why the hell do i keep blowing my speakers

[joeypistol]

i have already replaced one and i can tell another speaker is about to go. I dont even play all that loud. my gain is 1/4 the way up and my volume is about 3/4+.
my gear is

ampeg svt 2 pro
RMS Power Output (4 Ohms): 300-Watts
RMS Power Output (2 Ohms): 300-Watts
Preamp: Tubes (4 x 12AX7, 1 x 12AU7)
Driver Tubes: 1 x 12AX7, 2 x 12AU7
Power Amp: Tubes (6 x 6550)
Tone Controls: 3-Band
Mid Tone Control: 5-Position
Graphic EQ: Yes, 9-Band
Ultra Low/High Boosts: Yes
Balanced Line Out: Yes, Pre/Post (transformer)
Effects Loop: Yes
Preamp Out/Power Amp In: Yes
Slave Out: Yes
Dimensions (W x H x D inches): 19 x 7.5 x 15.75
Weight: 70 Pounds

ampeg 410 hlf
LF Drivers: 4 x 10”
Voice Coil: 2”
Magnet Weight (each): 30 oz
HF Drivers: Horn/Driver
Voice Coil: 1”
Magnet Weight (each): 8 oz
RMS Power Handling: 500-Watts
Frequency Response (-3dB): 48Hz-18kHz
Usable Low Frequency (-10dB): 28Hz
Nominal Impedance: 4-Ohms
Sensitivity: 98dB
Maximum SPL: 125dB
Dimensions (W x H x D inches): 24 x 30 x 19
Shipping Weight: 110 Pounds
Handling Weight: 85 Pounds

the settings on my bass are : volume all the way up/ bass half and trebble is half.

am i missing simething important here? my amp will clip only when i really hit the strings hard , but i almost never do that.
please !!!!
thanks for ur time

 

[excane]

clipping is very bad for speakers... get a compressor or limiter.

Not necessarily true.... if the power section is clipping, that's definitely bad. If the preamp tubes are being driven to saturation for some grit, that's ok. He also said he rarely ever clips the amp.

I honestly don't know any other variable to check other than maybe the speaker cable? What are you using?

 

[Eminor3rd]

More gain, less master

 

[joeypistol]

Not necessarily true.... if the power section is clipping, that's definitely bad. If the preamp tubes are being driven to saturation for some grit, that's ok. He also said he rarely ever clips the amp.

I honestly don't know any other variable to check other than maybe the speaker cable? What are you using?

do i not have enough headroom? i am useing SO to 1/4 inch cable, and a monster instrament cable. it isnt the power amp that is peaking its the pre amp.

 

[Matt Dean]

More gain, less master

+1

Try setting your gain at 2:00PM and volume 9-10 AM.

 

[excane]

I'm not all that familiar with the SVT2, I play the SVT4. As already said, turn down the master. It wouldn't hurt to give Ampeg a call.

When you blew the last speaker, do you know what did it? Meaning, did you hear it actually pop when you hit the strings really hard?

 

[finalrequiem]

It's because of this:

 

[David1234]

Maybe your next quad should be a sensitive one (103dB or more, like a Goliath or XLT) instead of a 98dB one. 5dB more sound power (about triple effective power) from the same electrical power means you'll get to turn the amp down and still hear yourself.

 

[rbonner]

More gain, less master

I totally agree, this is a very powerful amplifier. Enough power to totally whomp 8 of those speakers (Two Cabs) and you are unleashing ALL of that ability on four of the little buggers.

The gain control is the preamp gain, the master is the VOLUME CONTROL. You are turning down the preamp and turning the AMP almost wide open, peaks and other shocks are going right through and blowing speakers.

I think once you get that last one replaced, things will be better.

OH YEAH THATS NOT 500 WATTS of Tube AMPEG POWER. Thats 500 watts of Peak RMS (a totally made up rating by me and apparently used by all manufacturers of cabinets)

BOB

 

[UncleBalsamic]

Maybe less bass? I think I heard that some speakers don't take really low bass well.

 

[jazzbass_5]

Replace them all with Eminence Delta 10s, @ 350 watts each you shouldn't have anymore problems. I run a custom built 4X10 cab with Deltas an Ampeg SVP preamp and a 1400 watt power amp at about 80% and the speakers never even break a sweat.

 

[62bass]

i have already replaced one and i can tell another speaker is about to go. I dont even play all that loud. my gain is 1/4 the way up and my volume is about 3/4+.
my gear is

ampeg svt 2 pro
RMS Power Output (4 Ohms): 300-Watts
RMS Power Output (2 Ohms): 300-Watts
Preamp: Tubes (4 x 12AX7, 1 x 12AU7)
Driver Tubes: 1 x 12AX7, 2 x 12AU7
Power Amp: Tubes (6 x 6550)
Tone Controls: 3-Band
Mid Tone Control: 5-Position
Graphic EQ: Yes, 9-Band
Ultra Low/High Boosts: Yes
Balanced Line Out: Yes, Pre/Post (transformer)
Effects Loop: Yes
Preamp Out/Power Amp In: Yes
Slave Out: Yes
Dimensions (W x H x D inches): 19 x 7.5 x 15.75
Weight: 70 Pounds

ampeg 410 hlf
LF Drivers: 4 x 10”
Voice Coil: 2”
Magnet Weight (each): 30 oz
HF Drivers: Horn/Driver
Voice Coil: 1”
Magnet Weight (each): 8 oz
RMS Power Handling: 500-Watts
Frequency Response (-3dB): 48Hz-18kHz
Usable Low Frequency (-10dB): 28Hz
Nominal Impedance: 4-Ohms
Sensitivity: 98dB
Maximum SPL: 125dB
Dimensions (W x H x D inches): 24 x 30 x 19
Shipping Weight: 110 Pounds
Handling Weight: 85 Pounds

the settings on my bass are : volume all the way up/ bass half and trebble is half.

