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bass amp as a subwoofer?
- Thread starter JMKunkle
- Start date
How do yo plan on connecting it? Short answer is I wouldn't recommend using a bass amp for something it wasn't intended for. It could be ok, but it's really not going to sound anywhere close to even a cheap sub used correctly.
If you don't have the tools available, keep it simple. Use the bass amp as a bass amp. Put only what's necessary in the PA (e.g. vocals, keys, etc), and use your stage volume to balance the group. It will be way more effective (and make you a better musician) than hacking together a rig with a bass amp/quasi sub and hoping for the best.
If you don't have the tools available, keep it simple. Use the bass amp as a bass amp. Put only what's necessary in the PA (e.g. vocals, keys, etc), and use your stage volume to balance the group. It will be way more effective (and make you a better musician) than hacking together a rig with a bass amp/quasi sub and hoping for the best.
This is basically going to suck... 100 watts is a small bass amp .. it's a miniscule subwoofer... I'm guessing it's a combo. Probably doesn't go below 80 to 100 hz anyway ...
If you insist, you would play through the board, and send the low side of the PA's crossover to the amp. No crossover ? Then it is even less likely to add to the sound quality.
If you insist, you would play through the board, and send the low side of the PA's crossover to the amp. No crossover ? Then it is even less likely to add to the sound quality.
Most of the modern bass amps I've used can handle a line in using the pad. Granted not all and bottom line... It's still a terrible idea.
Given that it's a 100W bass amp, it will not add much low end and it will not be enough to compete with any decent set of mains.
Also, it will not handle transients very well. The voice coil might decide to fly toward the next county, especially if there is a kick in the mix.
Also, it will not handle transients very well. The voice coil might decide to fly toward the next county, especially if there is a kick in the mix.
Since you have a mixer, you are far, far better off getting a dedicated amplifier for the sub.
And no, the bass amp wouldn't be able to perform double-duty as it's inputs/outputs are mono(usually).
Sorry but it's generally a terrible idea.
And no, the bass amp wouldn't be able to perform double-duty as it's inputs/outputs are mono(usually).
Sorry but it's generally a terrible idea.
yeah, bass amps aren't designed for that kinda thing but you can probably pick up some sort of active sub amp for cheaps from mackie/qsc, behringer to give you summor low end.
Its probably not a good idea. A sub uses a lot of power to go very low and 100w probably wont cut it. If it isn't some sort of horn design it is definitely not enough and you'd need a huge amount of power to get a desired sub-bass level out of a direct radiating cabinet design.
Then there is the question of what tops would be used for the rest of the PA? Most small PA\s these days are probably more powerful and the sub wouldn't be able to keep up with the mids/highs.
Then there is the question of what tops would be used for the rest of the PA? Most small PA\s these days are probably more powerful and the sub wouldn't be able to keep up with the mids/highs.
