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700 watt head into a 200 watt speaker

#21
There might be better options, but just as an example, if you consider getting a small portable head like the TCE bam200 and making your own cab,....
I just ordered 2 of these. I'm going to make 2 cabs that can patch together for a 4 ohm load, or, you can use a single 8 ohm cab. Either way, plenty for noodling at home or jamming with acoustics. These are rated to handle plenty of power and designed for a smaller cab.
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But I agree with looking into getting that 112 unit fixed.
 
#23
agedhorse said:
In practice, many players can't tell when a speaker is being damaged until it becomes damaged. Some drivers do not give any practical warning.
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Even sound guys can have an issue with this.

When I saw Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie tour together, some of the venue's PA speakers were getting blown.

Thankfully we were on the lawn, so we could just move to a speaker that hadn't been destroyed.
 
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#24
Jazzdogg said:
I've been pushing a Crazy8 (Mike Arnopol) with an Acoustic Image Focus (~600 Watts) for several years without incident.

That said, I use a variable high-pass filter to reduce the lows, and I don't slap. When this combo isn't loud enough, I use the same head with different speakers - even when using a 1x15 and 2x12 together, I still use the VHPF and use caution.
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I regularly over-power my speakers and my power amp has built-in DSP which provides high-pass filtering and over-shoot free limiting. I've NEVER had a single problem blowing up drivers even when grossly over-powering them. If you're careful and constantly monitor what's happening, I think most people can be okay.
 
#31
Just because my car will go 100 mph doesn't mean I should drive it that fast. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't or couldn't drive it at the speed limit (or within reason) on any road.
Your amp can produce 700 watts (probably more) but that doesn't mean you should turn up the volume to use all those watts. If the cab can't take all the watts, don't deliver them, just like my car on a curvy road can't handle too much speed.
 
#34
Max Lawrence said:
This is a bad idea... right?

Okay, hear me out. So I've got a GK 1001rb (700 watts @ 4 ohms) and a buddy is willing to sell me his old mb112 combo (200 watts @ 4 ohms) that he fried the electronics in for cheap. I was thinking if it was possible I'd turn it into just a speaker cab and using it with my head for smaller gigs.

Now, I know I can't turn the volume up on the head too loud or I'll blow the speaker, but theoretical could I keep the volume low enough and have this all work?
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BadIdea.gif


W-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-y to easy to blow that poor little 112's speaker apart.
 
#35
Max Lawrence said:
This is a bad idea... right?

Okay, hear me out. So I've got a GK 1001rb (700 watts @ 4 ohms) and a buddy is willing to sell me his old mb112 combo (200 watts @ 4 ohms) that he fried the electronics in for cheap. I was thinking if it was possible I'd turn it into just a speaker cab and using it with my head for smaller gigs.

Now, I know I can't turn the volume up on the head too loud or I'll blow the speaker, but theoretical could I keep the volume low enough and have this all work?
Click to expand...
I have a similar issue with my car. The speedometer says it can go 120 MPH but the highest speed limit around here is 65MPH so I just leave it in the garage!;-)
 
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#36
g-dude said:
Even sound guys can have an issue with this.

When I saw Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie tour together, some of the venue's PA speakers were getting blown.

Thankfully we were on the lawn, so we could just move to a speaker that hadn't been destroyed.
Click to expand...

It's also possible there was interplay between improperly aligned / splayed speaker boxes that made some areas sound like the speakers were blown and other areas sound fantastic.

Or... they really were toast... :laugh:
 
#39
If it's cheap, and the intent is low volume jamming, why not?

After my ampeg b3 combo amp section fried a second time, I got a markbass LM2 as an amp head for the speaker. That's 500 watts into a (probably) 150 watt speaker. I used it with a bar band for a year or so with basically no PA support.

If they want close to $100 for the busted combo, I might just save up for a different, fully working combo amp though.
 
#40
Max Lawrence said:
This is a bad idea... right?

Okay, hear me out. So I've got a GK 1001rb (700 watts @ 4 ohms) and a buddy is willing to sell me his old mb112 combo (200 watts @ 4 ohms) that he fried the electronics in for cheap. I was thinking if it was possible I'd turn it into just a speaker cab and using it with my head for smaller gigs.

Now, I know I can't turn the volume up on the head too loud or I'll blow the speaker, but theoretical could I keep the volume low enough and have this all work?
Click to expand...
PA and monitor support is your friend in this case.

FWIW, I ran a 2 x 10 LDS cab (bridge mode) for over a decade through my Hartke LH1000 with no troubles at all. Great tone and projection but I also had PA support to the point that my bass rig was mostly an onstage monitor. Use gently.
 
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