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Ampeg SVT-4 pro and 410 HLF

krfoss

krfoss

Supporting Member
Nov 29, 2007
3,039
4,505
Orange County, CA
#1
hey there. I am trying to get the best sound out of my Ampeg 4-pro and 410hlf cab.

First, is there a way to select between 8, 4, or 2 Ohms? I'd like to run 8 for sound quality, and to avoid overpowering the Cab. So far, I am running my 1/4" plug from one of the stereo outs to the cab (i doubt it matters using either plug on the Power Amp A or B side, nor the left or right 1/4" input on the back of my cab). I have tried using the Speakon plug with the Power Amp A and B sides and it does not work, however it will work in the Mono bridge position (could this suggest the head is busted?).

Basically, anyone who has used this set up and could offer some wisdom, i'd appreciate it.

- k
 
#2
Well the cab you have is 4 Ohm so that's what you'll play at. No choice on the amp for that.

The speakon cable that comes with the amp is a special one. It is connected through 1+ and 2+ (I think) of the speakon connector and thus only works on the mono-bridge connector.
The other connectors A and B require a speakon cable with 1+ and 1- connected. Or a normal jack-plug. If you're not using the mono-bridge turn the switch next to the connectors to stereo (or not when using the mono-bridge off course ;-) )

Good luck!
 
#3
It's a good solid rig there. And rvdbrand is right, you're using a 4 ohm cab, so you don't really have a choice, (and even if you did, you'd need to select the 4 ohm tap anyway). As far as getting the best sound out of that rig, my only advice is to set your eq flat, and don't go boosting the low frequency too much. Subtle, small bumps, up or down, is better than cranking anything up max. You should have a sweet sounding bass with that set up.
 
#5
it could be because you have the mono bridge button engaged. will also need two different speakon cables for the different applications. one for mono bridged and one for the normal a or b power amp section. not two at the same time, but just two different cables.

also, i don't see why you wouldn't be able to run it in mono bridged as long as the cab can handle that much power. IMHO if you aren't running it bridged it's pointless to own this head.
 
#6
krfoss said:
hey there. I am trying to get the best sound out of my Ampeg 4-pro and 410hlf cab.

First, is there a way to select between 8, 4, or 2 Ohms? I'd like to run 8 for sound quality, and to avoid overpowering the Cab. So far, I am running my 1/4" plug from one of the stereo outs to the cab (i doubt it matters using either plug on the Power Amp A or B side, nor the left or right 1/4" input on the back of my cab). I have tried using the Speakon plug with the Power Amp A and B sides and it does not work, however it will work in the Mono bridge position (could this suggest the head is busted?).

Basically, anyone who has used this set up and could offer some wisdom, i'd appreciate it.

- k
Click to expand...

You seem pretty new to amplifiers, like said earlier you can't determine the impedence of the load of the amplifier with a switch, it is the cabs that have an ohm value, most of the times it's 4ohms or 8 ohms.

By plugging into power amp A or power amp B you are using only half of the head, and getting half the power.

It's normal that your speakon cable only works with mono-bridge, it's provided with the head spcecifically to run mono-bridge, it's wired for that and will just work for that.

I strongly suggest that when using one cab you run the head in mono-bridge, that way you'll get way more power, clean headroom and punch than running one side. Don't let the 1200w output scare you, it'll put out 1200w if all the knobs are cranked to 10, you won't blow any cab with it unless you are being careless.

I had a 4-pro for a couple of years, it never let me down and I played it through various sized cabs, 4x10, 6x10, 8x10 and never blew a single speaker.
 
#7
Also, the trick to get the best sound with this amp is to run the gain pretty high, so that the red light lights up on strong signals, don't be afraid if it lights up often, it doesn't mean that the amp is clipping at all. The only light you should be wary of is the yellow light, when it lights up the limiter is engaging and it means that the amp is near full output and that you could clip the power section.
 
#8
so the gain LED should be coming on periodocally? because when i set up i unsually dont want the gain LED coming on at all. maybe thats why im lacking in volume. i had the yellow limit light come on the other day at practice, and then lost all low end. i lowered various eq spots and tried jamming again, and still had the limit light come on and lost low end. ive had a hard time eqing that amp to get a good sound lately, could i have damaged something?
 
#9
ampeg's site says the rms power handling is 500-Watts for the 410hlf, ao i guess it's fine to mono-bridged the svt4 head into that as long as i don't crank up things all the way?

my plan now is to crank up 1 side of the poweramp, remember the overall level(I believe this should be safe). then change to mono bridged and try not to pass that. What do you guys think?

thanks alot!
 
#10
I ran a 4Pro mono-bridged into a 410HLF cabinet for a couple years, and never had a problem. The cabinet will take it, just don't get crazy with the volume knob, and don't "over-EQ"---in other words, don't boost the EQ levels too high.
 
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#11
Did you ever get your setup sorted out? I run a pair of SVT-4 PRO's to a pair of 810E's but I also have a 410HLF "practice amp" just kidding, I run a 4 to it also... There is enough power in the Mono bridged mode to run the speakers until you smell smoke, but just under that they really whomp. Talk about the ampeg sound, yeah... Solid state amplifiers dont have switches for the impedence, just mins and maximums. The 4 in stereo has a 2 OHM min, when you bridge the thing you have 4 ohms min because the amps are working together 2+2 OK? Like has been said you need a speakon with the -1 moved to +2 on the amp end only. Select the mono-stereo button to in for mono. I run my preamp just where I run it on the big cabs, the volume master is just under 3/4 somewhere and it just barks, I turn down the crossover on the cab as tweetie wont take it. I pretty much run my tones right where the manuakl says for AMPEG SOUND. Just a little high boost and a touch of lows. I like the HOUSE TV series commercial's bass line all ampeg... Man that HLF cabinet is a beautiful thing.
 

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