SVT micro power question

[skycruiser]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered but I didn't come across it in my searches.

The Ampeg SVT Micro is rated at 200W at 4 OHms
The head is often paired with the SVT-210AV rated at 200W, an 8 Ohm cabinet.

Can the head drive 200W at 8 Ohm and get the full power output of that cabinet?

Do you need to pair it with a 4 Ohm cabinet (or combination of cabs) to get the full output of the head?

Thanks!

 

[lowendrv]

You need another 8 ohm cab to run at 4 ohms for the full 200 watts . Or just one 4 ohm cab .

 

[skycruiser]

You need another 8 ohm cab to run at 4 ohms for the full 200 watts . Or just one 4 ohm cab .

Thanks. I just zoomed in on the picture of the back of the head and it is rated at 150W at 8 Ohms. I should have taken a look at the manual which probably states that too.

I think of these things in simpleminded V=IR, P=IV terms but know Audio electronics isn't that simple. But this make me think it's voltage output can drive higher than it is allowed to when driving 4 Ohms, maybe using some sort of power limiter, but able to go full output range when the output load is high enough. Not sure how that is implemented in a power audio amp.

 

[AstroSonic]

If the amplifier delivers 150w into 8 ohms it will deliver 300w into 4 ohms IF the power supply can deliver the required current. While it is possible to build a power supply that can do this, it is quite expensive. If we accept some power supply limitation, the cost comes down substantially, while the loss in maximum volume (relative to the sound level with an amp that doubled the power into 4 ohms) is minor. If we assume that a given speaker can handle 300w and do so with the same thermal compression at both power levels (200w & 300w), going from 200w to 300w would increase the sound level by 1.8 db - hardly noticable. Considering the intended purpose (light duty, small gig), performance requirements, and intended cab pairing, Ampeg's design choice seems quite reasonable. It still allows a substantial increase in volume by adding a second cab.

 

[JimmyM]

If the amplifier delivers 150w into 8 ohms it will deliver 300w into 4 ohms IF the power supply can deliver the required current.

I remember that Bass Gear Mag tested a Micro VR once, and they got 259w RMS at 4 ohms, and then came to a dead stop with nothing else above that available as peak wattage I forget what they said the 8 ohm rating was, something like 160.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered but I didn't come across it in my searches.

The Ampeg SVT Micro is rated at 200W at 4 OHms
The head is often paired with the SVT-210AV rated at 200W, an 8 Ohm cabinet.

Can the head drive 200W at 8 Ohm and get the full power output of that cabinet?

Do you need to pair it with a 4 Ohm cabinet (or combination of cabs) to get the full output of the head?

Thanks!

You need the other cab. But frankly, I liked it better with one 212 then with the 4. It seemed to like me also not pushing the little sucker so damn hard.

Its 200 a 4ohms. 150 at 8