New rig issues - GK/Crown

Ripley · #1 04-06-2011, 09:33 AM

The setup: VST Deluxe > GK MB200 > Crown XLS1000 > GK 210MBE

Running an iPod thru the MB200, 1/4" out of speakon jack into 1/4" on the XLS, bridged mono - MB200 is dropping power, cooling fan is coming on. MB200 is at 8:00, Crown is at 9 maybe 10:00.

Tried DI from MB200 into XLR on the Crown with iPod into RCAs on the Crown, no sound at all. Unplugged iPod, still no bass signal using the DI.

Tried 1/4 out of Line Out on the MB200, no bass signal coming out of Crown.

Back to 1/4 out of MB200 speakon into 1/4 input on Crown, iPod into 1/8 on MB200. Signal seems good, reasonable volume, but there's a buzzing from the cab when I play the bass; tried turning off tweeter which helped but really cuts down the treble. It doesn't sound farty or brappy, it's more of a 'dzzzzz' like there's something touching the cab and vibrating; almost like a piece of paper or something.

Crown is rated 700w @ bridged mono into 8ohm. Cab is rated 400w, 8ohm. Crown is set around 10:30, MB200 EQ is set flat, gain at 8 or 9:00. Volume seems ok, but overall sound is kind of dull and dead - that could be a matter of adjusting VST and EQ.

Anyone have experience with a similar set up or these particular units? Seems like it should be a no-brainer but the sound is not what I'd expect. MB200 and cab are 4 or 5 months old, Crown is brand new.

Ripley · #2 04-06-2011, 11:43 AM

Just tried the rig again. For some reason the GK will lose power, almost like the input signal is too high. But if take the Crown out of the system and just use GK > cab, it's fine. Is there something inherently bad about using the 1/4" out of the speakon on the GK?

Any suggestions? I feel like I'm missing something.

Passinwind · #3 04-06-2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripley

Just tried the rig again. For some reason the GK will lose power, almost like the input signal is too high. But if take the Crown out of the system and just use GK > cab, it's fine. Is there something inherently bad about using the 1/4" out of the speakon on the GK?

Any suggestions? I feel like I'm missing something.

You need to run out of the line output on the GK, not the speaker out. Fix your cabling scheme if that doesn't work. You most likely need to ground pin 3 on your XLR connector going into the Crown (wire a jumper from pin 1 to pin 3), since the line out on that GK amp is unbalanced. If you're already going 1/4" TS to 1/4" TS (not TRS), dunno.

randysmojo · #4 04-06-2011, 12:11 PM

You are going to seriously damage something running the speaker output to a line level input. You might have already and that might be why you don't get anything from using the line out of the GK. If you are only using one side of the Crown, you could trying using the line out into the other side of the Crown and see if there is a problem with that side on the power amp.

Ripley · #5 04-06-2011, 12:20 PM

Thanks, guys! I'll take another look tonight.

Wes Whitmore · #6 04-06-2011, 12:23 PM

Ouch. At this point, its time to see what still works. That speaker out to amp input could have caused all kinds of damage.

Check the MB200. Speaker out to a cab, mp3 out to the cab, bass guitar as an imput out the the cab, pre and post EQ button on the DI and if the DI still works, and the line out, both set to headphone and line out. Basically everything.

Power amp. Test a different input source and check both amp channels to make sure the will power a test cab.

If everything tests out, you are lucky. If not, replace what's broken and try again not using the speaker out to drive anything but a speaker. Good luck!
Wes

Rockman · #7 04-06-2011, 12:27 PM

I'm not sure I understand. You are using a 3mm plug to plug and ipod into the AUX-IN jack, and a 1/4 inch plug to run from the HEADPHONE/LINEOUT to the crown?

Using the 1/4 inch out of the speakon is definetely not the right way to get what you want, as said trying to pump that through an input designed for an instrument is likely a bad idea.

Also what is the speaker plugged into, the MB200 or the Crown? Why can't you just use the MB200?

Since you are running the Crown in mono double check to make sure you are plugged into the correct input, one is inactive when the amp is in mono. In fact that is what I would try first.

projectMalamute · #8 04-06-2011, 02:06 PM

In an attempt to power a 2x10 with a 1000 watt amp it appears that the OP has taken the speaker out jack from an amp(an amp that, incidentally, could have driven the box to full output just fine) and plugged it in to the power amp.

Just walk away from this one folks.

RickenBoogie · #9 04-06-2011, 05:59 PM

No offense, but just because a person has the means to buy a Mercedes Benz, does not, in fact, mean they know how to drive. Though this may have been an expensive lesson to learn, it points out that knowledge is key, and bass amplification can be quite complicated. Others would do well to learn from this as well, since there are posts every day re: "plugging this into that", and so forth. I know that in my own journey as a musician, there was PLENTY I didn't understand, before taking the time to learn, so here's hoping the op gets through this with minimal damage, and a keen understanding of how all this stuff actually works.