Bridged Speakon Wiring exclusive to SVT-4?

rjc309 · #1 02-23-2011, 10:40 AM

I read a review on MF talking about how the wiring for the speakon cable going to the SVT-4 PRO has to be changed and I'm wondering if this is true of all bridged power amps or if that's specific to the Ampeg. The reviewer said it improved tone and I'm wondering if I could benefit as well.

Setup:

Fender P w/ DiMarzio DP 127's and D'Addario Chrome XL's

SansAmp RBI

Carvin DCM1000L

Ampeg 410HLF

I like a deep, smooth tone but with this setup I end up with a lot of mud out of the 410HLF. I've tried with a BBE BMAX preamp and a Crown CE2000 and it's seemingly the same.

christw · #2 02-23-2011, 10:51 AM

Well, if the preamp and the power amp aren't the issue... it might be the bass or the cab. The 410HLF are going to have quite a bit of low end being ported cabs. The DP127 also has some girth to it so it might be an interaction of the two. Try a different bass and then a different cab. Maybe then both!

Wes Whitmore · #3 02-23-2011, 11:36 AM

The SVT-4 is a 2 channel power amp, and it offers speakon connections for both channel 1 and 2, as well as a bridged speakon output. The bridged cable needs to be wired special. 1+ is +, and 2+ is -. You do this with a 4 conductor speakon connector. No wires go to 1- or 2- (pg 12 of the manual).

http://www.ampeg.com/pdf/SVT4PRO.pdf

Not all 2 channel amps have a special speakon dedicated to bridged outputs. All have diagrams of which pins to use when in bridged mode, so just follow those instructions and you should be fine.

Wes

rjc309 · #4 02-23-2011, 12:17 PM

@christw- I would assume the same thing. My J (with DP123's and the same XL's) has about the same tonal results through the Ampeg. I have a Bassman 410 cab that I get better results with. But with so many people singing the praises of the 410HLF I was questioning whether my wiring is why I'm not entirely blown away.

@wes - The Carvin does have a dedicated bridged speakon output. I'll pull up the manual and see if there's anything to learn from that.

I guess the root of the question is have you ever heard of pins on a speakon cable making a significant tonal difference?

Wes Whitmore · #5 02-23-2011, 12:24 PM

Pins make a difference...use the wrong ones and you either don't get sound, or you blow up an amp, or speaker. If you are asking if bridging an amp makes a tonal difference, then I don't know how to answer that. Is "louder" a tone difference? That's about the only difference I can think of with bridging an amp.
Wes

Wes Whitmore · #6 02-23-2011, 12:33 PM

http://www.carvinguitars.com/manuals...ies-2-2010.pdf

From what I can tell, the bridged connection just uses 1+ and 1- on the Carvin series. No special cable.
Wes

rjc309 · #7 02-23-2011, 12:35 PM

For the record, this is review of the SVT4-PRO:

"I bought this beast a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, but thought my tone lacked the clarity I was looking for. I had been using the standard Speakon cables through the 810 or the 15. I have just recently learned that you must modify the Speakon to +1/+2 on the end connected to the cabinet. Talk about a world of difference. Mono Bridging is the way to go. As loud as you want with plenty of tonal possibilities."

I would tend to agree with you Wes -- pin wiring making a tonal difference? Not likey, but hey I'm not an expert.

Wes Whitmore · #8 02-23-2011, 12:50 PM

I'm not buying it. Regardless, you change the amp end of the speakon, not the cabinet end. Just getting a bump in output makes people thing the tone has changed. Bridge because you want the power...
Wes

projectMalamute · #9 02-23-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjc309

For the record, this is review of the SVT4-PRO:

"I bought this beast a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, but thought my tone lacked the clarity I was looking for. I had been using the standard Speakon cables through the 810 or the 15. I have just recently learned that you must modify the Speakon to +1/+2 on the end connected to the cabinet. Talk about a world of difference. Mono Bridging is the way to go. As loud as you want with plenty of tonal possibilities."

I would tend to agree with you Wes -- pin wiring making a tonal difference? Not likey, but hey I'm not an expert.

I'd avoid reading too much in to the reviews of people who do not know how to operate the thing they are reviewing.