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Amp / Cab slight mismatch HELP

H

HappyPuppy1033

May 13, 2008
24
0
#1
I have a SWR Workingman's 2x10T cab rated for 200 watts at 8 ohms. The head I currently own is a Peavey VB-2 all tube 225 watt head that has a selector for 2, 4, and 8 ohms. Now my question is, with the amp set on 8 ohms, will this cause a potential blowout of my new cab? Do I need to get another cheap 115 or 210 to pair with it so it's not over the wattage rating? Will it only be a problem at high volume, or at any volume? Will it be a problem at all!??? I'm going nuts and can't seem to find a straight answer, help! :eek:
 
#4
I wouldn't think so at all. Just don't turn your amp up all the way if you're concerned. And I would certainly keep it at 8 ohms. Remember that your wattage rating is max output RMS, not output all the time. You will have transients way above 225, and cabs are designed to handle transients like that (though I have read that the SWR Workingman cabs aren't as hardy as some - but they do have a fuse, right?)

Besides, I've also read that Peavey has been known to be fairly liberal as to how they rate their amps output. So I wouldn't stress about blowing anything... But I would stress about your volume - a 2x10 setup is fine, but it won't fill a club or even a kegger...
 
#5
I got a 2x10 because I live on the third story of an apartment building, and hauling a 75 pound 4x10 cab would really suck. There's no elevator, only stairs. Supposing I was to get another cab, would another 210 or a 115 do the best justice to mostly fingerstyle funk?
 
#6
Listen to what your speaker is trying to tell you. An amp's power doesn't translate into exactly what the cabinet is getting...it all depends on volume and EQ settings. Your cabinet should be fine, if you find that you're having problems getting over other instruments, add another cabinet. But you'll hear your speakers farting out before they blow, just make sure you don't push them too hard.
 
#9
Yup. Just listen. You should know if your speakers are choking. For your eq settings, the volume setting above which your cab begins to fart out or choke is your safe limit - both for the listener and the cab.
One thing is for sure, although your cab is rated at 200W (almost the VB-2's 225W), you have way more amp than cab. If you want to turn your VB-2 up to 200W, you'll need more than a 2x10. The cab is your limiting factor.
With that said, there's nothing wrong with using the VB-2 with your cab.
NKUSigEp said:
Listen to what your speaker is trying to tell you. An amp's power doesn't translate into exactly what the cabinet is getting...it all depends on volume and EQ settings. Your cabinet should be fine, if you find that you're having problems getting over other instruments, add another cabinet. But you'll hear your speakers farting out before they blow, just make sure you don't push them too hard.
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