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1600w too much

H

heath_the_great

Jan 27, 2002
5,201
15
40
Newcastle - Australia
www.myspace.com
#1
after seeing how much people are pushing into their cabs, and now that ive got a rack preamp im after a poweramp, whats been reccomended to me (and ive been offered brand new at wholesale price:D ) is a peak USA1600
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i plan on using my peavey cab alone once i get the upgrade, which is 350w @ 8ohm, 700w peak...and this power amp pumps out 1600w @ 8ohm bridged, 500w a side at 8ohm, 800 a side at 4ohm.....so is that pumping too much power into that cab?

also, i plan on having two different rigs cab wise, im gonna keep the peavey and either get a Hartke 215xl or two Nemesis 1x15s
 
#7
Eric Moesle said:
You don't need to be in an arena to want clean headroom with no clipping when you slap or hit a brief peak transient.

I use 1600 watts into a 4x10 sometimes. You'll get clean tone on everything you play. Don't push it to 10 and you'll be fine if you listen to your speakers and obey them when they start to complain.
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I only have 380W and I don't have a problem with clipping and have plenty of clean headroom.

I probably should have not responded...I just don't understand why so much power is needed. If I'm in a small venue that doesn't have a PA, I don't need all that much because it's a small venue. If I'm in a large venue with a PA, I don't need anything that big because I'm either mic'ed or they run off my DI out.
 
#8
rumblinbass said:
I only have 380W and I don't have a problem with clipping and have plenty of clean headroom.

I probably should have not responded...I just don't understand why so much power is needed. If I'm in a small venue that doesn't have a PA, I don't need all that much because it's a small venue. If I'm in a large venue with a PA, I don't need anything that big because I'm either mic'ed or they run off my DI out.
Click to expand...

Presumably if someone's upgrading it's because, unlike you, they could not get what they needed from their current rig. Hence, they did not have enough power for the job and needed more.
 
#9
I'll take as much power as I can get. As pointed out though, be careful with your cab and eq'ing as well.
 
#10
rumblinbass said:
I only have 380W and I don't have a problem with clipping and have plenty of clean headroom.

I probably should have not responded...I just don't understand why so much power is needed. If I'm in a small venue that doesn't have a PA, I don't need all that much because it's a small venue. If I'm in a large venue with a PA, I don't need anything that big because I'm either mic'ed or they run off my DI out.
Click to expand...

As a person thats in the 1000+ watt club, some bands are just louder than yours and don't get PA support, that's why we need clean headroom. I've done the 3-400 watt thing and it DIDN'T work for me. Glad it works for you though, you have less to carry. But when I had my smaller amps, I DID have trouble with clipping and not being heard.

As always, YMMV.
 
#11
BassIan said:
Presumably if someone's upgrading it's because, unlike you, they could not get what they needed from their current rig. Hence, they did not have enough power for the job and needed more.
Click to expand...

I guess I was right...I shouldn't have responded. I suppose I should be a little more straight forward...Yes, I think 1600W is too much.



As a person thats in the 1000+ watt club, some bands are just louder than yours and don't get PA support, that's why we need clean headroom. I've done the 3-400 watt thing and it DIDN'T work for me. Glad it works for you though, you have less to carry. But when I had my smaller amps, I DID have trouble with clipping and not being heard.

As always, YMMV.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I'ld love to have a little more headroom, and I would also like to have a seperate pre/power amp setup simply for the flexibility. I must admit that some of these rack systems are impressive. Ideally, I would like 500-600W, with that in mind I would go for something like the QSC RMX850 (530W bridged at 8 ohms)...maybe the RMX1450 if I'm feeling frisky!

But, again, to answer the question - yes, I think 1600W is too much.
 
#12
I have a hevos 2x800watt in 4 Ohm. I use it to power 2 cabs. One 2x10 and one 1x15. Lot's of clean headroom. Speakers can have a lot of good power. It's when it's starts clipping you can destroy your speakers.
Don't forget to protect your ears as well, not only your speakers!
 
#13
The original question was actually about whether it was too much for his cab, not in general.

At the very least you could run one side of that amp without any worries. If you are hurting for power in some situations, you could probably bridge it if you're careful.
 
