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I'm about to underpower this cab to the max

need4mospd

need4mospd

Dec 22, 2005
1,534
9
44
Houston
#1
So, I'm planning on picking up a used Schroeder 310212 for a steal this weekend. Only problem is, I've got a pretty weak 450 watts Ampeg B2RE at this time. I have every intention of upgrading this within 2-3 months, whether that be with a power amp or a new head.

Will it be ok to run the Ampeg through this beast for a while until I find the right amp? Or should I keep my Ampeg 410HE around until I can power the Schroeder properly?

The 310212 might be overkill, but at the price, I can't pass it up. Plus, we've got some serious bass driven songs in our band and it would be nice to REALLY be heard over the blaring Marshall stack.
 
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#2
As many have posted, underpowering a cab is absolutely fine (actually you can't really technically 'underpower' a cab anyway). The power rating of a cab represents the suggested maximum power, not any sort of minimum requirement. It might not sound great (although Jorg's cabs are so efficient that it should sound fine), but you won't harm it.

Have fun.

K
 
#3
As KJung said underpowering is fine. That number on the back is the manufacturers suggested maximum power. You can usually run about twice that without problems but less is also certainly fine, it won't damage the cab in any way, you just might have problems with headroom and definatly watch out for excessive clipping because even with a "weak" amp clipping can damage your speakers.
 
#4
There is no inherent danger in running your present 450W RMS amp into a cab that's capable of handling 2100W RMS, provided you avoid cranking the amp up further than you would have done with the other cab.

And why would you? You'll have absolutely no reason to, because the Schroeder 310212 has much higher sensitivity (104dB) than the Ampeg 410HE (a mere 98dB). In other words, the Schroeder is louder per Watt than the Ampeg - a LOT louder - so I'm sure you won't feel any need to push your amp harder than you were doing before.

Go for it. You're fine. :D
 
#8
My older, even more under powered, B2R (350W vs 450W) has a limiter on it which seems to prevent it from clipping. I've driven it to 11 so to speak and never had any problems (other than not being sufficiently loud). The amp is not very loud, but it seems well designed. I doubt you need to worry about destroying your cabinet too much.
 
#11
DubDubs said:
As KJung said underpowering is fine. That number on the back is the manufacturers suggested maximum power. You can usually run about twice that without problems but less is also certainly fine, it won't damage the cab in any way, you just might have problems with headroom and definatly watch out for excessive clipping because even with a "weak" amp clipping can damage your speakers.
Click to expand...

There is no way a 450 watt amp will damage a 2100 watt cab. At most, the head will peak at 900 watts clipped, which will still be fine for the cab.
 
#12
The 0x said:
There is no way a 450 watt amp will damage a 2100 watt cab. At most, the head will peak at 900 watts clipped, which will still be fine for the cab.
Click to expand...

That is pretty much all I was worried about. It might sound funny, but it won't hurt the speaker. Cool.

Epsidog said:
You'll have absolutely no reason to, because the Schroeder 310212 has much higher sensitivity (104dB) than the Ampeg 410HE (a mere 98dB). In other words, the Schroeder is louder per Watt than the Ampeg - a LOT louder - so I'm sure you won't feel any need to push your amp harder than you were doing before.
Click to expand...

Wow, I never really understood what sensitivity meant until now. For some reason it just made sense.

Sorry for the noob question. I'd read about not being able to underpower the cabs, but I didn't really understand it in full. I'll crank my little 450 watts proud now.
 
#16
Mark Reccord said:
You sure it didn't instantly blow up the speakers?:D
Click to expand...

Well, while I can't say for sure, the cab seemed to respond to all 1600 watts of qsc/plx 1602 and Eden Navigaqtor pretty well last weekend. I'll pull all four speakers and check when I go home tho if'n y'all really want me too.

I miss that bassman sometimes, and the 1600 watt rated Schroeder 410 was really the only cab I ever liked it with...
 

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