Hartke LH500 and LH1000

DLI848 · #1 03-16-2011, 08:37 PM

The cabinets I use are Ashdown 410T on top of a Ashdown 115, both ABMs.

2 questions:

Do you think a Hartke LH500 or 1000 would fit nicely with those 2 speakers?

I noticed the LH1000 has a balance know and the LH500 doesn't? Does it make much of a difference?

bassplayerbob · #2 03-16-2011, 09:24 PM

I just upgraded my LH500 to the LH1000 (tax purposes only). Assuming both cabs are 8 ohms, you would get 500 watts from one or if you bridge the 1000, 1000 watts out of the other. If they are 4 ohm cabs, you need the LH1000 to run both cabs. You could run one on each side and balance the 2 cabs with the balance knob in parallel mode. Tone wise, they are the same. The LH1000 is designed to run (4) 4 ohm cabs in parallel mode, yes that is INSANE!!!!

DLI848 · #3 03-16-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayerbob

I just upgraded my LH500 to the LH1000 (tax purposes only). Assuming both cabs are 8 ohms, you would get 500 watts from one or if you bridge the 1000, 1000 watts out of the other. If they are 4 ohm cabs, you need the LH1000 to run both cabs. You could run one on each side and balance the 2 cabs with the balance knob in parallel mode. Tone wise, they are the same. The LH1000 is designed to run (4) 4 ohm cabs in parallel mode, yes that is INSANE!!!!

They are both 8 ohms. So would you recommend the lh500 to run both?

jjk2007 · #4 03-16-2011, 11:35 PM

I have the LH1000 and think it's a great head. The cool thing with the balance is that if your 410 seems like it's dominating the 15, just give the knob a little twist toward whichever side the 15 is on and you have, well....a balanced sound. Since the 500 is a mono-block head, there is no second amp to blend with. I think for the $$ though, the 1000 is hard to beat too. IMO

TUEP · #5 03-16-2011, 11:44 PM

I have heard the LH1000 isn't as loud as other Hartke heads that are 230-300 watts. Is there any truth to this? How would it compare volume wise to other heads like the SVT-3 Pro or SVT-4 Pro?

JimmyM · #6 03-16-2011, 11:50 PM

i've played both the lh500 and lh1000 and i totally don't get when people say amps like the 3500 are louder. i think it's more that the lh amps have a fender tone stack, which can give you an insane amount of low end if you want it to, and increased low end means increased demand on the amp, which often gives the illusion that it's not very loud.

i think the lh500 and 3 pro have a fairly equal amount of clean volume. no idea about the 1000 and 4 pro because there's no way in hell i could ever use everything they've got.

jjk2007 · #7 03-16-2011, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUEP

I have heard the LH1000 isn't as loud as other Hartke heads that are 230-300 watts. Is there any truth to this? How would it compare volume wise to other heads like the SVT-3 Pro or SVT-4 Pro?

I don't know Tuep, but mine gets very loud through my hydrive 410, and that's just running off of one side (cab is 8 ohms) and also using the active jack which pads the signal coming in too. I can't compare it to the other heads you mentioned, but it does do loud pretty good!! IMO

bassomane · #8 03-17-2011, 12:40 AM

The LH1000 has two power amps. Each one delivers 545W @ 2 Ohms, 320W @ 4 Ohm and 225W @ 8 Ohm. In Bridge Modus you get 750W @ 8 Ohms and 1100W @ 4 Ohms.

The guys who think the LH1000 is underpowered have connected a 8Ohm speaker to only one power amp receiving only 225W. You have to use the speakon connector and the bridge modus for the full power experience!

BillyIVbass · #9 03-17-2011, 12:58 AM

I practice at a place with Ashdown cabs and have used the LH500 and LH1000. Definitely a cool setup. If you plan on gigging with both cabs, I'd say either or. The blend knob is cool, but not essential. 2 8ohm cabs will give you the LH500's full power.

Why I sold my LH500 for an LH1000: I like to gig with one 8ohm cabinet and the LH500 wasn't always cutting it. We're talking 3 out of a 100 gigs, but with the LH1000 I can play gigs bigger than my ego could ever imagine.

NoGraveConcern · #10 03-17-2011, 06:00 AM

Not a good idea to run only one cab using one side of the LH1000. The 1/4" jacks are for Dual Parallel mode. Dual meaning at least one cab on each side.

From the manual:
If you are using the LH1000 with a single cabinet of 4 ohms or 8 ohms, set the BRIDGE mode switch to BRIDGE mode and use a Speakon cable to connect your cabinet.

