• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Power amping some Avatars, need help

P

pd1134

Aug 27, 2008
91
0
38
Chantilly, VA
#1
I am looking at two 4ohm avatar 500 watt neo 2x12 cabinets and was wondering...

Would it be better to get a 2 channel power amp that can do 500 watts at 4ohms per channel and use one channel per cab?

or

Buy a power amp that can do 1000 watts at 8ohms and daisy chain the cabs? Thoughts? Thanks from and avid reader/bassist who thinks the world of you guys/this site and the knowledge you share.
 
#4
pd1134 said:
I am looking at two 4ohm avatar 500 watt neo 2x12 cabinets and was wondering...

Would it be better to get a 2 channel power amp that can do 500 watts at 4ohms per channel and use one channel per cab?

or

Buy a power amp that can do 1000 watts at 8ohms and daisy chain the cabs? Thoughts? Thanks from and avid reader/bassist who thinks the world of you guys/this site and the knowledge you share.
Click to expand...

"Daisy Chaining" will NOT get you a 8 ohm load, it will get you a 2 ohm load.

Therefore, your only options are:

Get the two 4 ohm cabs, and get a power amp that can run at least 500 watts per side at 4 ohms

- OR -

Get two 8 ohm cabs, and get a power amp that will run at least 1,000 watts at 4 ohms bridged.
 
#6
- OR -

Get an amp that can run at 2 ohms, e.g. the Carvin B1500. That would be an unholy mother of a rig, by the way. And be careful not to use too much master volume or bass eq, or goom-bye drivers.

-jb

EDIT: Watts these days are stupid-cheap. I'd suggest getting two 8-ohm 212 cabs with maybe a GB Shuttle 9.0. Then you're done buying amp gear, and you have a perfect one-cab solution for "smaller" gigs.
 
#7
pd1134 said:
I am looking at two 4ohm avatar 500 watt neo 2x12 cabinets and was wondering...

Would it be better to get a 2 channel power amp that can do 500 watts at 4ohms per channel and use one channel per cab?

or

Buy a power amp that can do 1000 watts at 8ohms and daisy chain the cabs? Thoughts? Thanks from and avid reader/bassist who thinks the world of you guys/this site and the knowledge you share.
Click to expand...

500 watts stereo at 4 ohms and 1000 watts bridged at 8 ohms are the same thing.

Also, daisy chaining the cabs is going to give you a 2 ohm load.
 
#8
John Bigboote said:
- OR -

Get an amp that can run at 2 ohms, e.g. the Carvin B1500. That would be an unholy mother of a rig, by the way. And be careful not to use too much master volume or bass eq, or goom-bye drivers.

-jb
Click to expand...

Almost all pro power amps are capable of 2 ohms per side. As much as I like the B1500 it's overpriced and overweighted compare to a BX1200.

If he's already got a preamp, however, a power amp will be much cheaper than buying a head.
 
#9
Yeah sorry, I meant getting a power amp that does 1000 watts at 4ohms and two 8 ohm cabs daisy chained. I do already have a pre (three actually, all tech 21/sansamp). I just didn't know if there would be a sound difference between two 4ohm cabs running on a single channel each at 500 watts; or two daisy-chained 8ohm cabs running at 1000 watts bridged on a single channel (the cabs are the same price so theres no fuss there). Thanks for all the input so far, sorry to confuse you guys, i had a noob moment.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back