Carvin BX500: Part II

[Richard Lindsey]

Hey Richard, I did start with one and not two drivers however, so in that case there would be three doublings, 9 dB... I figured that Eli or someone else could see by the experience of being around load-matching tube heads, that easily an 810 cab is louder than a 110 when there is 100 or whatever watts on tap.

It never occurred to me that someone would think that a 110 is just as loud as an 810 or two 410. If only guitarists believed this ; }

D'oh! You guys are right, I was thinking 2-10 for some dumb reason.

I'm a guitarist as well, and I'm quite aware that, say, a 50 W Marshall head into two 4-12s is louder than the same head into a 1-12.

 

[greenboy]

I've been reading this subject about speakers and db's for sometime, so my question is how does this apply to the BX500? Just curious.

If I recall, it'll safely and reliably handle two ohm loads, but due to the power section design there is not an increase in wattage from the 4-ohm spec. Thus, one still benefits from being able to run more drivers though wattage won't increase past that point.

 

[vinxbass]

If I recall, it'll safely and reliably handle two ohm loads, but due to the power section design there is not an increase in wattage from the 4-ohm spec. Thus, one still benefits from being able to run more drivers though wattage won't increase past that point.

It's simple, the more speakers you have, the louder it will be. I don't know how much more db's it will be, but it will be louder.

 

[greenboy]

It's simple, the more speakers you have, the louder it will be. I don't know how much more db's it will be, but it will be louder.

Well. That set all the last nineteen posts straight!!!

; }

 

[vinxbass]

Well. That set all the last nineteen posts straight!!!

; }

LOL

 

[eli]

This stuff about adding speakers improving efficiency is well known to speaker mavens. Ask billfitzmaurice, for one. The process can't be infinitely sustained, but it's real. The drivers have to be more or less the same, and they have to be sufficiently close together (< 1/4 wavelength, IIRC), but it's something that can be and has been measured.

So it can't be infinitely sustained... that would shoot a hole in Liam's assertion that doubling the area with no power increase gives a 3 dB boost. I'm SURE as heck not buying that an 810 on 100 watts is 9dB louder than a 110 on 100 watts... and that's precisely what would happen if Liam were right.

As I originally expected, I still haven't seen anyone come up with a credible reference to support his argument. Anyone?

 

[greenboy]

So it can't be infinitely sustained... that would shoot a hole in Liam's assertion that doubling the area with no power increase gives a 3 dB boost. I'm SURE as heck not buying that an 810 on 100 watts is 9dB louder than a 110 on 100 watts... and that's precisely what would happen if Liam were right.

As I originally expected, I still haven't seen anyone come up with a credible reference to support his argument. Anyone?

YOU come up with the reference that says otherwise. You seem to be the only one around here who doesn't get it.

EDIT: BTW, 9 dB acoustically is considered just a smidgeon less than twice as loud.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

So it can't be infinitely sustained... that would shoot a hole in Liam's assertion that doubling the area with no power increase gives a 3 dB boost.

No, it doesn't shoot a hole in that assertion at all. You've misunderstood. It merely means that you can't keep doubling speakers indefinitely, until you get to, say, a thousand or so (I exaggerate for effect). But to go from 1 speaker to 2, or 2 to 4, or 4 to 8? Sure.

Look, no offense, but this is stuff that's been well known, and as I said measured, for years. If you do your research, you'll find this out. (Hint: search on "acoustical coupling" or "mutual coupling.") I don't mean this in any harsh way, but you can do the legwork yourself. And as you do, ask yourself this: is there any credible reference that supports YOUR view?

 

[seamonkey]

As I originally expected, I still haven't seen anyone come up with a credible reference to support his argument. Anyone?

Sure just use Winisd
Pick any driver, Start a project and select "1", and take the defaults.
Start another project and pick "8" and take all the defaults.
Then look at the SPL charts

 

[NickCormier]

While I want a BX500, Im not sure..

If anyone has BX600 and is looking to sell it to get the BX500, PM me, I'd take it possibly, since I want the rack case which doesnt come with the BX500

 

[false404]

So I just got my BX500 last week, and took it out on a 4-hour gig on Friday (brought my R1000 along too, just in case!). Had it running an Avatar 2x12 and man, it absolutely killed! I am hearing a bit of hiss when I have the drive cranked, but it's tolerable. I had more or less everything flat and it was loud, punchy and pure. And it fits in my gig bag! I'm really happy with the purchase, this is a great little head!

 

[rasthedoctor]

A pic of my EQ settings. I find that it's a little quacky, but I don't know how to dial it out enough without dialing in too much boom... anyway...:

 

[Lippy1]

Well, I pulled the trigger and ordered a BX500 today. Back ordered - Boo! Hopefully more will be coming off the line late next week.

 

[greenboy]

Look, no offense, but this is stuff that's been well known, and as I said measured, for years. If you do your research, you'll find this out. (Hint: search on "acoustical coupling" or "mutual coupling.") I don't mean this in any harsh way, but you can do the legwork yourself. And as you do, ask yourself this: is there any credible reference that supports YOUR view?

<start Hammond, get the Leslie rotating> Eeeeeeee-liiiiiie's coooooming <duh-duh-duh duhm> ---

-- Well, maybe not. All the hints, clues, and questions one should ponder were supplied early on though...

 

[eno50]

So I just got my BX500 last week, and took it out on a 4-hour gig on Friday (brought my R1000 along too, just in case!). Had it running an Avatar 2x12 and man, it absolutely killed! I am hearing a bit of hiss when I have the drive cranked, but it's tolerable. I had more or less everything flat and it was loud, punchy and pure. And it fits in my gig bag! I'm really happy with the purchase, this is a great little head!

I'am glad you like your bx500,I'am also using a 212 cab,It seems like the bx500 likes those 212's ,pretty good combination. I must say i was alittle leary on the 212's,i have allways liked 15's or 410's ,but when I 1st tried the GK 212 that i have now I liked it, a fellow bass player bud of mine has an avatar and i may check his out because i would like to get another 212 someday and they have a good price on them.
I just happend to come across a good deal on the gk and could not pass it up and the the gk's are about 200 bucks more than the avatars. I think having 2 212 cabs is all i would ever need now days,i may start selling my other cabs off.
eno

 

[musicman7722]

Well my Bx500 is still running great after 3 months through two stacked avatar Beo 210's.

Chris P.

 

[Starflyer59]

I could probably find the answer if i look but id rather ask. How does it handle the low B when its paired with a carvin 10.2 neo cab???

 

[lukelogandennis]

Hopefully my BX500 will arrive tomorrow! This has been a long week of waiting.

 

[musicman7722]

I could probably find the answer if i look but id rather ask. How does it handle the low B when its paired with a carvin 10.2 neo cab???

I play a 5 sting and it sounds fine through the Avatar's

 

[johnnyz]

my BX500 switched into safe mode during a gig... I have two 4ohm cabs had it pretty cranked and also had an out to a crappy PA. I wasn't using speakons but have since bought some. I also just picked up a new cab 4ohm that I can run solo, so I'll probably use that from now on when I plan to really use some juice. suffice it to say, I don't feel like the amp is guaranteed to perform with all bells and whistles in the 2ohm mode. I do love it though.