Carvin BX500: Part II

[fourstringbliss]

Same exact thing here. It is just over 50 pounds. The handles make it so easy to move though and it is very light for its size.

In fact, if it was lighter, you would have to weigh it down so it wouldn't walk all over the stage.

I guess you're right - the amp I just sold on Craigslist was 80 lbs before I added removable casters and extra handles (to make it easier to load in a car).

I hadn't thought about the idea that a 40 lb 500w amp would jump around at high volumes. I hear that's a problem with the new GK MB210 - 350w and 33 lbs!

 

[Chef]

My Walkabout never bounced around.

 

[fourstringbliss]

My Walkabout never bounced around.

Your Walkabout didn't walk about?

 

[Chef]

Exactly!

 

[fourstringbliss]

Like every other 210 combo amp that has external speaker jacks I figured this one had two 16 ohm 10's which would add up to an 8 ohm load (without another cab attached). I'd rather have 8 ohm 10's so that I'm getting all 500w out of the amp as the combo, so I emailed another Carvin rep about replacing the 16 ohm 10's with 8 ohm 10's. He wrote back and said that they were 8 ohm 10's stock.

Is this correct? Does the BR510N have 8 ohm 10's in it? Do you get all 500w out of the head with the combo on it's own (without another cab attached)?

 

[Swimmer]

I think the cabinet resistance depends on how the multiple speakers are wired, either in parallel or series. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[eli]

I suppose I would believe the sales rep, but make sure when you place the order (I would do it by phone) that the order says "two 8-ohm speakers for a 4-ohm total impedance". Then when you get the amp, you can pull them out and make sure... if they aren't, then you'll be able to get Carvin to pay the return shipping because the piece isn't "as ordered". If you don't specify, then a change to whatever their standard is would be "your change" and you'd have to pay shipping.

Carvin is a good bunch, not out to screw anybody over, but they are capable of making mistakes. Just make sure you get clearly on the order what you want, that's all.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

I think the cabinet resistance depends on how the multiple speakers are wired, either in parallel or series. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

It depends both on that and on the impedance of the speakers. With two 8 ohm speakers, you can get 4 ohms (parallel) or 16 ohms (series), but you can't get 8 ohms. With two 16 ohm speakers, you can get 32 ohms (series) or 8 ohms (parallel), but you can't get 4 ohms.

So you can't get both 4 ohms and 8 ohms from the same pair of drivers (same meaning having the same impedance as well as everything else), no matter how you wire them. You have to use different drivers.

 

[fourstringbliss]

I suppose I would believe the sales rep, but make sure when you place the order (I would do it by phone) that the order says "two 8-ohm speakers for a 4-ohm total impedance". Then when you get the amp, you can pull them out and make sure... if they aren't, then you'll be able to get Carvin to pay the return shipping because the piece isn't "as ordered". If you don't specify, then a change to whatever their standard is would be "your change" and you'd have to pay shipping.

Carvin is a good bunch, not out to screw anybody over, but they are capable of making mistakes. Just make sure you get clearly on the order what you want, that's all.

I'm sure the guy is giving me the information he has, but then again the website says the BR515N is 40 lbs and the spec sheet says 52 lbs. The truth of it depends on what information source he's using. I'm hearing of guys here who heard from a rep that the speakers were 8 ohms and then found that they were 16 ohms when the amp arrived.

You give good advice, though. I'll make sure to specify that I want 8 ohm 10's and ask that someone actually check to make sure they are before the amp gets shipped out.

 

[Swimmer]

You have 10 days to return it for a refund!

 

[Lync]

My BR515N came with an 8 ohm speaker. I wouldn't worry about volume issues...

Just match with another 8 ohm or if you do have a 4 ohm, it will really depend on the difference in speaker efficiency. Using my 4 ohm Dr. Bass extension speaker with it, I did not feel that it was louder than the combo speaker.

 

[Swimmer]

I totally agree with Lync

 

[fourstringbliss]

My BR515N came with an 8 ohm speaker. I wouldn't worry about volume issues...

Just match with another 8 ohm or if you do have a 4 ohm, it will really depend on the difference in speaker efficiency. Using my 4 ohm Dr. Bass extension speaker with it, I did not feel that it was louder than the combo speaker.

I know that if you double wattage you only increase the perceived volume by 3 db, but I'd still like to be getting all 500w - maybe it's an emotional need, I don't know.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Anybody know if the BR510N handles the low B well? I'm thinking of going with the 210 over the 115.

 

[optikhog]

Anybody know if the BR510N handles the low B well? I'm thinking of going with the 210 over the 115.

It does a pretty good job - I've gigged mine several times with my 5-string without issues, although the entire package is bass-shy and needs a healthy amount of bass boost to sound like my 210 stand-alone cab.

I will note that (and this *may* be isolated to my unit?) the B string causes my BR510N's cabinet to make an annoying crackling noise through and around the tweeter on b-string notes.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Does the BR515N have enough high-end presence to be a good stand-alone cab?

 

[fourstringbliss]

I asked a Carvin rep about the speakers in the BR510N. He said that they are 4 ohm speakers wired in series to give an 8 ohm load.

 

[greenboy]

8-ohm loads are probably a better match for the amplifier in these combos anyway since the drivers will with many people's EQing easily run out of excursion anyway, when driven hard. Limiting the ampto it's 8-ohm output keeps this from being such an issue.

Simply put, to get more output and maintain a safety margin for the drivers, add another enclosure.

 

[Lync]

8-ohm loads are probably a better match for the amplifier in these combos anyway since the drivers will with many people's EQing easily run out of excursion anyway, when driven hard. Limiting the ampto it's 8-ohm output keeps this from being such an issue.

Simply put, to get more output and maintain a safety margin for the drivers, add another enclosure.

I agree!

As for the high end, I don't use the tweeter on mine but the newer version of the combo has an updated tweeter. When tweeters are quality, many times they help the speaker overall IME. I think the amp has plenty of highs if you want them. In the end, it will be up to what sounds best to you.

 

[fourstringbliss]

8-ohm loads are probably a better match for the amplifier in these combos anyway since the drivers will with many people's EQing easily run out of excursion anyway, when driven hard. Limiting the ampto it's 8-ohm output keeps this from being such an issue.

Simply put, to get more output and maintain a safety margin for the drivers, add another enclosure.

I agree!

As for the high end, I don't use the tweeter on mine but the newer version of the combo has an updated tweeter. When tweeters are quality, many times they help the speaker overall IME. I think the amp has plenty of highs if you want them. In the end, it will be up to what sounds best to you.

Thanks for the info! I didn't understand the rationale behind using 8 ohms when 4 ohms could be used, but it makes sense now.

I think I'm back to getting the 115. I play a 4-string, but might someday have a fiver again. With the updated titanium tweeters I should be able to get the highs I want.