"Safety" question

[eee]

So I've got a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0: 600 watts at 4 ohms.
I'm using a Genz Benz NeoX 210T: 450 watts at 4 ohms.

I'm running a chorus and a fuzz between my basses and my amp. All of my basses are passive. Is there a chance that I could damage my speakers by having having more watts on tap than the cab is rated to handle? Would the fuzz have any say in the equation?

I normally never turn the thing up very loud, but I'm joining a fusion-y rock band that gigs at high volume. I want to make sure I'm not going to fry my rig.

Advice? Opinions? Etc.?

Thanks

 

[B-string]

Yes the cab is in danger of being damaged, compounded by the fact you will not be able to tell speaker overload from the normal "fuzz" box sound.
Those that believe in any magic myth otherwise could offer to help pay for new speakers

 

[eee]

Crap. Okay, what if I don't use the fuzz?

 

[B-string]

Then you can hear the speakers when they reach the distress level of power, better heed the warning.

You REALLY should have gone for a 8 ohm cab, two 8 ohm cabs would solve volume level and over-loading of speaker cabs in one move.

 

[eee]

Oh great. Haha. So I've also got a head that pumps out 350 watts. This is less than what the cab is rated for. Would I still be in danger?

 

[B-string]

Oh great. Haha. So I've also got a head that pumps out 350 watts. This is less than what the cab is rated for. Would I still be in danger?

No the cab THEN would not be in danger and you could add a second cab for almost double the sound output. A LOT more sound than the 250 additional watts running into a single cab will ever get you.

 

[eee]

Thanks B-string. You're the man.

 

[B-string]

You're welcome

 

[agedhorse]

Whenever your amp can deliver more than the continuous ("RMS") rating of the speaker, it would be a good idea to be aware of the limitations and potential damage that can occur if you push your rig beyond it's capability. This is a general caution that applies to products by all manufacturers.

Also, with amplifiers and speakers that overload gracefully and smoothy, it may not be as easliy possible to hear that the speaker is at it's limits (especially in a band situation) before damage occurs. This can be mimized by being cautious with the amount of LF equalization (and LF Boost on your amp) if you find yourself in a situation where you don't have enough rig for the gig.

IMO, an 8 ohm cabinet is probably a better match for your amp.

 

[Downunderwonder]

350w of distorted bass with lows not reduced is a very good recipe for destroying a "450w" cab. This is exactly why the underpowering myth won't die.

 

[Downunderwonder]

600w of same tone is even better for blowing it up. Die myth, DIE!

 

[agedhorse]

350w of distorted bass with lows not reduced is a very good recipe for destroying a "450w" cab. This is exactly why the underpowering myth won't die.

A typical amp rated at 350 watts "RMS" undistorted may if fact deliver up to 700 watts of thermal power (though it will probably be somewhere between 350 and 700 watts because of power supply sag due to inefficiency) so overdriven hade, the amp would be in danger of overpowering even though it may not be intuitively obvious at first glance.

 

[agedhorse]

600w of same tone is even better for blowing it up. Die myth, DIE!

That would be up to 1200 watts of thermal power when heavily overdriven... another case of gross overpowering

 

[JimmyM]

Well at least he got a really small cab to throttle with that much wattage

There is a simple solution nobody suggested...I realize it's crazy talk, but you could turn down.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Of what is this "turn down" strategy ye speak? All would be rock stars know the only solution to not hearing enough of something is to turn up until you can't hear something else, then turn that up...

 

[Tim1]

Sometimes it amazes me that we kiwis speak so much with the same tongue. Must catch up with you some time Downunderwonder.

 

[Korladis]

Even with the 350W amp, you can still damage your speakers, especially if you push a lot of lows.

 

[Munjibunga]

Pay attention and you'll be fine. Speakers blow when you ask too much of them.

 

[Zanderwestcoast]

Sure you might have to be careful, but I would still rather have the additional headroom of an over powered amp rather than an using an underpowered one!

 

[will33]

Of what is this "turn down" strategy ye speak? All would be rock stars know the only solution to not hearing enough of something is to turn up until you can't hear something else, then turn that up...

Sig. Worthy.