am i missing simething important here? my amp will clip only when i really hit the strings hard , but i almost never do that.
please !!!!
thanks for ur time

You're probably boosting the bass too much in order to get a nice fat sound. Unfortunately, your speakers can't handle the demand put on them down in the bottom octave. Cut back on your bass boost on your bass and on your amp. let the mids define the note and carry your sound. Don't use any ultra low boost. That's probably what's killing your speakers. The speakers may be rated for a high amount of power, but that's only at higher frequencies, not in the bottom octave.

The louder you play the less bass boost you can get away with.

If you add another speaker cabinet it'll reduce the amount of work this cabinet has to do at the same volume. You'll save speakers and the whole set up will be louder because of the extra speaker area.

 

[joeypistol]

More gain, less master

kk i will give it a try but i am sure that i read on here that it is a very bad idea to increase the gain inorder to increase the volume. We play loud and it would be nice to be able to hear myself. also.. when the gain is close to being at 12:00 the pre amp always peaks ... no matter how hard i hit the strings.

 

[Govier966]

you say your playing a 5, sometimes lower frequencys blow cabs because of the frequency they are ported at or because they are closed cabs

 

[fdeck]

Maybe less bass? I think I heard that some speakers don't take really low bass well.

True. Most bass speakers can handle a lot less than their rated power, if the signal is mostly confined to the lowest frequencies. Thus a bass-heavy amp voicing could cause driver failure.

 

[rbonner]

Huh, you just stated 410HLF... But 85# that's how much an SVT-410HLF weighs and that is what I was referencing. A B410HLF is junk and I'd throw it away.

I can't believe all the bad information floating around in this thread. Yeah BY ALL MEANS CALL AMPEG so they can tell you how to correctly run your amplifier, sic.

Go to Guitarcenter.com and download your manual if you don't already have one. It will tell you EXACTLY what I have already told you.

Speakers cannot take unlimited amounts of power. As far as bass speakers the 4 units in the SVT-410HLF are some of the most rugged and powerful 10" speakers out there. They can develop tons of bass and handle a lot more power than the crossover and the tweeter can handle.

Just turn around the gain and master knobs and you WILL BE FINE. Turn down the amp, or buy another cab to hook on it. You have enough power there to invert the cones on that cab... JUST ASK LAURIE.

I own an SVT-410HLF and I have the SAME AMOUNT OF POWER AVAILABLE with my PEAVEY SS amp and I also have to be careful to not hit the cab too hard. A 2PRO was built to whomp an 810 cab.

BOB

 

[user362432]

Buy decent amp, who does not clip.

In 35+ years I never had that problem. But, in my time, they were not making hybrid ICs in output of the amplifier.

Look for DISCRETE outputs....

 

[georgestrings]

We play loud and it would be nice to be able to hear myself. also..

This is likely your problem - you're asking too much of a 410... Add more speakers(another cab) - after you get your current cab fixed - and you'll *probably* quit blowing drivers...



- georgestrings

 

[Pilgrim]

I don't know your particular amp...but...my thoughts...

The first, MOST important thing is to pull out the owner's manual and READ it carefully. The absolute first thing I do when acquiring any piece of equipment is to get the owner's manual, even if I have to buy one.

In general, I have always found it good to run the preamp up high - but not into overload or clipping. This allows you to run the Master (output gain) lower, which is easier on speakers.

Boosting bass frequencies adds greatly to the load your speakers have to handle. If you have been boosting low end frequencies, turn them down and use more mid-range frequencies.

Finally, if you're having trouble hearing yourself with an SVT cranked up and a 4x10, either your preamp (Gain) is MUCH too low, or your band is too loud. You can always add a cab - like a single 15 - and get plenty of low end out of it.

 

[rodl2005]

This is likely your problem - you're asking too much of a 410... Add more speakers(another cab) - after you get your current cab fixed - and you'll *probably* quit blowing drivers...



- georgestrings

+1 MAN U R using a POWERFUL 300w ALL TUBE amp. I used to be able to make my SVT410HLF cab "fart out" (i.e. I would've blown the spkrs if I KEPT doing it) with my SVTII at 1/2 volume too.
THAT cab CANNOT handle THAT AMP at THAT VOLUME - simple!!!!!
U NEED MORE SPEAKERS/another cab- IMO grab an Ampeg 810 or if mobility IS a prob & $$ aint- a Bergantino NV610. these cabs CAN handle a SVTII/PRO at that volume. Or simply grab another 4x10. AS stated - a more sensitive cab 100-103dB-sensitivity will giuve ya more vol. too.
DO U have the cab UP near ear level??? That'll help too.
BUT- as I & other's've said.. THAT cab will not handle the volume of that amp (IME)!! 2 of 'em MIGHT...

Hope this helps some