Bugera BVP5500/Cab problems.

[nachonacho]

Lurk for ALL of my problems but needed to make an account to post about this.

I bought a Bugera BVP5500 two years ago and it's been good for what I was looking for. I'd been using an Acoustic 4x10 which I picked up for only $200, until I blew one of the speakers. A few months ago I bought an Ampeg SVT410HE, used in and in great condition, which was perfect until a speaker started giving me trouble.
My head is 4 Ohms and both cabs were 8 ohms. I know I can run that no problem but only at half the output.

Could it be the head that is potentially blowing the cabs? Should I be concerned with anything else?

The head plays fine through other cabs, but with as often as I play though mine it may be a slow problem?

I see no reason why both cabs would be giving me trouble and any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bass19021]

What are your settings? Are you using too much bass? That alone can destroy almost any speaker.

 

[nachonacho]

More mids than bass, I also use a Sansamp.

 

[NortyFiner]

Could be a power issue. The BVP5500 is advertised as 550 watts, though most think that's actually a peak rating, not RMS. Still, 275 watts RMS at 8 ohms isn't anything to sneeze at, and there's enough uncertainty about that power rating to be wary. That's the only reason I don't own one.

It also could simply be old speakers getting worn out. Or maybe just gremlins; speaking as a Navy mechanic of long experience: sometimes, things just break.

In any case, I would think that a SVT cab would be worth repairing, unless it actually caught on fire or something. Ampeg's stuff tends to hold value pretty well.

Hope it works out.

 

[nachonacho]

I usually never play more than 2/3 power, which is what's confusing me.
If I'm not giving the cab more than ~300 watts at 4 ohms, but coming through to 8 ohms it's only ~150, so what else besides the head could be causing the problem?

1) If I plug into two 8 ohm cabs from a 4 ohm head that would distribute the power and not be damaging to any of the speakers, correct?

2) If my speakers make a farting, sound but don't when I have my fingers pressed up against it, is it blown or just damaged? It's only one speaker in each cab that I'm having a problem with...

THANKS!

 

[Arjank]

If it's only one speaker per cab then it is probably damaged (which can be a lot of things).
You say you run your amp at 2/3rd of it's power, i think you mean that you have the master volume at that level, correct? This does not mean that the amp is putting out only 2/3rd of it's power.

I have a bvp5500 myself, my 2x10 can handle it's power pretty well but it can make an Eden cab fart out.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Where the dial is set has absolutely NOTHING to do with how much power you're putting into the speakers. And, ANY amp is capable of blowing ANY cab, no matter what the wattage ratings are. There's alot to know, and it's complicated, but what I just said is 100% truth.

 

[nachonacho]

I never knew that, thanks for the heads up.

Is there a way I can get around the problem since it doesn't clip or make noise when my hand is against it? It plays and sounds fine with pressure against it but not when I play freely. Is that a blown speaker or a potentially less expensive fix?

 

[Bass_Pounder]

I never knew that, thanks for the heads up.

Is there a way I can get around the problem since it doesn't clip or make noise when my hand is against it? It plays and sounds fine with pressure against it but not when I play freely. Is that a blown speaker or a potentially less expensive fix?

Nope...................

It sounds better because you are restricting it's movement. When allowed to move freely, if it sounds bad it is because it is exceeding it's mechanical limits, or it is already damaged.

Sounds almost like the cone is creased. Are there any "lines" in the speaker on the outer area of the cone (close to the accordian surround) ?