HeadyVan Halen · #11 03-17-2011, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUEP

I have heard the LH1000 isn't as loud as other Hartke heads that are 230-300 watts. Is there any truth to this? How would it compare volume wise to other heads like the SVT-3 Pro or SVT-4 Pro?

No.

Per Mrs. Rossi's 3rd grade math class, 1,000>300.

bassplayerbob · #12 03-17-2011, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoGraveConcern

Not a good idea to run only one cab using one side of the LH1000. The 1/4" jacks are for Dual Parallel mode. Dual meaning at least one cab on each side.

From the manual:
If you are using the LH1000 with a single cabinet of 4 ohms or 8 ohms, set the BRIDGE mode switch to BRIDGE mode and use a Speakon cable to connect your cabinet.

I use mine with one 8 ohm speaker right now with no issues. Each output equals a 4 ohm minimum in dual mode. I checked on that with a Hartke phone call before I purchased mine because I had two 4 ohm cabs. The rep said I could run four 4 ohm cabs in dual mode if I wanted to or just one cab.

NoGraveConcern · #13 03-17-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayerbob

I use mine with one 8 ohm speaker right now with no issues. Each output equals a 4 ohm minimum in dual mode. I checked on that with a Hartke phone call before I purchased mine because I had two 4 ohm cabs. The rep said I could run four 4 ohm cabs in dual mode if I wanted to or just one cab.

Well, manual says to bridge if you have a single cab. You lose nothing by bridging and gain (significant) headroom, so why not? Don't say that it's because your cab is rated for less wattage than the head puts out bridged. That's why you have ears and a volume pot.

Logically, you have a power amp running with no load. Sure it's safe to run up to 4x4ohms, but is it safe to run one side with no load? I'm not an EE so I can't speak in definite terms on this, but it's generally not a good idea to do so.

bassplayerbob · #14 03-17-2011, 11:59 AM

There was a thread on load or no load here not too long ago and it was said that a solid state amp can run with no load but a tube amp can't. Also I believe the manual is written out that way because for all practical reasons use the bridged speakon because 750 watts sounds much nicer than 225 watts.

bassplayerbob · #15 03-17-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoGraveConcern

Well, manual says to bridge if you have a single cab. You lose nothing by bridging and gain (significant) headroom, so why not? Don't say that it's because your cab is rated for less wattage than the head puts out bridged. That's why you have ears and a volume pot.

Logically, you have a power amp running with no load. Sure it's safe to run up to 4x4ohms, but is it safe to run one side with no load? I'm not an EE so I can't speak in definite terms on this, but it's generally not a good idea to do so.

I never mentioned anything about lesser wattage cabs. I had two cabs rated at 4 ohms each and using them together made a 2 ohm load so the lh500 was out of the question but the lh1000 was ok to use.

NoGraveConcern · #16 03-17-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayerbob

There was a thread on load or no load here not too long ago and it was said that a solid state amp can run with no load but a tube amp can't.

That's entirely possible. However the manual, just above the portion I quoted earlier, also says this:
"...it is never a good idea to power up any amplifier that is not connected to loudspeakers."

The LH1000 has two amplifiers and, in the instance you mention, one would be powered up while not connected to a loudspeaker.

I dunno, I could be misinterpreting the manual. I would love the see some clarification from an authoritative source on this one.

bassplayerbob · #17 03-17-2011, 12:29 PM

LARRY HARTKE WHERE ARE YOU!!! He usually pops in every so often. I actually sent him a messege on his facebook about it.

NoGraveConcern · #18 03-17-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayerbob

LARRY HARTKE WHERE ARE YOU!!! He usually pops in every so often. I actually sent him a messege on his facebook about it.

TUEP · #19 03-17-2011, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadyVan Halen

No.

Per Mrs. Rossi's 3rd grade math class, 1,000>300.

I have learned over the years that sometimes watts does not mean its always louder. LOL

There are some 200-300 watt amps out there, that seem louder than some 500-600 watt amps.

JimmyM · #20 03-17-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoGraveConcern

That's entirely possible. However the manual, just above the portion I quoted earlier, also says this:
"...it is never a good idea to power up any amplifier that is not connected to loudspeakers."

The LH1000 has two amplifiers and, in the instance you mention, one would be powered up while not connected to a loudspeaker.

I dunno, I could be misinterpreting the manual. I would love the see some clarification from an authoritative source on this one.

ok, here you go...

as long as the amp doesn't have an output transformer, it's perfectly fine to use without a speaker load. only amps with output transformers require it. this would include pretty much all amps with a tube power section and the warwick hellborg power amp, the only solid state amp i know of that's currently being made with an output transformer. all other ss amps, including the hartkes, are made without output transformers.