknWhite · #14 03-21-2013, 11:37 PM

Man that should be more than enough power, unless your playing a massively huge show. I would,'t even bother with the power amp. If you ever need a little edge just run a line to the PA for an extra bit of juice. Just the 4 extra speakers moving that air makes a big difference in the sound.