Is There Anything Wrong with my Setup?

[jack7jack]

Hi,

Over the last year, I've played a few local shows with my current set up, and have not thought much of it. But just recently at college I've been taught about Matching Power Amps to Speakers. And it's made me think whether my current set up is actually correct. I have tried to work it out, but I'm not sure. Any Help would be extremely appreciated.

My Set up;

Ashdown Little Giant 1000
Hartke Transporter 4x10
Hartke Transported 1x15


Is this okay? Or Do I Need To Change Anything?

[mysteryclock]

If it sounds good to you and the folks you play with, then it is good. It really is that simple.

[Von Felgenhauer]

as in the head and cabs the same? the manufactures test them together and give you the results that way but you don't need to have an all ampeg or hartke or swr rig. i have an swr head with 2 peavey 410s that sound amazing. its all how it sounds to you

[sevenyearsdown]

IME Hartke's transporter/XL series cabinets tend to respond better with modern style sounding amps like Hartke, GK, etc. I don't know anything about the ashy you are using. But the answer given earlier is all you need to know.....if it sounds good to you and your band, than the name on the head doesn't matter.

[JimmyM]

if it were me, i'd change the 115 to a 410, or vice versa. but it ain't me, so if you dig it and can do what you want with it, it's the best rig on earth.

[Implosion]

Originally Posted by jack7jack

But just recently at college I've been taught about Matching Power Amps to Speakers.

Just out of curiosity. What were you taught and by who? Hopefully by someone with a backround in physics/engineering.

[jack7jack]

Originally Posted by Implosion

Just out of curiosity. What were you taught and by who? Hopefully by someone with a backround in physics/engineering.

Just one of the Tutors on my Course, but he was saying about how if you have a power amp that has 1000 Watt RMS, that the speakers need to be matched for power, or you're at risk of damaging the speakers/head.

[jack7jack]

Yeah, I do love the sound I'm getting from it, it was just the aspect of damaging the Rig due to the Power of the head, and whether the speakers would handle it. I was reading about Ohms/Wattage/Resistance, and trying to work it all out, but couldn't make heads or tails of it.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by jack7jack

Just one of the Tutors on my Course, but he was saying about how if you have a power amp that has 1000 Watt RMS, that the speakers need to be matched for power, or you're at risk of damaging the speakers/head.

there's definitely some risk there to use a cab rated below the head, especially if you like to play loud. but the main thing for me wanting matched cabs is the sound...i've never liked the sound of mixed cab rigs, and i came to find out from the ee types on here that it can cause phasing. plus the 410 will have double the output of the 115 with the same power split between the two. but again, if you like it and feel confident you won't play past the volume that the 115 can take, rock it.

[jack7jack]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

there's definitely some risk there to use a cab rated below the head, especially if you like to play loud. but the main thing for me wanting matched cabs is the sound...i've never liked the sound of mixed cab rigs, and i came to find out from the ee types on here that it can cause phasing. plus the 410 will have double the output of the 115 with the same power split between the two. but again, if you like it and feel confident you won't play past the volume that the 115 can take, rock it.

Thanks for the help, i was just worried about ruining gear, and still being young not being able to replace it very easily
but i've had no problems so far, and haven't had to crank the volume as of yet.

[Bmorefoozler]

Originally Posted by jack7jack

Thanks for the help, i was just worried about ruining gear, and still being young not being able to replace it very easily
but i've had no problems so far, and haven't had to crank the volume as of yet.

If you really crank it, your 15 is what would likely be the first thing to go. As Jimmy mentioned, replacing it with a 410 would lower the possibility, and spread out potential failure points, to all 8 drivers equally.

[Von Felgenhauer]

the only way you will damage is if you turn your volume louder then you need to. listen carefully to your speakers. when they start to lose clarity back off your gain or bass and you should be fine. if its not loud enough, then you might wanna look at a new cab or cabs

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by jack7jack

Just one of the Tutors on my Course, but he was saying about how if you have a power amp that has 1000 Watt RMS, that the speakers need to be matched for power, or you're at risk of damaging the speakers/head.

If he was in my class he'd receive a D. Many players prefer to have an amp power rating at least twice that of the speakers, for maximum amplifier headroom. Many prefer to have speaker ratings at least twice that of the amp, to lessen the potential for exceeding either the thermal or displacement limits of the speakers. Both are valid options, and neither endangers either the amp or speakers when one doesn't abuse their gear.

[makaky]

Originally Posted by jack7jack

Just one of the Tutors on my Course, but he was saying about how if you have a power amp that has 1000 Watt RMS, that the speakers need to be matched for power, or you're at risk of damaging the speakers/head.

Thats not true. Amp distortion is what is killing drivers. Matching the power will most likely result in distortion if you play at high volume.

Ive been running a 4x10 Hartke Transporter for years with a 2k watts QCS and it sounds realy good at high volume, no distortion no busted drivers. You still have to be carefull...

[makaky]

Originally Posted by Von Felgenhauer

the only way you will damage is if you turn your volume louder then you need to. listen carefully to your speakers. when they start to lose clarity back off your gain or bass and you should be fine. if its not loud enough, then you might wanna look at a new cab or cabs

+1

[makaky]

Originally Posted by jack7jack

Thanks for the help, i was just worried about ruining gear, and still being young not being able to replace it very easily
but i've had no problems so far, and haven't had to crank the volume as of yet.

You have a good setup, i wouldnt worry.

Your fingers will do the rest

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by makaky

Amp distortion is what is killing drivers.