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  #1  
Old 04-08-2011, 08:14 PM
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Simple Amp question. 500w head, 400w handling cab

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I've got an acoustic 4x10 cab, capable of handling 400w.
i want to get one of those new portaflex ampeg heads. and i would just go for the 350w version, but it doesnt have as many options as the 500w.

so the question is, would i be hurting my cab to say go.. half volume? i dont think ill ever need to crank it too high.
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Old 04-08-2011, 08:15 PM
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i know i wont hurt it at low volumes, but where's the limit?
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Old 04-08-2011, 08:22 PM
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Variations of this question occur on a daily basis around here. You'll probably find some info about thermal power handling in the stickies above. As long as you realize half volume isn't really with the knob turned up half way, and you turn it down if it starts to sound like poo, you'll be OK.
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Old 04-08-2011, 10:04 PM
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Here's one for the record books. Many years ago, just for a goof, I ran a bridged RMX5050 power amp into a single 8 ohm Eden 210XST bass cabinet. I think the cab was rated at 300 watts. That's a 3200 watt power amp plugged into a 300 watt speaker. The preamp was a Creation Audio clean boost pedal turned up about half way, and there was plenty of signal going to the amp. Believe it or not, that speaker cabinet played all day long at a very high volume and it didn't catch on fire or even shoot the voice coil out through the front of the cabinet. In fact, I used that cabinet with a regular bass head for another year and then sold it to a guy who is STILL using it. So how was something like this possible? How come the giant power amp didn't blow the Eden cab into the next county?

Well, most bass amps and power amps have some knobs on the front. One of them is usually a master volume control, or in the case of a power amp, an input level control. When any speaker cabinet reaches TOF (threshold of farting), turning down the knob on the amp will in most cases reduce the farting noises and also prevent damage to the speaker. With practice, you can learn to recognize the sound of TOF or any other non-musical sounds coming out of your speakers and use the knobs on the front of the amp to eliminate them.
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  #5  
Old 04-08-2011, 10:41 PM
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I play my Shuttle 9.0 (900 watts) through my AE212 (600watts) all the time. As JB says, (paraphrasing), when the cab farts, turn the amp down.

Usually, cabs are blown by noobs and tyros who don't understand that speakers have physical limitations. They want to play louder so they just keep turning it up, asking more of the rig than it can provide. If you keep your wits about you, the 500-watt head will be fine ... in fact, it will be even better than the 350-watt version because it will give you extra headroom for the occasional transient. Keep in mind, a 400-watt cabinet can handle 800 watts peak (short bursts). Just don't let the guitar players get so loud you can't keep up with them.
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