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Overclocking cabinets...

Eschaton

Eschaton

Guest
Mar 2, 2015
126
93
Northern Vermont
#1
I've searched and searched but haven't quite found anything that answers my question.

Just picked up a GK 115MBE-II cab.
Rated 400W@8OHMS

I'm also seriously considering buying an Ampeg SVT-6 pro head.
Rated 740W@8OHMS / 1000W@4OHMS

Is there any way I can make this combination work out, or am I going to have to save the Ampeg for a cab rated for higher maximum wattage?

I understand that you can fluctuate a little bit as long as you're careful, but 750W into a cab rated for 400W is a big jump. Is it possible? Could I possibly add another cabinet, or would that not matter?

I haven't learned much about dynamics in cabinet wiring, but I'm trying to gain as much knowledge as I can without damaging my equipment.
 
#6
Eschaton said:
I've searched and searched but haven't quite found anything that answers my question.

Just picked up a GK 115MBE-II cab.
Rated 400W@8OHMS

I'm also seriously considering buying an Ampeg SVT-6 pro head.
Rated 740W@8OHMS / 1000W@4OHMS

Is there any way I can make this combination work out, or am I going to have to save the Ampeg for a cab rated for higher maximum wattage?

I understand that you can fluctuate a little bit as long as you're careful, but 750W into a cab rated for 400W is a big jump. Is it possible? Could I possibly add another cabinet, or would that not matter?

I haven't learned much about dynamics in cabinet wiring, but I'm trying to gain as much knowledge as I can without damaging my equipment.
Click to expand...
No, it's impossible. Forget about it. You need to sell either the amp or cab & replace it with a lower wattage amp or higher wattage cab. End of story. :roflmao:
 
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#8
That cab might be able handle 200watts and would probably sound at its best with 100 watts going through it.

Adding another cab would sound better, rather than trying to put double the watts through the 1 cab.
 
#10
Question: why would you buy a weak-sauce cabinet and then want to buy some uber powerful head?

A single 15 gets about as loud as a 2x10 cab. If you're after serious volume, you'll be turning up your volume and you can kiss that 15 goodbye.

Keep the volume below 4, and don't boost your lows. If you find thats not loud enough, get another matching cab.
 
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#11
The problem using the car analogy is that cabinets don't have "speedometers".

If you took the car capable of 150MPH and removed the speedometer, the results might end differently.

Reasonableness and good common sense will allow that amp combination to work perfectly fine until a momentary lapse of common sense occurs ;)
 
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#12
Okay okay...
I left this post unattended too long, now I have some catching up to do.

First and foremost, I appreciate the replies, and the advice, and the vehicular analogies. :D
I guess my main question was "Is is plausible?" and "If so, what would be some smart(er)-ish ways of going about it?"

This isn't the only cab I have, and it's definitely not the last one I'll ever buy. It was just something that went through my head.

I also appreciate the fact that nobody has ripped me a new one for being so naive as to ask such a foolish question in the presence of the King.:cool:

I try not to take on things with the attitude that somethings impossible (unless it actually is).
 
#13
agedhorse said:
Reasonableness and good common sense will allow that amp combination to work perfectly fine until a momentary lapse of common sense occurs ;)
Click to expand...
True.
The same is true of supercars.
So - don't let that happen ;-)
I ran my LH-1000 into a 300W Hartke 410 for a year with no issues. I was careful.
I still frequently run it into a 112. You must develop situational awareness. And be prepared to accept the consequences of a temporary lapse of common sense.
Is there any way I can make this combination work out, or am I going to have to save the Ampeg for a cab rated for higher maximum wattage?
Click to expand...
As has been pointed out - the real answer is it will work if you are careful and prepared to accept the consequences otherwise.
The best answer is to go get a supercab - but you'll still have to be careful...
 
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#14
Last year my gigging rig was a Hartke Kilo through a Hydrive 810. We played a bunch of shows I was asked to leave the big cab at home for so I ran the 1000 watt kilo through a 400 watt hartke 410. No issues ever. Just remember if it sounds like its going to blow it probably is.
 
#15
Eschaton said:
Okay okay...
I left this post unattended too long, now I have some catching up to do.

First and foremost, I appreciate the replies, and the advice, and the vehicular analogies. :D
I guess my main question was "Is is plausible?" and "If so, what would be some smart(er)-ish ways of going about it?"

This isn't the only cab I have, and it's definitely not the last one I'll ever buy. It was just something that went through my head.

I also appreciate the fact that nobody has ripped me a new one for being so naive as to ask such a foolish question in the presence of the King.:cool:

I try not to take on things with the attitude that somethings impossible (unless it actually is).
Click to expand...
If you are careful, you SHOULD be just fine. I'd just make a practice of reducing the Master to 7.5ish or so just to be safe. As a rule too much power is better for a speaker than too little (that is an amp that is heavily distorting the whole time - these peaks can be disastrous for a driver). I'd make sure I had a compressor to smooth things out and as someone else said - easy on the EQ.
 
#17
Re: weaksauce comment.

Wanted to clarify my statement about the 1x15 400 watter being "weak". Your other thread was asking about rack heads in the 1,000-2,000 watt range, and saying your 4x10 cab wasn't keeping up with demands.

A 400 watt cab isn't weak, but a single 15" could be very limiting, depending on cabinet design. Ultimately it might still only be as loud as a similar 2x10.

If you're just wondering if you can use the small/light 115 for practices and bring out the big fridge for shows but use the same head - yeah, no problem.

On the car analogy, its more like having an engine that puts out 400hp but a transmission that can only handle 200. It will work fine as ling as you don't give it too much gas; then it will tear itself in half. Unfortunately there's no real gauge to tell you how much is too much until it is too late.
 
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