Which power amp would you suggest?

[JoshuaTSP]

A little background info:

Current rig: Ashdown ABM500EVOII, and SWR 2x15.

I recently picked up a SWR 6x10 as well. I plan to use it, instead of the 2x15....or even both cabs. Each is 4 Ohms and can handle about 1k to 1200 watts.

A Yamaha PB1 came up for sale here, and I snatched it up.

Thus I am looking for a power amp.

I'm thinking I should put at least 400-500w into each cab, whether I use them separately or together.

I'm not looking to spend too much, of course.... Maybe up to $350 or so?

One side question, is a high pass filter a feature I should be looking for in a power amp?

[Son of Bovril]

I can recommend the Crown XLS 1500, and the light weight Peaveys seem to be very good from what I have read on here too...

[BassmanPaul]

Carvin DCM1000L $350. Capable of 2Ω operation per channel.

[4Mal]

An hpf would be nice, if it is located where you want it frequency wise. In order of preference my coices in power would be ...

1. Used QSC PLX 1602 or 2402 (which might stretch your budget). 30, 50 hz filter, or no filter configurable per channel. dual mono config so no funky Y cable CH1 input is paralelled to Ch2 based on configuration - the PLX amps are just about bullet proof.
2. Either the Drivecore 1500 or IPR 1600.
3. Carvin Light
4. any decent led sled amp from the last decade. CL is crawling with decent amps Peavey, QSC, Crest, Crown that weight a ton but still perform the role well. Me ? I'm sticking with my PLX 2402 and adding an IPR 1600 sometime soon.

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Carvin DCM1000L $350. Capable of 2Ω operation per channel.

Hmmm....maybe I don't understand?

Wouldn't I be looking 4 ohms per channel?

Actually, what are the advantages/differences/disadvantages to bridged vs stereo operation?

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by 4Mal

An hpf would be nice, if it is located where you want it frequency wise. In order of preference my coices in power would be ...

1. Used QSC PLX 1602 or 2402 (which might stretch your budget). 30, 50 hz filter, or no filter configurable per channel. dual mono config so no funky Y cable CH1 input is paralelled to Ch2 based on configuration - the PLX amps are just about bullet proof.
2. Either the Drivecore 1500 or IPR 1600.
3. Carvin Light
4. any decent led sled amp from the last decade. CL is crawling with decent amps Peavey, QSC, Crest, Crown that weight a ton but still perform the role well. Me ? I'm sticking with my PLX 2402 and adding an IPR 1600 sometime soon.

I heard the HPF are used to prevent the sub-bass frequencies wrecking speakers and wasting power? like 30Hz-50Hz?



Thanks for the suggestions......I'll see if I can find one of those at a good price.

[codethechode]

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

Hmmm....maybe I don't understand?

Wouldn't I be looking 4 ohms per channel?

Actually, what are the advantages/differences/disadvantages to bridged vs stereo operation?

When you run two 4 ohm cabinets the load on your amplifier becomes 2 ohms

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by codethechode

When you run two 4 ohm cabinets the load on your amplifier becomes 2 ohms

did not know that.

I just assumed XXX watts @ 4 ohms per side, meant 4 ohms per side.


Okay, so I definitely need something that can go down to 2 ohms.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

did not know that.

I just assumed XXX watts @ 4 ohms per side, meant 4 ohms per side.


Okay, so I definitely need something that can go down to 2 ohms.

I run 4Ω cabinets but I drive them with the amp in parallel with one cab per side.

[IvanMike]

the used market on the QSC plx 1602, 1802, 2402 is all within your range and they are 2 ohms stable per side. They show up on tb quite often.

[JoshuaTSP]

Anything I should stay away from?

[rpsands]

Get a Drivecore 1500 from northern light and sound. You'll be glad you did

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by rpsands

Get a Drivecore 1500 from northern light and sound. You'll be glad you did

What's so great about those?

Looks like their pricing is similar to most places ($399)......do they provide better service or something?

Actually, $329 shipped is the lowest I can find...

[Jim Carr]

Pretty hard to beat a Crest CA6 or CA9. Pretty hard to lift 'em, too.

[scottbass]

Crown XLS1500. Less than $350 - including shipping to Minnesota - from Northern Sound & Light. (You have to call or email to get their best price.) Lightweight (less than 10 pounds?), powerful, flexible. It will go down to 2 ohms per channel stereo, and 4 ohms bridged mono. 1,000 to 1,5000 watts (stereo total and also mono bridged) depending on the speaker impedances, 700 total watts (I seem to recall) if running two 8 ohm speakers in stereo mode.

[scottbass]

If you don't mind the weight, I have an older 3-space Crown CE1000 in a 4-space molded Gator rack case with covers I will sell you. That leaves one rack space (1.75") for your preamp. The Crown CE1000 is a steady, stable, uber-reliable workhorse. It can go down to 2 ohms per side in stereo mode, and 4 ohms in bridged mono mode. The downside? It weighs 33 pounds (without the rack case).

560 watts per channel (stereo) @ 2 ohms per side
450 watts per channel (stereo) @ 4 ohms per side
275 watts per channel (stereo) @ 8 ohms per side
1,100 watts bridged mono into 4 ohms
900 watts bridged mono into 8 ohms

I'll sell it to you with the rack case for $250 plus shipping to the continental US. (The case alone sells for over $100 new.) I'm not interested in shipping outside the US. PM me if you're interested. Mods - It's OK, I'm a supporting member!

[BurningSkies]

While you're at it, check out the Peavey IPR-1600. 7 pounds,$300. And solid.

[JoshuaTSP]

There are so many out there....all comparable.

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by IvanMike

the used market on the QSC plx 1602, 1802, 2402 is all within your range and they are 2 ohms stable per side. They show up on tb quite often.

Found a 1602 for $352 shipped......

Either that, or a XLS1500 for $300-ish....

[rpsands]

The reason I like drivecores over IPRs is twofold
1) easier bridging (any speakon cable is easy to mod to the task)
2) much, much shallower