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How to control volume of second cabinet only?

S

songghostwriter

Apr 18, 2012
10
0
#1
I would like to be able to lower the volume on my second cabinet only. It is a solid state amp I am using. Something like a power attenuator would work if it was a tube amp, but since it is not, I'm not sure how to do this.

I'd like a box I can plug the second output from my amp into the volume control box and then output that to the second speaker. But, without screwing up my ohms load. I don't know enough about electronics to know what to use.

I'd sure appreciate any help.

Thanks!
 
#4
songghostwriter said:
I would like to be able to lower the volume on my second cabinet only. It is a solid state amp I am using. Something like a power attenuator would work if it was a tube amp, but since it is not, I'm not sure how to do this.

I'd like a box I can plug the second output from my amp into the volume control box and then output that to the second speaker. But, without screwing up my ohms load. I don't know enough about electronics to know what to use.

I'd sure appreciate any help.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

It sounds like there may be an entirely different solution to your problem.

Why are you trying to do this?
 
#6
Those power soak things you see guitarists use will burn up with anything over 100 watts. There are some rather pointless, non-adjustable solutions like a giant dummy load in series with the dpeaker, or a transformer to raise the impedance thereby lowering power, but, a 2nd amp, 2-channel/stereo amp, or matching speakers are your real answers. Sell the weak cabinet and get another one like your first one.
 
#7
We used to have this problem with monitors all the time - somebody wanted a different volume. A buddy of mine who is an electronics wiz made a box that goes in line just before the speaker. It turns the volume of that speaker down. I don't know enough about electronics to say how it works, but I would imagine any qualified electronics guy could come up with something similar.
 
#9
songghostwriter said:
I would like to be able to lower the volume on my second cabinet only. It is a solid state amp I am using. Something like a power attenuator would work if it was a tube amp, but since it is not, I'm not sure how to do this.

I'd like a box I can plug the second output from my amp into the volume control box and then output that to the second speaker. But, without screwing up my ohms load. I don't know enough about electronics to know what to use.

I'd sure appreciate any help.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

An amp like the Carvin BX1500 will allow you to control the volume of each cab separately; it also enables you to bi-amp if that's your cuppa.

Personally, I'm a big fan of rigs that allow me to control the volume of each separately; if the GenzBenz Shuttle 12.2 added that one feature, I'd have bought one already.
 
#10
My reason for wanting to do this:

One cabinet puts out mainly high end frequencies and the other is mainly low end. Both are running full range. I would like to be able to back down the speaker providing the lowest frequencies without changing the settings. I want to be able to use just my one existing amp too, not add a second.

Thanks
 
#14
PDGood said:
We used to have this problem with monitors all the time - somebody wanted a different volume. A buddy of mine who is an electronics wiz made a box that goes in line just before the speaker. It turns the volume of that speaker down. I don't know enough about electronics to say how it works, but I would imagine any qualified electronics guy could come up with something similar.
Click to expand...
I'm qualified in electronics but can't think of a way to do this - or at least not efficiently or elegantly. The power dissipated by an amplifier output stage is dependant on the load - yes, you can pfaff around with dummy loads and attenuators but that way is never going to be considered good practice.
 
#15
bassgod0dmw said:
How are you doing that? Can you please tell us what rig you are using?
Click to expand...

Ampeg portaflex into an Ampeg 2x10 and an Eden 1x15. I just want to be able to back the volume down a bit on the Eden cabinet. Like I said, I could do it with a power attenuator if it was a tube amp, I've done this with a tube amp. There just has to be a way to do it with solid state amp too.

Thanks to all.
 
#16
songghostwriter said:
My reason for wanting to do this:

I have the highs coming mainly from one cabinet and the lows from another. I would like to be able to back down the speaker providing the lows without changing the settings.
I want to be able to use my existing amp too.

Thanks
Click to expand...

songghostwriter said:
Ampeg portaflex into an Ampeg 2x10 and an Eden 1x15. I just want to be able to back the volume down a bit on the Eden cabinet. Like I said, I could do it with a power attenuator if it was a tube amp, I've done this with a tube amp. There just has to be a way to do it with solid state amp too.




Thanks to all.
Click to expand...


You are in fact not doing what you think you are doing in the first quote unless you are some how splitting the signal. You are running both cabs full range. I dont know off the top of my head, is the eden cab more sensitive?
 
#17
songghostwriter said:
Ampeg portaflex into an Ampeg 2x10 and an Eden 1x15. I just want to be able to back the volume down a bit on the Eden cabinet. Like I said, I could do it with a power attenuator if it was a tube amp, I've done this with a tube amp. There just has to be a way to do it with solid state amp too.

Thanks to all.
Click to expand...

I still don't understand how you are sending the highs to one cabinet and the lows to the other.
 
#20
songghostwriter said:
Ampeg portaflex into an Ampeg 2x10 and an Eden 1x15. I just want to be able to back the volume down a bit on the Eden cabinet. Like I said, I could do it with a power attenuator if it was a tube amp, I've done this with a tube amp. There just has to be a way to do it with solid state amp too.

Thanks to all.
Click to expand...

Good luck with this - the above two amps/two cab comments are best.

Anyway, off hand, I can’t think of anything commercially sold - but if you’ve got the bucks maybe you can find someone to custom build what you want. Good luck and cheers.
 

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