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Ampeg Micro VR Limiter issue

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by ruffles, Jun 5, 2019.

  1. Jun 5, 2019 #1
    ruffles

    ruffles

    May 31, 2019
    Hi there, newbie here!

    So, I recently got myself an Ampeg Micro VR together with one 210AV cab and I am also playing it over a 15" Harley Benton cab, which I got pretty cheap from ebay. I'm playing them separately, not at once, as I have them in two different rehearsal rooms. Both cabs are rated 8 Ohm and 200 Watt, although the HB cab says 400 Watt peak. Recently I noticed the limiter starting to light up on both cabs, having set all knobs to 12 o'clock and without pad. Also the output of my bass is quite hot, I believe, at least in comparison to some other basses I've played.

    So now I'm wondering, what is it telling me? According to the Ampeg manual, I am supposed to turn volume or EQs lower until the limiter doesn't light up anymore in order to not harm my cabs. But I'm not feeling as if I'm playing that loud at all and would actually want to even turn the volume up further, if necessary. Also, naively speaking, I'm having a 150 [email protected] Ohm output amp powering a cab with 200/400 [email protected] Ohm inputs. Is there actually any chance of damaging my speakers? I assume yes... But still, I'm only at 12 with all knobs. I don't want to be upper limited so early.
     
  2. Jun 6, 2019 #2
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    Turn the limiter off. Problem solved :D
     
    ruffles and High Camp like this.
  3. Jun 6, 2019 #3
    Mushroo

    Mushroo Guest

    Apr 2, 2007
    Nothing wrong with the limiter light coming on, in my opinion.

    Every recording you hear on the radio, or every band you see live in concert, there is a limiter or compressor on the bass. Using a limiter is "standard operating procedure." :)
     
    kpc likes this.
  4. Jun 6, 2019 #4
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    Well you can do that too. But all it does is tame the loud peaks and takes away your dynamics when you try to play hard, and unless you're slamming your cabs with everything you've got and more, you don't really need it. And since the most you can have going into each cab with you use both of them is 100w, you probably aren't in much danger of blowing your cabs.
     
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  5. Jun 6, 2019 #5
    ruffles

    ruffles

    May 31, 2019
    Haha, okay, cool. That's what I did lately, but I was still a bit scared from the manual saying I should turn something down. To be honest, I couldn't hear much of a difference with/without limiter.. But as I said, I'm still a newbie and so far I haven't really been able to "hear" the effect of compression/limiting.
    Thanks for the replies!
     
    JimmyM likes this.