Plugging 3 8ohm Cabs to 4 ohm Amp.

[sawzalot]

Subway = 800 watts, Veyron = 2000 watts

Measured how? Learn the difference between peak and RMS power ratings, and how important it is to specify the THD along with your power rating. It's really easy for a marketing department to lie with specifications and make gear sound a lot better than it is, and there are few who do that more than Behringer. Mesa, on the other hand, makes pretty clear statements about what their power ratings mean. I would submit that the Bugera and the Mesa are probably pretty close to equal in terms of power.

 

[FunkHead]

Thanks everyone. I got the answer I thought I was going to get. I must admit the first time I ran the 3 cabs I didn't even consider it. I was only thinking the wattage. Then next day a friend with the same amp head called me to ask me how it sounded and he let me know that the amp was only 4ohms and that it wasn't good. That's when I snapped what I did. No excuse I should have considered it. Now.... when the situation arose again at the same place, I remembered how good it sounded and that nothing happened to the amp. Yes I knew better and tried it again. Again it sounded great and no problem with my amp. But now I head your warnings and will not do this again or find a way to run a second amp for any additional cabs. Thanks everyone. First time treader....

I sold a 4 ohm head to a guy and I gave him a 6 month warranty because he was a friends son. He ran it at 2 ohms for at least 4 years. I have since moved away from the town we lived in but I bet that little Hartke ha5000 is still kicking.
But still don’t go below 4 ohms or eventually it will bite you.

 

[Bassamatic]

There is so much fudging with power ratings. They are really useless unless they are specified into what load and what distortion level and for how long! The hi-fi world go so crazy about this hey had to come with the IHF rating system that specified all that. Anyone remember PMPO ratings? (Peak Music Power Output). 1200 Watts from a battery powered boombox! Personally I don't trust Behringer for anything, Bugera or not.

 

[Matty Koff]

Subway = 800 watts, Veyron = 2000 watts

Yeah but you can push that 800 watts through four 8 ohm cabs, or two 4 ohm cabs, or two 8 ohm cabs and a 4 ohm cab and be plenty loud.

I was just reading that Bugera uses peak ratings rather than RMS as well.

 

[abarson]

Subway = 800 watts, Veyron = 2000 watts

Mesa is meticulous about providing actual engineering values, while Bugera/Behringer have a history of fudging their numbers in favor of marketing splash. To further my point, Bugera says it's 2000 watts "peak", which is meaningless. It is the highest momentary level output before failure, not a very good indicator of actual performance. Actual RMS output for the Bugera is probably around half of the claimed "peak" value.

@Armando Trevino , on the back of the amp Bugera has clearly stated that the minimum load is 4 ohms. Bugera's user manual clearly states that the minimum load is 4 ohms. You are risking damaging your Bugera by exceeding the minimum speaker load of 4 ohms. Maybe you should heed the manufacturer before you damage your equipment. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Also, unless it's a difference in versions, the Markbass NY121's are rated for 400 watts RMS, not 500. Keep that in mind as you dump uber-power into them.

 

[g-dude]

Well, if the amp has good self-protection features built in, the best case is that it'll shut down. The worst case is you'll see the Magic Smoke come out of the amp. If it were me, I wouldn't go for either of those choices. Four ohm minimum load means just that.

So what you’re saying, is that if he keeps doing this, eventually we’ll find out that a new Pope has been chosen?

 

[agedhorse]

The amp would go into protect mode/shutdown, long before it would get damaged.
It's still a risk, but seriously good amp protection has been built into amps for years.
Not all amps, but Bugera does.
Shutdown during a song is definitely something to avoid.

protection circuits are not perfect, in fact because of the various parameters they are tracking, many are far from perfect.

Subway = 800 watts, Veyron = 2000 watts

The power numbers are stated with entirely different metrics. Mesa uses defined RMS values as detailed in the specs.

Well, if the amp has good self-protection features built in, the best case is that it'll shut down. The worst case is you'll see the Magic Smoke come out of the amp. If it were me, I wouldn't go for either of those choices. Four ohm minimum load means just that.

Pretty much so ime.

 

[ahc]

You may want to learn to sing this song:

 

[Killing Floor]

Keep it up...the smell will be worth it!

I kinda live that smell. It makes me think of the electric train set I had when I was a kid. Smells like Christmas in a nostalgic way.

 

[Killing Floor]

Ohm schmohm.

 

[Ostie]

Do what you want, but I wouldn’t haul an extra cab to a gig just for an amp stand. I would use a table, or a chair, or wait! I know! An amp stand!

 

[SLPimp]

And boom goes the dynamite.

 

[Rick_Bass]

 

[MikePlaysBass]

Just make sure you have a backup amp ready. Things always seem to fail when you need them the most, and you’re definitely pushing your luck running that low of an impedance. It could run fine for years or blow up on you tomorrow.

 

[Chad Michael]

2.67 ohms, 2.6 or 2.7 is simply rounding. I didn’t say anything to the contrary.

I am not debating, just asking someone to explain / illustrate the math. Tried to post a diagram but it didn't work...

 

[agedhorse]

View attachment 4169060

We promoted a double feature with Towering Inferno and Earthquake. It was promoted as the “Shake and Bake” double bill.

I am not debating, just asking someone to explain / illustrate the math. Tried to post a diagram but it didn't work...

I didn’t understand the question.

The resulting number comes from the parallel resistance formula. It’s available all over the web.

 

[Chad Michael]

 

[devnulljp]

Buy another amp now before you have to (because you're going to have to if you keep this up).

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

View attachment 4168238 I'm currently using a Bugera Veyron 1001m (4ohms) which is supposed to be a 2000 watt head. My normal set up is the Bugera head hooked up to 2 Mark Bass 1x12 cabs (8 ohms / 500 Watts). I think it sounds great. On a couple of occasions I've hooked up a third MB 1x12 cab. Mainly because they were outdoor gigs and it was a larger stage. In both occasions I noticed I didn't have to push the cabs volume wise as I normally would because the stack was closer to ear level and I thought it sounded great. I know that hooking it up with the 3 cabs takes it below 4ohms. What kind of damage can I be doing to my Bugera Head. Does the amp being 2k Watts make a difference. I'd like to have the option to add the third cab if I think I'm going to need it but don't want to risk blowing the head especially during a show.

You'll blow your amp. Poof. Done. No warnings. Just done. I've done it.

 

[braud357]

In my younger (and dumber days) I ran (2) 4 ohm 2x15" Peavey cabinets (with D140-F JBL speakers) with a "post tuck & roll" Kustom IV 4 ohm head for several years. Testament to the Kustom - it never failed !!