SVT CL w. 410/115...ohms, why?

[TheDialog]

Why do I see people using the combination of an SVT CL (2/4 ohms) with standard a standard 410 or a 115 (both 8 ohm)?

I would love to run a "half" stack in my bedroom. I have a back up SVT AV and want to pair it with a 115 in my room, but can't justify it because the ohm rating. I don't want to get a 410HLF.

Help please.

[JimmyM]

because some people don't realize the implications.

[fu22ba55]

Originally Posted by TheDialog

I would love to run a "half" stack in my bedroom. I have a back up SVT AV and want to pair it with a 115 in my room, but can't justify it because the ohm rating. I don't want to get a 410HLF.

8 ohm 200W dummy load.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=019-030

Mount it to a board and connect a speaker jack.

Run it in parallel with your 1x15 and voila.

[TheDialog]

How does that work?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by TheDialog

How does that work?

it acts as a speaker faker so you can use an 8 ohm cab standalone in your svt. but it does cut the wattage going to your speaker in half. not so much an issue if all you're doing is practicing at home.

[fu22ba55]

It's just a giant resistor. The amp just "sees" it as another 8 ohm speaker rated at 200 watts.

Amp techs will hook these up to their tube amps for testing, biasing, etc... when they don't want to bother hooking up to a bonafide speaker, but still need to provide a load to the head.

Or... just get a 4 ohm driver for your 1x15 cab. (If you can dedicate it to your bedroom setup.)

1x15 cabs are a dime a dozen. Find an empty or blown up Boogie Diesel or TL-606 and drop in a 4 ohm speaker.

[TheDialog]

How do you set it up?

[fu22ba55]

Solder a 1/4" Switchcraft jack to the two wires coming out of the resistor and pretend it's another 8 ohm speaker cabinet. (Mounting it to a board would just be for fun.)

If your 1x15 cab has parallel jacks, then plug your svt into the 1x15, then plug the dummy load into the parallel jack on your 1x15. (just like another 8 ohm speaker.)

If not, then just use a y-splitter from the SVT speaker out, and plug one cable into your 1x15 and one cable into the dummy load. Just make sure the Y-splitter is rated for speaker cable.

[TheDialog]

That makes sense. Would plugging into two 115's work? I assume no?

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by fu22ba55

8 ohm 200W dummy load.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=019-030

Mount it to a board and connect a speaker jack.

Run it in parallel with your 1x15 and voila.

If only it were that simple!!!!!

Paul

[BassmanPaul]

Mount it to a board??? NO! Mount it to a very large plate of aluninium so that you can keep it cool. It Will get really really hot!

Paul

[BassmanPaul]

At the volume level used in a bedroom, unless it's a stadium sized bedroom ( some people are rich y'know) don't worry about it. You are not going to run the amp at its limits which is where impedance matching is important. On stage Jimmy has it right on.

Paul

[BassmanPaul]

OK, four posts in a row - I can go to bed now!! G'night all, especially you Jimmy.

Paul

[fu22ba55]

Originally Posted by TheDialog

Would plugging into two 115's work? I assume no?

If your SVT wants a 4 ohm load, and you have two 8-ohm 1x15 cabs (rated at about 200-300 watts a piece), that would work all day.

Two 8 ohm cabs in parallel (not series) produce a 4 ohm load.

I've been running my SVT into two 1x15s for about 14 years now. I just custom made a Y-cable with two speaker cables so I wouldn't have to worry about parallel jacks on the cabs.

[TheDialog]

Paul, I didn't think of it that way. I'd still be more comfortable running loads that match.

[TheDialog]

Hm, maybe I'll try the 2 15 idea.

[fu22ba55]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

It Will get really really hot!

Even better. You can keep your coffee warm, or cook a grilled cheese or baked potato in tinfoil!

[TheDialog]

Haha, I'm all about the baked potato.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

OK, four posts in a row - I can go to bed now!! G'night all, especially you Jimmy.

Paul

night, bro.

btw, paul is right on both counts...for bedroom volumes, it's not a big deal. impedance fluctuates as you play anyway, and stress on the amp with mismatched impedance really only occurs when you push it. still, i'd never do it with MY amp

and dummy loads do get pretty doggone hot, so it's a good idea to put it in something that won't catch fire easily.

[TheDialog]

Consensus thus far: Skip the dummy load idea. Maybe just go with the single 15 and run it low (obviously). Potentially 2 15's. Or, end up with a 410HLF, which I don't think I want to do.