Bass amp as subwoofer? Oy vey!

[ArturoOsito]

So I've got a clever PA setup going that I'm actually pretty proud of, but my concern is blowing a speaker.

I have a Little Mark 3 head on top of an Avatar B410, 4ohm cabinet rated at 600w, with 500w of output from the LM3. I also have two EV ELX115p mains. I plug the "monitor" output on my mixer into the bass amp, and turn the highs and high mids all the way off. The mix is a synth keyboard (full-range down to bass) and a pulsing kick drum.

I'm getting green lights across the board, zero clipping or limiting on the bass amp or on the top speakers. But with the pumping kick drum, there is a lot of excursion on the 10" speakers. Is there a danger of blowing a speaker even without any clipping or limiting?

 

[Downunderwonder]

Yes.

 

[BassHouston]

Bad idea

 

[Bassamatic]

Bass amps (despite the name) are not really designed for the low frequencies that a true subwoofer handles. You will overdrive them to get the sound you want and Ka-Blooey!

 

[will33]

The Avatar OEM's sturdy enough to work in a pinch.

That doesn't mean it's a good subwoofer or anything. Tuning is up around ~48hz. Hope you have a reliable highpass set.

The things might cover the 60-100hz area well enough...lower stuff will send them flying.


Musical instrument speakers do not good subwoofers make...at least in conventional cabs.

 

[Rick James]

So I've got a clever PA setup going that I'm actually pretty proud of
I have a Little Mark 3 head on top of an Avatar B410, 4ohm cabinet rated at 600w, with 500w of output from the LM3. I also have two EV ELX115p mains. with the pumping kick drum, there is a lot of excursion on the 10" speakers. Is there a danger of blowing a speaker even without any clipping or limiting?

Not so clever, because your bass speakers don't go any lower than the EV mains do. You should get real subs before you do blow your tens.

 

[bgavin]

The mix is a synth keyboard (full-range down to bass) and a pulsing kick drum.

This is the key phrase.

I play synth keyboards, and can tell you with complete certainty that unlike electric bass, synths generate full power notes in the bottom octave.
Played at any appreciable loudness, the synth will trash your unprotected 10s.

Link Removed

This chart shows the response curve for the Avatar B410 Neo.
It starts to roll off below 60 Hz, so it is not ideal for subs.