will my new 2x10 get blown?

[Felpsy]

Hi all, I've searched the forum extensively without finding exactly what I'm worried about...

I've recently got a 2x10 trace elliot cab rated at 200w rms with a 1x15 trace cab rated at 300w rms. Both are 8ohm.
I'm running a hartke lh500 into them, so that's 500watts being split between the 2 cabs. 250watts each right? Or will the 1x15 take 300w and the 2x10 only 200 of those watts?

I have a feeling my 2x10 will be fed 50watts too much juice...is this correct? And will I be at risk of blowing it?

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by Felpsy

Hi all, I've searched the forum extensively without finding exactly what I'm worried about...

Read the FAQ. It's in there, in spades.

[winegamd]

Since both cabs are rated at 8ohms the power will not be divided equally due to individual driver impedance. Since the 2x10 is 8ohms I am assuming it has two 4ohm drivers in series. They will get slightly more power than the 15 since it is an 8ohm driver, but it will not be enough to worry about. Your speakers will only see that 500watts at max output anyway. Just experiment at home and listen for the 10's. If they make a whack sound when you slap a low E, turn it down a bit. I doubt you will have any problems.

[JHAz]

the 15 will get half the power. The 2 10s will get half the power. See FAQ for your questions about relative power ratings between amp and speakers.

The amp does not constantly put out 500 watts. Stands to reason, doesn't it, that when you turn down, in order for the speakers to get quieter, they have to be getting less power? Use your ears to avoid driving the speakers into distortion. You may never come close to using max power from the amp. You may push it to the max all the time. Depends on your EQ and how loud you are.

[chaosMK]

You'll be fine.

[Dustin Teel]

EQ your sound with your band. Based on that, leave the EQ the same, and on your own time, start playing your bass and continue turning up the amp volume until you hear the speakers distort. Remember how loud it was when the the speakers began to distort, do not exceed that point, and your cabs will last a very long time.

[dbase]

I used a setup like that.. the 1x15 will give you good bottom with the 2x10's it makes a nice combination.

[MuzikMan]

You'll be fine.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by winegamd

Since both cabs are rated at 8ohms the power will not be divided equally due to individual driver impedance. Since the 2x10 is 8ohms I am assuming it has two 4ohm drivers in series. They will get slightly more power than the 15 since it is an 8ohm driver, but it will not be enough to worry about. Your speakers will only see that 500watts at max output anyway. Just experiment at home and listen for the 10's. If they make a whack sound when you slap a low E, turn it down a bit. I doubt you will have any problems.

2 4 ohm drivers in series present an 8 ohm load period. They are not individual 4 ohm loads as they are in series.

[walterw]

yeah, that didn't make sense to me either.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Felpsy

I've recently got a 2x10 trace elliot cab rated at 200w rms with a 1x15 trace cab rated at 300w rms. Both are 8ohm.

anyway, the short version of the "ohms & overpowering" sticky is "lose one of those cabs and get one to match the one you kept". matched cabs work better at pushing the low end than mis-matched.

[Simon Rose]

One more key thing, you can never over power a speaker/driver if you properly use your master volume!

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by Simon Rose

One more key thing, you can never over power a speaker/driver if you properly use your master volume!

Baloney!!! The master volume is only one piece of the equation, and simply using that knob does NOT limit the potential wattage spikes that the amp can put out (unless you turn it all the way down to zero, obviously).

[sad_katz]

Both cabs will see 250 Watts/equal power. Just back off the gain/master volume/EQ if you hear any farting from either cab and you'll be fine.

[winegamd]

Yeah, I made a mistake in saying that the applied power would be different. Both of your cabs will see the same power. I was thinking that your 2x10 was 4ohms. Either way you should be safe.

[Felpsy]

Cheers all, I'll go easy on the gain then and test how far it can be pushed before jumping straight in the deep end. I play in a pretty loud hard rock band so this worries me a bit...might have to look for a head that only puts out 400watts...just for the piece of mind.

[Slappin'Da Bass]

Trace Elliot has been notorious for under-rating their cabs' power handling. I have a Trace 2x10 rated at 200w as well. Has been working okay even at 300!