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Carvin B1500 with Acme Low B Cabinets
- Thread starter Jazzdogg
- Start date
I would think that would be a great match-up.
I'd like to hear 3 8ohm B2's or a 4ohm b4 with an 8ohm b2 on top.
Either of those would allow plenty of options.
Two 4ohm b4 with the B1500 should be devastating!
I'd like to hear 3 8ohm B2's or a 4ohm b4 with an 8ohm b2 on top.
Either of those would allow plenty of options.
Two 4ohm b4 with the B1500 should be devastating!
Anyone considering the Acmes and wanting to detune below low A0 (or maybe even B0) might want to talk to Andy Lewis about that.
If I remember correctly, he recommends using high-pass filters down low if there's going to be much content down there.
Most bass guitars don't have much output down there, but with EQ boosting and then there's the Knuckle basses and strings that have more really low freq output.
Just talk to Andy about it, just to be sure you'll be getting the most out of your system without damaging something.
If I remember correctly, he recommends using high-pass filters down low if there's going to be much content down there.
Most bass guitars don't have much output down there, but with EQ boosting and then there's the Knuckle basses and strings that have more really low freq output.
Just talk to Andy about it, just to be sure you'll be getting the most out of your system without damaging something.
IIn fact, you have me thinking of picking up a pair of Low B-2's, myself, to pair up with my B1500...
...but you have no room in your user profile to add these to the list.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,951
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
You don't specify, so I'll assume you're talking about running a couple of 8-ohm Low-B2s with the Carvin B1500. IMO, the B1500 can push them nicely. In fact, The power ratings for the B1500 match up pretty well with a array of Acme cabinets, as follows:
-700 watts @8 Ohms: one 8-Ohm Low-B2
-1250 watts @4 Ohms: two 8-Ohm Low-B2s (net resisitance 4 Ohms)
-1900 watts @ 2 Ohms: two 8-Ohm Low-B2s (net resisitance 4 Ohms)
plus one 4-Ohm Low-B4 (net resistance = 2 Ohms)
There is no question that Acmes are less efficient than most other speakers--it's one reason most other speakers can't match the Acmes' incredibly clean and deep low end. I've read comments (here at TB) that the iAmp800 doesn't do the job with Acmes nearly so well. Andy has spoken in the past about how well Carvin amps match with Acme cabinets. Don't hesitate to contact him.
Bluesy Soul
Sorry but I simply cannot agree with this post. Yes Acme cabinets are less efficient than some other cabinets. You can get loud, small and low. Any two is possible but not all three. Acme cabinets go very low and are pretty small but they do need more power to do what they do. The amount of power Bluest Soul suggests is overkill. I gig with a pair of B2 4Ω each. I give them 350W each, their rated power, from each channel of a Carvin DCM1000. I have never needed more inside or out.
I sometimes drive them with either a Mackie !400 or a Carvin DCM1500. I prefer how the cabinets sound with the DCM1000.
Paul
One person's overkill is another person's headroom.
I'd rather have 2x or 3x the recommended power so that the amp can coast along well within its optimum operating parameters than pushing the amp close to its limits.
More power doesn't mean you have to use all the available power.
Just make sure you listen to the cabs for distress, use any EQ judiciously, and don't go crazy with your banging on strings.
And some peoples headroom is past the destruction point of their speakers!
Paul
P.S. And please don't lecture me about how much power a player will use you... you .... calow youth you!!!
Paul
Paul
P.S. And please don't lecture me about how much power a player will use you... you .... calow youth you!!!
Paul
100% truth, but on the other hand, less power doesn't mean you're going to run out of juice or are going to be running the amp near its limits. It depends on how you're using your gear. One person could be running out of power with 700 W, and another could have power in reserve at 350 W. Headroom is dependent on specific application and usage.
Yeah, a bud of mine bought an IAmp and was *very* let down. Sent it back for a refund and stuck with his Ashdown...
Thank you, lo-freq. This debate has gone on for years on TB, often regarding Acmes, without resolution. It will continue ad nauseum.
Of course opinions depend on personal experience with venues, style of play, material, EQ, use of the amplifier, etc. It's always disappointing when others can't get beyond the limits of their limited, singular experience and their apparent doubts regarding their own self-control.
Bluesy Soul
And some peoples headroom is past the destruction point of their speakers!
Paul
P.S. And please don't lecture me about how much power a player will use you... you .... calow youth you!!!
Paul
That's quite a tongue twister!
That's quite a tongue twister!
Yep! The man's five years younger than I am!
Let the old farts rock! that's what I say.Paul
Of course opinions depend on personal experience with venues, style of play, material, EQ, use of the amplifier, etc. It's always disappointing when others can't get beyond the limits of their limited, singular experience and their apparent doubts regarding their own self-control.
Bluesy Soul
All of us opine on this forum FROM our PERSONAL experiences. There is a lot of misinformation posted. Sorting the wheat from the chaff is what internet skills are all about. Yes you can drive a 350W cabinet with two or three times their rated power. Doing so. irregardless of their manufacturer, is a dangerous thing to do. It only takes one unforeseen event to seriously damage your speakers. IMO advising someone to do so is wrong.
I merely posted a rebuttal of the mind set that says overpowering speakers is how you get headroom. Using my 350W each into a pair of Acmes I have headroom in spades. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to drive a speaker system past its capabilities in the name of so called headroom. That has nothing to do with self control or apparent doubts. I know precisely what my equipment is capable of and, cabinets and amplifier, it never even comes close to its limitations.
As I said earlier I don't like how my Acmes sound with more available power than I normally use.
Paul
You are entirely entitled to your opinion.
I was merely stating mine for the benefit of the balance of the universe.
I've been playing bass for a while now and have yet to crease or blow a woofer (did blow one tweeter, if I'd only had another 1600W I'm sure it would have been fine...
-- I went too low with my string height adjustment and hit a polepiece = tweeter-toast).I could be more safe, but I like power and yes, power is dangerous.
Warning:
The sturgeon general has determined that taking this advice may be hazardous to your speaker's health!
Proceed at your own cab's peril!
No, I'm serious!
I'm not kidding!
Good to bear in mind, thanks.
While the debate may rage on ad nauseum, discerning newbs like myself can still benefit from reading the relayed knowledge and experiences which inform differing opinions. I agree that good chaff sorting skills are important though.
There's a fascinating article in BassGear magazine (issue #3), in which Bob Gallien shares his perspective on headroom.
I just took delivery of a pair of 4-ohm LowB 2s, and I'll be running my B1500 thru them, so I'll. certainly have more than enough power with more to spare...so in a nod of understanding to both sides of the 'headroom' debate here, I feel better about having this much power available than I would with having a 700 watt amp--but I won't lend my rig to anyone else!
I can use my ears and won't push things, but it's too much power into these cabs to trust someone else to do the same when I'm not watching and listening over he or she!
I can use my ears and won't push things, but it's too much power into these cabs to trust someone else to do the same when I'm not watching and listening over he or she!
