SWR SM-500 at 2 ohms??

[saysiadog]

Has anyone on here run this head stereo with 2x 4ohm cabinets? Wondering how well it performed with this configuration. Right now I'm running it with an 8ohm 4x10. I'm considering running 2 4ohm 2x10 cabs. Just looking for something different. Any advice is appreciated!! FYI, I tried the search feature and didn't come up with much. If this has already been discussed in detail, please direct me to the thread if possible. Thanks again!

 

[jjk2007]

Thought the 500 wouldn't do 2 ohms, but it does. I'm sure it would do fine with a 2 ohm load on each side. IME those amps get pretty hot to the point where you think there could be problems, but that's just the way they run.

 

[saysiadog]

Thanks for the response! I was wondering about that. My fan has come the few times the head was really being pushed. Right now I have an 8ohm Goliath III 4x10 bridged giving me 400 watts. Maybe I should just add an 8ohm 2x10 which would give me 250 watts/side at 4ohms. Unless...anyone here can convince me that it would be that much better running the same setup but with 2 4ohm cabs giving me 300 watts/side at 2ohms. Any thoughts? I'm guessing it wouldn't be that much different only gaining 100watts. I don't know though as I've never run a rig at 2 ohms yet...or 4 ohms for that matter.

 

[jjk2007]

Well, my first question would be what is your playing situation? i.e. type of music, size of rooms, P.A. support etc. Without knowing any of those details though, I would probably try and find an efficient 4 ohm 410, or a pair of 8 ohm 210's and just run the amp bridged. Just an IMO.

 

[David Jayne]

I'll tell you what's killer, if you have an 8ohm GIII already: get a 4ohm G junior and rewire it to 16ohms(easy). Now you have a 5.3ohm load, and all 6 speakers will receive the same power, and it sounds killer. I have this setup and run it with a variety of amps.

 

[Steve]

if it's a stero head, you're not running it at 2 ohms.

an sm500 will tolerate two 4 ohm cabs in stereo or one 4 ohm cab in bridge mode.

I have one. I've used it with a berg 212 and 322 both of which are 4 ohm boxes.

stupid loud

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

Here are the specs from SWR's WEB Site - you can download the manual there also. It does do two ohms in Stereo Mode - but at the expense of output.

Power Output Bridge/Mono Mode
500 Watts @ 4 Ohms
400 Watts @ 8 Ohms
250 Watts @ 16 Ohms
(minimum load = 4 Ohms)

Stereo Mode (per side)
300 watts @ 2 Ohms
250 watts @ 4 Ohms
150 watts @ 8 Ohms
(minimum load = 2 Ohms)

Invalid Link Removed

 

[saysiadog]

Well, my first question would be what is your playing situation? i.e. type of music, size of rooms, P.A. support etc. Without knowing any of those details though, I would probably try and find an efficient 4 ohm 410, or a pair of 8 ohm 210's and just run the amp bridged. Just an IMO.

I am a casual player, not in a band, but I practice hard and play a lot here at the house. I do actually have a small pa here at the house. It consists of a pair of JBL EONs I use for mains and a powered sub. My Goliath III is sitting on the sub up off the ground. I have it wired up to a Mackie 402-VLZ3. Head directly to the board. I mostly use it when friends come over to the house to jam. I have a drum machine setup to it to keep me in time. I guess you could say it's my metronome. The room is about 10'x20'. Anyway, thanks for your reply. I love having this killer gear so I can satisfy my teacher Link Removed
when he comes over...LOL! No really I'm just looking for the best possible configuration for my amp without doing damage. Looking for KILLER tone which I know may be different for everyone. For some reason I feel like I have a stereo head and should be using it in stereo.

 

[saysiadog]

I'll tell you what's killer, if you have an 8ohm GIII already: get a 4ohm G junior and rewire it to 16ohms(easy). Now you have a 5.3ohm load, and all 6 speakers will receive the same power, and it sounds killer. I have this setup and run it with a variety of amps.

This sounds interesting...that is unless you're pulling my leg. I'm a new player and I'm pretty gullible. Thanks for the reply!! How about 2 4ohm G juniors stacked vert?

 

[chadds]

Having had these combinations the 4x10 with bridged head is the biggest sounding most efficient of the setups. The rewireing and adding the Goliath Jr. is a great idea. It gives you choices for small to real large gigs. I used the 6x10 combo without rewiring the 2x10. Top cab to loud but the combination rocked. SWR 2x10s have a smaller cab volume and even stacked just sound like two limited 2x10s.

 

[saysiadog]

Thanks for the response Chadds!! Not sure what I'm gonna do, but will post results as soon as I make the change...