Match it? Or no?

TheAngryPocket · #1 05-10-2011, 01:14 PM

I have a 4x12 4ohm cab rated at 1600watts. I'm looking at either a Carvin B2000 or BX1500 head. I love the simplicity of the B2000, but it only goes to 1300watts@4ohms. Whereas the BX1500 gets closer by going up to 1500watts@4ohms, but that's it's max. So, I guess what I'm asking is would it be better to have a head that gets closer in wattage to the cab rating, or have a head that only goes so far @ that ohm rating, but has a greater wattage rating overall? Or is this even necessary by the time I get up that high in wattage? Open to facts, and suggestions, and minimal criticism.

stflbn · #2 05-10-2011, 01:17 PM

You're not going to hear a huge volume difference at 1300 watts or 1500 watts. You'll be deaf enough volume will no longer matter.

BassmanPaul · #3 05-10-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAngryPocket

I have a 4x12 4ohm cab rated at 1600watts. I'm looking at either a Carvin B2000 or BX1500 head. I love the simplicity of the B2000, but it only goes to 1300watts@4ohms. Whereas the BX1500 gets closer by going up to 1500watts@4ohms, but that's it's max. So, I guess what I'm asking is would it be better to have a head that gets closer in wattage to the cab rating, or have a head that only goes so far @ that ohm rating, but has a greater wattage rating overall? Or is this even necessary by the time I get up that high in wattage? Open to facts, and suggestions, and minimal criticism.

1) Remember that the actual output of an amp is limited by the available power from the mains supply. If you are actually using 1300W you would not be able to be in the same room as the amp.

2) The power rating of a cabinet is usually the point at which the voice coil starts to melt. Usable power will be somewhere about half that.

I use the BX1500 with a pair of 4Ω 2x10s, one per channel in parallel mode. It gets plenty loud!

funkinbottom · #4 05-10-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

You're not going to hear a huge volume difference at 1300 watts or 1500 watts. You'll be deaf enough volume will no longer matter.

+1 At that point a couple watts aren't going to matter. Especially with the Carvin stuff. Their power is conservatively rated with tons of headroom. I don't use either amp in question, but I do loves my Carvin HD. power amp.

Sundogue · #5 05-10-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAngryPocket

I have a 4x12 4ohm cab rated at 1600watts. I'm looking at either a Carvin B2000 or BX1500 head. I love the simplicity of the B2000, but it only goes to 1300watts@4ohms. Whereas the BX1500 gets closer by going up to 1500watts@4ohms, but that's it's max. So, I guess what I'm asking is would it be better to have a head that gets closer in wattage to the cab rating, or have a head that only goes so far @ that ohm rating, but has a greater wattage rating overall? Or is this even necessary by the time I get up that high in wattage? Open to facts, and suggestions, and minimal criticism.

Watts don't mean as much as you think. Your cab is displacement limited to probably about half it's "rated" power (where the voice coils melt) which means it will be at it's max volume with about 800 watts. Anything over that will just turn into heat and/or blown speakers.

Either head will give you plenty of power with lots of headroom. Just be careful and listen for your speaker's stressing because they undoubtedly will long before you even put 1000 watts into it. And with four 12's, it will be unbelievably loud long before that as well.

BigOldHarry · #6 05-10-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAngryPocket

...I love the simplicity of the B2000, but it only goes to 1300watts@4ohms....

Gee... 1300 watts... that's a crying shame... How can you possibly be heard with such meager power?

Floyd Eye · #7 05-10-2011, 02:02 PM

The BX1500 is bi-ampable too, which I personally like. Of course you could always get 2 4 ohm 8x10 cabs and that B2000 will crank out 2050 watts.

TheAngryPocket · #8 05-10-2011, 02:20 PM

Hah hah! I do agree with all of that. Thank you all. Here explains more of what I have. The 4x12 is a cab my father and I constructed, and has four Carvin Neo 12" speakers configured @4ohms. Carvin's rating for each 12 is 400watts continuous/800watts program, and 1600watts peak. So, then what "would" it be rated at then? Still actual 800watts? Is my math/science off?

Floyd Eye · #9 05-10-2011, 02:21 PM

800 watts. Build another one at 4 ohms, rated for 1200 watts and get the B2000.

seanm · #10 05-10-2011, 02:27 PM

As others have said, the difference between 1,300W vs 1,500W is probably not even noticeable. And if you really do need >1,300W, do the places you play have the juice to run them?

Bass_Pounder · #11 05-10-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAngryPocket

Hah hah! I do agree with all of that. Thank you all. Here explains more of what I have. The 4x12 is a cab my father and I constructed, and has four Carvin Neo 12" speakers configured @4ohms. Carvin's rating for each 12 is 400watts continuous/800watts program, and 1600watts peak. So, then what "would" it be rated at then? Still actual 800watts? Is my math/science off?

The Carvin Neo 12's are not really good bass speakers as they only have an Xmax of 2mm - I wouldn't be too surprised if you are displacement limited at around 500 watts total.

Also the Carvin Neo 12's only appear to be available in 8 ohms. If so, it is impossible for you to have a 4 ohm cab.

BassmanPaul · #12 05-10-2011, 02:40 PM

If you have four 400W drivers then the power rating is 1600W total. However the drivers have to be in an enclosure designed for those specific drivers in order to use that power safely. Again, as already posted, in actuality you'll be able to use about half that.