What Is The Power Rating Of The Avatar TB153?

[ryevick]

I noticed Dave mentions the 15 speaker in the 153 has a 450 rating but he doesn't give much detail. I have sent him an email but if any of you know, let me know I have an Ampeg SVT-3Pro that is rated RMS Power Output (4 Ohms): 450-Watts. I would like to have some headroom and it would be nice to know my head can't overpower/blow my cab.

[MuzikMan]

The woofer rating is what all manufacturers use to estimate their cabs power handling. In the case of the TB153 that would be 450 watts. With that said it is the most useless figure when shopping for bass cabs. All the number tells you is when the voice coil will be damaged by heat. It says nothing about the mechanical handling (how far it can move) before damage occurs. In many cases the mechanical handling of a cab will be much lower (half or less) than the thermal handling. The great news here is that the Eminence Kappalite 3015LF was designed to mechanically handle as much as it can thermally. For bass players that makes it equivalent to a typical 900 watt driver. Good luck blowing an Avatar TB153 (not that it can't be done) !!!

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

The great news here is that the Eminence Kappalite 3015LF was designed to mechanically handle as much as it can thermally. For bass players that makes it equivalent to a typical 900 watt driver. Good luck blowing an Avatar TB153 (not that it can't be done) !!!

+1, but the bad news is that there is no headroom between the mechanical and electrical limits of the 3015LF. If you're pushing enough power to fart it out you're also pushing enough to blow it out. You'd have to be playing stupid loud, but that has been known to happen.

[ryevick]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

+1, but the bad news is that there is no headroom between the mechanical and electrical limits of the 3015LF. If you're pushing enough power to fart it out you're also pushing enough to blow it out. You'd have to be playing stupid loud, but that has been known to happen.

I guess the question then is can the Ampeg SVT-3PRO blow the Avatar TB153?

[will33]

It could if you did something stupid like dimed all the knobs all night but under reasonable conditions the cab should be able to take what the amp has to give.

[MuzikMan]

Originally Posted by will33

It could if you did something stupid like dimed all the knobs all night but under reasonable conditions the cab should be able to take what the amp has to give.

Agreed. It should be a very good match.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by ryevick

I guess the question then is can the Ampeg SVT-3PRO blow the Avatar TB153?

A dimed 100 watter could blow it. It would sound really bad before it went, but in some circles 'really bad' is also considered 'really cool'.
The 3015LF is a PA driver, and in PA limiters that won't allow the amp to deliver enough power to toast the drivers are almost standard issue. And PA guys tend not to crank their subs up to the point of farting out, the occasional idiot DJ not withstanding. Limiters for dedicated bass amps are almost non-existent, so you just have to let your ears be the judge. But if you're genre/style is high distortion I'd avoid the 3015LF and 3012LF as well, as you won't get adequate warning of impending magic smoke.