Peavey 1820 question?

sykes of christ · #1 06-07-2010, 09:51 PM

I put in a replacement basket for the black widdow, it's rated at 500w continuous, and peaks at 2000w. The cab originally ran at 350w continuous, and peaked at 700w. What is my cab running at continuous now? I'm not sure what the 2 10 scorpions are rated at.

sykes of christ · #2 06-07-2010, 10:06 PM

The 18 peaks at 1000w, I just looked it up on the peavey website.

AlexanderB · #3 06-08-2010, 02:51 AM

Well, technically the speaker does not "peak".
It will handle a short term thermal load of 1000 Watts if there is an amp providing it.
In real life, the 18" will probably bottom out before you reach 1000 Watts, at least if you are playing low notes.

If the new 18" speaker has longer excursion, you now have potential to reach higher SPL for low frequencies. If it has shorter excursion, the new speaker will play less bass and bottom out sooner than before, even if it's thermal handling is higher.

Look at the Peavey homepage for "Xmax" or "Voice Coil height" to compare the two speakers. (Voice coil height and magnet gap height make up the Xmax. Since you will use the old magnet, the gap height will not change. A new, higher VC will generate more Xmax.)

/Alexander

MNAirHead · #4 06-08-2010, 11:44 AM

I believe the any chance you can get me the model numbers on the scorpions.. I can run you some specs.

Tim

hrgiger · #5 06-08-2010, 01:51 PM

I figure on the 18 taking 400 wrms and 800 peak. As for the 10s, they are the Scorpion S-10825 (the only 10" scorpion they make.) I figure on them taking 200 wrms and 400 peak, so I use a power amp bridged that makes 800 w to run them (and I listen w/ my ears for any strain.) Make sure you only bi-amp that cab if you are going to run any real power into it (i.e. not bedroom practicing) and keep the real low freqs away from the 10s. Think of these 10s more as guitar speakers added for mid/upper freqs than conventional bass drivers. Stay away from the full range inputs if you can because when you run real power into the crossover it can detonate, these cabs are all over with 'bad' crossovers... And yes when you use the high/low inputs you bypass the crossover and each input is still 4 ohms.

Specification sheet:

http://www.peavey.com/assets/literat...pionseries.pdf

toobalicious · #6 06-08-2010, 02:44 PM

the crossovers dont actually go bad... the switching jacks do, and sometimes the spade connections will get wonky. jacks are pretty easy to replace or bypass, and the spade lugs can be soldered.

billfitzmaurice · #7 06-08-2010, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexanderB

A new, higher VC will generate more Xmax.)

And along with it less xlim, increasing the chances of damaging the coil.

OP, what everyone is getting at is that the thermal rating of the voice coil has little relationship with how much power a driver can actually make use of. Simple rule: if it distorts, turn it down.

sykes of christ · #8 06-08-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

I believe the any chance you can get me the model numbers on the scorpions.. I can run you some specs.

Tim

I will when my tech gets it back to me.

I was also considering upgrading the 10s in it, to a higher wattage. Then utilizing the bi amp capabilities this cab has, would powering this cab with two seperate heads, and a A.B.Y. box work?

will33 · #9 06-08-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sykes of christ

I will when my tech gets it back to me.

I was also considering upgrading the 10s in it, to a higher wattage. Then utilizing the bi amp capabilities this cab has, would powering this cab with two seperate heads, and a A.B.Y. box work?

With the use of an active crossover like in a PA rack it would but seems more hassle/expense that it's worth. Fix the passive crossover in the cab, forget about power handling of the 10's and move to a single 10 instead of 2. Chop out the other half of the sealed 210 compartment to make more space for the woofer and get a good woofer in there.

sykes of christ · #10 06-08-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Fix the passive crossover in the cab, forget about power handling of the 10's and move to a single 10 instead of 2. Chop out the other half of the sealed 210 compartment to make more space for the woofer and get a good woofer in there.

How do I fix the passive crossover? What's wrong with it?

will33 · #11 06-08-2010, 09:34 PM

Re-reading your first post there may be nothing wrong with it, I may be getting off track here.

So you had an 1820 that worked fine, then the woofer blew so you got a replacement peavey basket. The new basket is rating for 500 watts instead of 350 like the old one.

It's no big deal. The newer voice coils likely figure out some newer better way to dissipate heat or grading standards somehow changed or something where the new coil is rated as 500 watts of heat before it burns up as opposed to 350 watts, it's no big deal.

You'll reach the physical limits of the speaker before you get that high anyway. Basically like BillF. said, if it distorts/farts out, back off on either the bass knob, or the volume or a little bit of both.

Putting higher power rated speakers in the 10's section will be throwing money away. You already have 2 decent SPL speakers up there to a single woofer. If you want to throw any money at this cab, put it in the woofer. What I was saying is you could chop the cab up from the inside, go to a single one of the 10's you already have, and have fine mid SPL to compete with really good woofers that are out there now.

Going to an 8ohm woofer would require a parts change in the LPF section of the crossover as well and would add cost though unless you could find a suitable 4ohm woofer or a pair of smaller 8ohm woofers.

