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Ampeg pf-800

S

stevemac

Feb 24, 2011
78
1
#1
I've seen a few posts about this using search but doesnt seem to be as much talk about it as the pf350/500.

Is it good, bad or ugly?? Got my finger on the trigger to buy!

Mind you I'll be pairing it with existing pf210's, for which I had been using the pf350. I like but am looking for a bit more juice, and I've experienced problems in venues where a ground lift would have saved me from the sound guy sucking my tone out to kill the buzz in the PA.

I was kicking myself for not getting the pf500 but it seems I have been given another chance. I understand the pf210's max out at a certain point but I have a hard time believing it will not be louder than the pf500.

Will there be a noticeable increase in volume? Any personal experience? Troubles experienced with crapping out similar to pf500?

:bassist:
 
#2
The PF-800 is brand spanking new. There are not a lot of posts about it, as not many have bought one yet. I do know that the pre amp is the same as the PF-500 so they should be very similar if not identical tonally.

In terms of "how much louder", you are right about your two PF-210's having a limit. You will not see any additional volume out of the PF-800 when compared to the PF-500. You will be just about the limits of those speakers.
 
#3
CL400Peavey said:
In terms of "how much louder", you are right about your two PF-210's having a limit. You will not see any additional volume out of the PF-800 when compared to the PF-500. You will be just about the limits of those speakers.
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Yea, ive read your posts saying such but is this from experience or just theory? I'd like to hear from an A/B tester. Just seems counter-intuitive that Ampeg would be selling an amp thats functionally no louder with the cabs in the same series as a lesser amp.
 
#4
stevemac said:
Yea, ive read your posts saying such but is this from experience or just theory? I'd like to hear from an A/B tester. Just seems counter-intuitive that Ampeg would be selling an amp thats functionally no louder with the cabs in the same series as a lesser amp.
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Why is it counter intuitive? Manuracturers do this all the time. They are not releasing the PF-800 to be optimally paired with the PF-210 more than any other cab. The pf210 isnt the only cab in the line either. If you were talking about to of the PF-410 HLFs, then yes there would be a difference in volume between the PF-500 and the PF-800, and that would be about 2 db depending on how much compression the speakers are already seeing.
 
#5
stevemac said:
Yea, ive read your posts saying such but is this from experience or just theory? I'd like to hear from an A/B tester. Just seems counter-intuitive that Ampeg would be selling an amp thats functionally no louder with the cabs in the same series as a lesser amp.
Click to expand...
Takes 10x the wattage to get twice as loud through amp alone. Takes twice as much wattage just to make a 3db rise in volume, which is generally regarded as perceptible. But what you WILL get with the PF800 is extra headroom, which if you're planning on being very very loud, is a welcome addition in micro amps. You should be just fine using the PF800 with two PF210he's, but as always, use your ears, and if the cabs sound like they will explode, they will.
 
#6
Really, they are advertised as being a "perfect fit" for one, and they are dimensionally engineered for this line of cabs. They bear the same line name and are advertised on the same page. Dude, there couldnt be a more direction connection without permanently mounting on the cab (which you can do btw).

Anyway, wasnt after a theory discussion. Real experience anyone??? I decided to bite the bullet anyway, too much happening this summer not to have a bit more juice.
 
#7
JimmyM said:
Takes 10x the wattage to get twice as loud through amp alone. Takes twice as much wattage just to make a 3db rise in volume, which is generally regarded as perceptible. But what you WILL get with the PF800 is extra headroom, which if you're planning on being very very loud, is a welcome addition in micro amps. You should be just fine using the PF800 with two PF210he's, but as always, use your ears, and if the cabs sound like they will explode, they will.
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Yea I am playing on an open air stage 1/month or so, and my 350 could use a bit more help. I dont always trust the sound guy to get it right in the stage mix (monitors) or even right in general. I like my bass loud and more headroom is always welcome.
 
#17
I'd say go for it. The PF210HE is rated to 450W RMS, running a pair of them (4 ohm) off the PF 800 sounds like a good match. Using just one cab (8 ohm), the max output of the PF 800 isn't going to be too much over the cab rating, and there a quite a few of us who use amps with higher output than the cab is rated for. Just gotta be sensible with the volume and use your ears.

CL400Peavey does have a point, though, assuming the rating is thermal. May have to step up to bigger cabs to get much more volume. Speaker surface area trumps power.
 
#18
I got curious so I emailed tech support at ampeg, got this back:

Hi Steve,

Using two PF210HE cabinets will be fine with the PF-800. I’m not sure where you got the information but RMS power handling ratings of speaker cabinets are not a “thermal” rating.

RMS ratings are for continuous use, meaning that is the true real world power handling and that is the correct number to go by.
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So I think there might be some false info floating around here. Dont mean this in a "told ya so" kind of way, just trying to keep things right.
 
#19
mbelue said:
Most people use those knobs to turn up, less to turn down. Especially those who want "more."
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