#14
rumblinbass said:
But, again, to answer the question - yes, I think 1600W is too much.
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Well, just remember, there isnt a switch on the amp that just automatically pumps out 1600W. You can get 500W out of a 1600W amp, easy, and still have room for upgrading to something larger later.

As for the question at hand, sounds like a good power amp, if its what you want, go for it, you'll probably never need another one, you can push Peavey's pretty hard, but you shouldn't need to.
 
#15
rumblinbass said:
I only have 380W and I don't have a problem with clipping and have plenty of clean headroom.

I probably should have not responded...I just don't understand why so much power is needed. If I'm in a small venue that doesn't have a PA, I don't need all that much because it's a small venue. If I'm in a large venue with a PA, I don't need anything that big because I'm either mic'ed or they run off my DI out.
Click to expand...
I know heath uses two cabs, so maybe he wants to only use one and have a bit more power to make up for the lost speaker area ?
 
#17
rumblinbass said:
I only have 380W and I don't have a problem with clipping and have plenty of clean headroom.

I probably should have not responded...I just don't understand why so much power is needed. If I'm in a small venue that doesn't have a PA, I don't need all that much because it's a small venue. If I'm in a large venue with a PA, I don't need anything that big because I'm either mic'ed or they run off my DI out.
Click to expand...
i used to think the same, atm im running 300w into 2 410s..and i still get a bit of distortion when i get the right volume, i dont like running into the p.a, at the size venues im doing

well, he has this amp in stock, i now work at his store of a saturday (still doing my apprenticeship) and now playing at his church, so he's offered to give me the amp and pay it off while using it because he has it on hand now and about to do stocktake, and at warehouse price (saving of $400!) and he uses one to power his own p.a system (which kicks ass)..but thats the plan too mohawk, use just my 410tx (it just sound better), plus its a pain in the ass carrying the mark 3 and my ampeg pre

but yeah, that should be good enough to just use one side of the amp into the peavey, and not bridge it..and i had a look at the nemesis cab specs, if i get two 8ohm 15's (or one 15 and one 210), they handle 250w (8ohm 210 nemesis handles 300w)...so it'll work out awesome, wont be pushing the amp, and have plenty of power for both setups:hyper:
 
#18
heath_the_great said:
after seeing how much people are pushing into their cabs, and now that ive got a rack preamp im after a poweramp, whats been reccomended to me (and ive been offered brand new at wholesale price:D ) is a peak USA1600
Invalid Link Removed
i plan on using my peavey cab alone once i get the upgrade, which is 350w @ 8ohm, 700w peak...and this power amp pumps out 1600w @ 8ohm bridged, 500w a side at 8ohm, 800 a side at 4ohm.....so is that pumping too much power into that cab?

also, i plan on having two different rigs cab wise, im gonna keep the peavey and either get a Hartke 215xl or two Nemesis 1x15s
Click to expand...

I have that EXACT same poweramp dude.
And i LOVE it too. Real cheap - no hiss, crackles or anything. Dead quiet signal wise, and has a 3 year warranty. No i don't work for them either:p
Just so you know - the model pictured is the exact one i have, and yes - it weighs all of 30kg's! (regardless of the fact they told me only 20)

I think the wattage listed is a little over-estimated personally, but not by a lot - i have only ever had the volume up to around 7 out of 10 - and find myself dominating the band should i wish (but i try not to - mostly) I actually haven't run it bridged yet myself, so i can't talk on that.
Personally - i'd go for it again in a flash. It's dirt cheap compared to many on the market - and it's very good for the money, despite being chinese made.
One other thing - I've run this thing at 7/10 volume on both channels simultanously, on 38 and 40 degree days during the latest summer under our tin roof rehearsal space with NO Worries. It's cool all the way, unlike us at the time:bassist: - however the fan isn't the quietest i've heard - but surprisingly is on par for volume with my current warwick amp. The fan draws air from the front to back from memory.

If you'd like any pic's of the rear panel, or have any Q's - just PM me.
Have fun, smo
 
#20
Alrighty - here are the pics.
Also - when i ran my amp for the first time, it had a bit of an off-burnt smell - that went away pretty quick - no probs.
And just to make sure you're happy lugging 30kg's around, get a sack trolley!
Let me know how you go heath,
smo
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