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Bass speaker and Ampeg SVT-4 Pro question(s)...

E

Enron Hubbard

Oct 29, 2009
47
9
#1
So...I just picked up the following...

1. An Ampeg SVT-4 Pro (2x300 watts at 8 ohms or 2x480 watts at 4 ohms)

2. A SWR Big Bertha 2x15 (700 watts 4 ohms)

3. A SWR Goliath Jr III 2x10 (400 watts at 8 ohms)

4. Tech 21 Bass Driver RBI rack preamp.

Now...as you may know, the Ampeg SVT-4 Pro is a stereo amp.

I run the Ampeg preamp from the amp itself into one channel that goes into the 4 ohm/700 watt Big Bertha 2x15 for my lows (490 watts coming from the amp...yes...it's underpowered)

I also run the Bass Driver RBI preamp into the other channel of the Ampeg's power section and feed that into the SWR Goliath Jr. III for my highs (8 ohm/400 watts...it's also underpowered but not as much as the other cab).

It sounds good...really good, but are my speakers TOO underpowered?

The 2x10 seems a lot louder than the 2x15. I have to put the master up to about 2 or 3 o'clock on the Ampeg to get the volume to match the master on the Sans Amp pre at about 11 o'clock.

I have a GK 1001 RB II with an Ampeg SVP tube preamp going into the GK's power amp in (700 watts at 4 ohms like the Big Bertha cab) that sounds good in mono...but I like the stereo setup on the Ampeg because I get a better balance for each cab. I'd rather not have to run a second amp if I don't have to (which is why I bought the Ampeg...stereo setup with just one head).

Am I going to fry my speakers or amp running them this underpowered?

Thanks for your help.
 
#5
Nice screen name, Enron, but this subject gets covered a zillion times a day, and it's just a bunch of nonsense. Underpowering doesn't blow cabs, only overpowering.
 
#6
Enron Hubbard said:
So...I just picked up the following...

1. An Ampeg SVT-4 Pro (2x300 watts at 8 ohms or 2x480 watts at 4 ohms)

2. A SWR Big Bertha 2x15 (700 watts 4 ohms)

3. A SWR Goliath Jr III 2x10 (400 watts at 8 ohms)

4. Tech 21 Bass Driver RBI rack preamp.

Now...as you may know, the Ampeg SVT-4 Pro is a stereo amp.

I run the Ampeg preamp from the amp itself into one channel that goes into the 4 ohm/700 watt Big Bertha 2x15 for my lows (490 watts coming from the amp...yes...it's underpowered)

I also run the Bass Driver RBI preamp into the other channel of the Ampeg's power section and feed that into the SWR Goliath Jr. III for my highs (8 ohm/400 watts...it's also underpowered but not as much as the other cab).

It sounds good...really good, but are my speakers TOO underpowered?

The 2x10 seems a lot louder than the 2x15. I have to put the master up to about 2 or 3 o'clock on the Ampeg to get the volume to match the master on the Sans Amp pre at about 11 o'clock.

I have a GK 1001 RB II with an Ampeg SVP tube preamp going into the GK's power amp in (700 watts at 4 ohms like the Big Bertha cab) that sounds good in mono...but I like the stereo setup on the Ampeg because I get a better balance for each cab. I'd rather not have to run a second amp if I don't have to (which is why I bought the Ampeg...stereo setup with just one head).

Am I going to fry my speakers or amp running them this underpowered?

Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

If it sounds really good that's all that really matters. Since you already had a SVP preamp and the SansAmp you probably could have just bought a power amp and plugged them into the 2 channels, unless you got all of the gear as a package deal. Everything would fit into a 4-space rack case. I owned a SVT4-Pro and while I liked the sound it wasn't the lightest thing to haul around. I'd be inclined to sell the SVT4-Pro and pick up something like one of the new Carvin lightweight power amps.

Rick B.
 

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