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Matching the proper head to my 210 cabs
- Thread starter Ron Berenato
- Start date
Peavey has always recommended for their cabs when sizing an amp:
The RMS wattage of the amp should be 65%-80% of the Program Power rating of the cab.
So if you have a 500W RMS cab, program power is 1000W. An amp rated 650W to 800W RMS (at the ohm load of the cab(s) you are looking to drive) is an ideal range. This comes straight from John Fields and Bobby Baldwin (friends of mine) and has not steered me wrong from overpowering any speaker.
P.S. I have that VB-2 and it's one badass of an amp!
The RMS wattage of the amp should be 65%-80% of the Program Power rating of the cab.
So if you have a 500W RMS cab, program power is 1000W. An amp rated 650W to 800W RMS (at the ohm load of the cab(s) you are looking to drive) is an ideal range. This comes straight from John Fields and Bobby Baldwin (friends of mine) and has not steered me wrong from overpowering any speaker.
P.S. I have that VB-2 and it's one badass of an amp!
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,072
- 5
- 221,139
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Then why use program power since it's already derived from the RMS power number?
See my posts #5 and #15 for my explanation.
See my posts #5 and #15 for my explanation.
Not 100% sure Andy. Page 6 on the link below from Hartley has some good info though.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,072
- 5
- 221,139
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Sure, but it doesn't apply to mechanical limits which is why program power doesn't really apply (especially when clipping or heavy compression applies).
This is a very complicated topic where folks are easily confused by marketing-speak.
It doesn't help when (as that PDF points out) the manufacturers intentionally complicate it.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,072
- 5
- 221,139
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Manufacturers sometimes complicate it for marketing purposes, but the basic concepts of power handling are more complicated than most users are willing to learn. That's exactly what opens the door for the marketing folks.
