How much power is enough?

MtJusticeD · #1 07-22-2011, 10:18 PM

I am ordering the 1000W avatar b410, and i am debating whether or not to get a 500 watt head or a 1000 watt head, what is recommended?

cableguy · #2 07-22-2011, 10:22 PM

you don't have to max the volume. If cost is not an issue it's better to have a little headroom. If you ask my wife my 280W GK 400RB-IV is too loud. I think my 480W GK 700RB-II is just loud enough. It's all a matter of perspective.

MtJusticeD · #3 07-22-2011, 10:25 PM

So the 1000 then? Because i thought if i got the 500 it wouldbt allow me to reach the full potential of the speaker because its 1000w rms, but i wasnt sure

JimmyM · #4 07-22-2011, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtJusticeD

So the 1000 then? Because i thought if i got the 500 it wouldbt allow me to reach the full potential of the speaker because its 1000w rms, but i wasnt sure

You'll never get 1000w into any 410 on the market. 1000w is the rating where the voice coils toast and blow (thermal power handling). But the point they can't get any louder and it starts to strain them is much lower, no more than about half the thermal rating. So 500w would be a more realistic rating in the real world, and a 500w head would be fine. So would the 1000w as long as you don't try to crank past where the speakers start to strain.

Bassamatic · #5 07-22-2011, 11:04 PM

The speaker should be able to handle more than the amp puts out for safety. 2:1 is a good margin.
ALSO- you cannot hear the difference between 500 and 1000W unless you have REALLY good ears.

JimmyM · #6 07-22-2011, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassamatic

The speaker should be able to handle more than the amp puts out for safety. 2:1 is a good margin.

It's a safe margin but you can run it a little closer than that unless you like cranking loud to get overdrive in a tube amp. I think a 500w head would be cool with that cab. Not much extra volume than 300w but you do get a little more headroom for clean volume.

SlingBass4 · #7 07-22-2011, 11:35 PM

Isn't "too much power" an oxymoron

JimmyM · #8 07-22-2011, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlingBass4

Isn't "too much power" an oxymoron

Yeah, but "getting fired" isn't

SlingBass...lol!

jtc_hunter · #9 07-23-2011, 12:07 AM

The GK700RBII would be a great match for that cab.

Downunderwonder · #10 07-23-2011, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassamatic

The speaker should be able to handle more than the amp puts out for safety. 2:1 is a good margin.
ALSO- you cannot hear the difference between 500 and 1000W unless you have REALLY good ears.

My amp peaks at 500W. Crazy loud.

Sartori · #11 07-23-2011, 03:46 AM

No one else can really tell you how much power your specific situation needs.

Some guys are only okay with having 1200 watts at their disposal. I run a little less than 200. But what I use probably wouldn't work out for what those guys used to running 1200 watts want, and vice versa.

Rob Lewis · #12 07-23-2011, 04:21 AM

Pardon? You'll have to speak up...

MtJusticeD · #13 07-23-2011, 06:11 AM

I was gonna get another 410 cab down the road, so i figured in order to power both of them i would need the more powerful amp

billfitzmaurice · #14 07-23-2011, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtJusticeD

I am ordering the 1000W avatar b410, and i am debating whether or not to get a 500 watt head or a 1000 watt head, what is recommended?

Considering it's displacement limited to no more than 400 watts the question is moot.

RickenBoogie · #15 07-23-2011, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtJusticeD

I was gonna get another 410 cab down the road, so i figured in order to power both of them i would need the more powerful amp

Yeah, it's confusing, with all the myth's flying around, and the fact that spkr ratings are almost meaningless. Bottom line, the speaker cab does not require a certain wattage to work properly. A cab rated for 1000 watts RMS will max out around 4-500 watts. So, forget the numbers, buy what sounds good to you.

pablomigraine · #16 07-23-2011, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtJusticeD

I am ordering the 1000W avatar b410, and i am debating whether or not to get a 500 watt head or a 1000 watt head, what is recommended?

Here's the way you need to look at this: The speaker cabinet's wattage rating is a value of the maximum safe CONSTANT load it will take indefinitely. An amplifier's wattage rating (unless its Behringer, Peavey, or an Ampeg SVT-3Pro

) is the measure of the maximum CONSTANT wattage it will put out safely.... with the cabinet and the amp both being able to accept and provide more when pushed for short periods.

If you have an amp honestly rated at 1000 watts.... during normal playing it is almost never actually putting out 1000 watts for any extended periods.

Imagine you're going to buy a new car, and the car's top speed is the output wattage. Now, your amp is the highway.... if the posted speed limit is 65... then you certainly dont want a car that TOPS OUT at 65... you want an car that tops out around double that.

With my SVT-810e being rated at 800 watts, I pair it with power amplifiers rated from anywhere to 1,000 - 1,800 watts. NOw, sealed cabinets will take a bit more power than ported ones before endangering the cones... but with a 1000 watt Avatar, I would recommend AT LEAST a 1,000 watt amp.

Downunderwonder · #17 07-23-2011, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Considering it's displacement limited to no more than 400 watts the question is moot.

What happens when the displacement limit is reached?

Downunderwonder · #18 07-23-2011, 08:11 PM

nevermind! Jensen MOD 32 ohm for GK BLX?