In short, don't worry about the rating difference of the replacement basket, it won't matter.

Why did the first on blow? Cranking too much volume + boosting the bass knob? Don't know how it may have been abused by the previous owner(s)? Just plain old and wore out?

hrgiger · #12 06-08-2010, 10:25 PM

Yes I have heard that about the switching jacks from a guy here but I don't think anyone was certain that the crossovers weren't damaged, it was just an assumption.

On the rest of what I said, I guess I was talking to my self, my bad. I thought since I owned the op's cab's big daddy I had sort of an idea what I was saying, but I guess not...

will33 · #13 06-08-2010, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrgiger

Yes I have heard that about the switching jacks from a guy here but I don't think anyone was certain that the crossovers weren't damaged, it was just an assumption.

On the rest of what I said, I guess I was talking to my self, my bad. I thought since I owned the op's cab's big daddy I had sort of an idea what I was saying, but I guess not...

Hey, now that's a cool cab. Makes more sense from a technical standpoint plus it's big, tall, and loud.

sykes of christ · #14 06-08-2010, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Why did the first on blow? Cranking too much volume + boosting the bass knob? Don't know how it may have been abused by the previous owner(s)? Just plain old and wore out?

I was running my RB700 through it, the head is rated at 480w @ 4ohms. The cab is at 350w continuous @ 4ohms.

When I bought the cab I was told it ran at 700 watts, but it actually peaked at it.

Richard G · #15 06-08-2010, 11:45 PM

i had that same cabinet for many years then reconned the 2 18's so i can sell it i didnt really make any money on it but i made someone, happy the guy was a youngster in his early 20's and really happy when he saw it and loaded it up in his truck.

MNAirHead · #16 06-09-2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrgiger

I figure on the 18 taking 400 wrms and 800 peak. As for the 10s, they are the Scorpion S-10825 (the only 10" scorpion they make.) I figure on them taking 200 wrms and 400 peak, so I use a power amp bridged that makes 800 w to run them (and I listen w/ my ears for any strain.) Make sure you only bi-amp that cab if you are going to run any real power into it (i.e. not bedroom practicing) and keep the real low freqs away from the 10s. Think of these 10s more as guitar speakers added for mid/upper freqs than conventional bass drivers. Stay away from the full range inputs if you can because when you run real power into the crossover it can detonate, these cabs are all over with 'bad' crossovers... And yes when you use the high/low inputs you bypass the crossover and each input is still 4 ohms.

Specification sheet:

http://www.peavey.com/assets/literat...pionseries.pdf

I have a house gig I play every week.. I power the entire room with a single 10 (Scorpion) like this.. it handles a 7 string without issues. I'm driving it with a Mark VII head.

Kind of funny as all of the gear is hidden.. I get tons of bass guys commenting on the attributes of huge cabinets and tube heads.

======

I've owned several of these cabinets.. all are great when loved and cared for.

Instead of dorking around and cobbling together a crossover.. check ebay (or our classifieids) for a MegaBass head.. it's ideal for your cabinet cross over setup... I believe there are some Earlier GK heads that also have onboard dual power amps/crossover matrix.

----

The crossovers are fine and solid.. it's the plug switching that goes nutty... ship it to Meridian (just the crossover) they can correct it for just a few bucks.

----

Nice cab.. swapping parts on it is not really an upgrade.

I liked mine enough that we did a custom knock off (not the cheap way out).. utilizing 1x12 + 2x8

Tim

toobalicious · #17 06-09-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

I've owned several of these cabinets.. all are great when loved and cared for......

I liked mine enough that we did a custom knock off (not the cheap way out).. utilizing 1x12 + 2x8

Tim

you should try and find yourself one of these clunkers for $75 like i did, and make it a ménage à trois.

sykes of christ · #18 06-09-2010, 12:08 PM

I just got off the phone with my tech. He told me my 18 is blown again, he isn't sure what is causing it. I didn't have the amp cranked when I was playing it.

My gk 700rb is rated at 480w at 4 ohms. I had it plugged into the 1820, that has 2 8 ohm scorps. rated at 200w continuous they are wired parallel making them 4 ohms.(Item number S 10825) And the black widdow that is rated at 500w continuous.

The tech also said the crossover was blown, again.

Is my head under powering my cab, causing my speakers to blow? Does my tech know what he is doing?

Rick Auricchio · #19 06-09-2010, 12:27 PM

Underpowering is a myth. When you turn the volume down, are you underpowering?

Either the amp is bad or the cab is crap.

toobalicious · #20 06-10-2010, 07:05 AM

you shouldnt be blowing anything with that setup, especially if you arent pushing the GK. for some time my "small rig" was a first gen 700RB (so only 380 watts) into a 1x15 black widow loaded cab. ive pushed the crap out of that combination--- lots of boost/growl, even, and no problems. my guess is you are pushing too much low end and are bottoming out the woofer (which could happen with way less than the full output of your amp with the right eq settings).