Simple Question about Power Amps

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trader941

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Ok, this is my question, it's probably pretty simple.

When I build up a live sound rig, my signal chain is pretty simple...

Mic --> mixer --> power amp --> speakers --> ears :)

My question is what happens when i need more than 1 power amp, if i only have a single left and right master out on my mixer?

So now i have a bunch of mics, a large mixer, a crapload of power amps, and a crapload of speakers, how do i rig the power amps together without overloading my speakers?

Does anyone understand my question? Do i need a crossover with a bunch of outputs and only a left and right in? Or power amps with unpowered outs? XLR Splitters? I'm just wondering how this is done in professional/semi-professional situations. I think the most simple solution might be splitters. Just split up the main signals coming out of my mixer to go into the required power amps.

Anyway, a simple question, hopefully a simple answer :)

Have a nice night :cool:
 
most power amps have parralleled inputs so you just daisy chain them.
 
Hi,

To run more than 1 power amp you have to daisy chain the amp inputs (using Y connectors or link outputs if the amp has them) between the mixer and the amps.

Also you need to have a set of speakers (with the correct ohm load) on each power amp.

This is also assuming that all the speakers are full range with inbuilt crossovers, i.e Horn and woofer with inbuilt crossover.

Cheers

Alan
 
trader941 said:
Ok, this is my question, it's probably pretty simple.

When I build up a live sound rig, my signal chain is pretty simple...

Mic --> mixer --> power amp --> speakers --> ears :)

My question is what happens when i need more than 1 power amp, if i only have a single left and right master out on my mixer?

So now i have a bunch of mics, a large mixer, a crapload of power amps, and a crapload of speakers, how do i rig the power amps together without overloading my speakers?

Does anyone understand my question? Do i need a crossover with a bunch of outputs and only a left and right in? Or power amps with unpowered outs? XLR Splitters? I'm just wondering how this is done in professional/semi-professional situations. I think the most simple solution might be splitters. Just split up the main signals coming out of my mixer to go into the required power amps.

Anyway, a simple question, hopefully a simple answer :)

Have a nice night :cool:
Click to expand...

Most conventional professional/semi-professional PA's are divided into groups of speakers to handle different frequency ranges. That requires a crossover like you mentioned with multiple outputs to feed all of the different amps.

However, a new trend has been to use large stacks of full range speakers called line-arrays. These usually come with amps built into each cabinet and simply get daisy-chained together. They are also paired up with matching sub-bass cabinets.
 
this pretty much wins the "Ugliest Dog" contest:
SPLITTER.jpg

I made this (in a hurry you can tell) 25 years ago. It's just 1/4" jacks with all the contacts tied together.
As hack as it is, I've used it to get myself out of a lot of situations like splitting power amp outs to feed speakers and also as a coupler to extend speaker wire lengths.
I still use it.
Splitting signals is much the same as putting a "Y" in a water pipe. When you go the other way and sum signals together there's another set of issues.
 
Ok, so basically a splitter is probably the answer, thanks :)
 
Well maybe more than a splitter... say if you have bass bins along with your high packs and if your high packs have separate inputs for mids and highs and if you need time delay for satellite speakers your talking at least a cross over but more likely a rack mount speaker manager there are many out there to check out if you would like more help on the issue don't hesitate to contact me.
 
Yeah, i was mainly just curious here incase my school would request i help them set up their new sound system at some point. Right now i'm mainly doing studio work myself, so power amps aren't of my primary concern :). I was also wondering how a place like my very very large church with walls of power amps stacked up (i run their small mixer for the 7th and 8th graders sometimes, and they have over 160k/watts of power amps on a single wall) would split up the signal, they only have one LR main out going to a single crossover (or speaker manager?), which goes to all the power amps. It's probably some large number of fancy splitters :).

Thanks, Cya
 
trader941 said:
Yeah, i was mainly just curious here incase my school would request i help them set up their new sound system at some point. Right now i'm mainly doing studio work myself, so power amps aren't of my primary concern :). I was also wondering how a place like my very very large church with walls of power amps stacked up (i run their small mixer for the 7th and 8th graders sometimes, and they have over 160k/watts of power amps on a single wall) would split up the signal, they only have one LR main out going to a single crossover (or speaker manager?), which goes to all the power amps. It's probably some large number of fancy splitters :).

Thanks, Cya
Click to expand...

I would guess that it's like Lt. Bob said at the first of this thread - they just daisy chain one amp to the next one and so on.
 
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