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Running amps in stereo question

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by theshadow2001, Dec 6, 2005.

  1. Dec 6, 2005 #1
    theshadow2001

    theshadow2001

    Jun 17, 2004
    Ireland
    You know when an amplifier can deliver say...600 watts per channel. If you plug a cabinet into each channel and then stack them in the usual manner. Will you be running the full stack at 1200 watts or 600 watts.

    Ok Im thinking that it would be 1200 watts but it would be 600 watts if the cabinets were at either side of the stage instead of on top of each other.But I'm deffinitely not sure and I could be wrong so please correct me if I am.
     
  2. Dec 6, 2005 #2
    KJung

    KJung

    Apr 9, 2005
    Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
    Well, cabinet position has nothing to do with it. Usually, a stereo amp's watts are stated in terms of the minimum impedence (ohms) for safe operation. So, in your example, it probably is 600 watts RMS per channel at 4ohms. That means, if you have two 4 ohm cabinets and connect each to the individual stereo outputs, you will be generating a total of 1200 watts, 600 into each 4ohm speaker. If you have 8ohm speakers, the power will be much less (just think of impedence as a form of the verb 'to impede'... higher impedence or ohms make it harder for the amp to deliver power to the speaker.

    When you bridge a stereo amp for mono use, the impedence rules change.... now, typically if a stereo amp can run at a minimum of 4 ohms stereo, it can only run safely bridged into an 8ohm speaker.... but that bridged power output is usually the same as the two separate stereo output. So, in your case, your amp can put 600 watts each into two 4ohm speakers in 'stereo' mode, and its full 1200 watts into one 8ohm speaker if bridged.

    The same rules apply if your amp can run safely at 2ohms... then it can usually run safely bridged into 4ohms.

    Lot's of threads and sticky's on this subject.

    Hope that helped.

    Ken