Will this amp blow my speakers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter arcadeko
  • Start date Start date
arcadeko

arcadeko

Illuminatius Overlordious
Ok so I got a little Kustom PA but I outgrew it real quick because we started doing some more aggressive louder songs in rehearsal and it just can't deliver the decibels.

So, the first thing I did was pick up a pair of larger speakers, I got a pair of ProFormance (PRO15ML) 15" speakers 100 watt RMS (200 watt peak) 8 Ohms.

The PA head is only 80 watts so I am selling the PA and looking to pick up a straight power amp to run out of my mixer/interface for practice.

I have read that it's ideal to have an amp that is 2x your RMS - but the amps I am looking at are slightly over that level, I am wondering if I am in danger of blowing my speakers with too big of an amp.

The are the 2 amps I am looking at now:

Crown XLS 1000: Stereo, 8 ohms (per ch.) 215W
XLS Drivecore™ Series

QSC GX3 8 ohms / 1 kHz (both channels driven) 300 W
QSC - GX Series Amplifiers
The GX3 is ideal for speakers in the 300 watt (Program) range



So think I would blow my speakers with these? I figure if I don't turn them all the way up I am ok?

I also have a huge sub, so I can use the cross-over features in the amp to run a high pass filter and run the sub on a separate channel.

I do not imagine I would ever be using this for a show... but I guess anything can happen - though there are no plans for it now and I would probably rent a PA for a show.


I also see a lot of cheap DJ amps - would this work for a rehearsal PA?
These amps are both around $100!

Pyle Pro PTA1000 1000 Watt DJ Amplifier
Amazon.com: Pyle Pro PTA1000 1000 Watt DJ Amplifier: Electronics

Pyle Home PAMP1000 160 Watt 2 Channel Home Stereo Power Amplifier
8 Ohm Power Output = 2 x 250 Watts Max
Amazon.com: Pyle Home PAMP1000 160 Watt 2 Channel Home Stereo Power Amplifier: Electronics


So... whats the skinny?


Seems I will be OK, as I read on Sweetwater's site:
Contrary to popular belief, you're more likely to damage your speakers with an underpowered amp than with one that has too much power, so don't scrimp here!
Click to expand...
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/live-sound/pa-speakers/buying-guide.php
 
Last edited:
If the speakers get loud enough for your needs without running out of power handling then you probably won't give them too much power even if the amp is capable of it. Basically the same deal with "too little" power. If they get loud enough before you run out of amp you're fine.
 
A lot of people are calling BS on the amp speaker theory (amp bigger than speakers) I don't know enough to say but if the speakers sound like they're in pain turn it down! There is usually some warning unless you go balls out.
 
bruiser1964 said:
A lot of people are calling BS on the amp speaker theory (amp bigger than speakers) I don't know enough to say but if the speakers sound like they're in pain turn it down! There is usually some warning unless you go balls out.
Click to expand...

Using an amp with twice the power of the RMS or program or average rating of a speaker puts it at about the same level as the peak power handling of the speaker. The amp and speaker run out of short term capacity at the same point, which is good if you need absolutely every bit of output from the speakers. You can still exceed the long term capacity of the speakers if you're not careful. If you don't need to push every bit of volume out of the speakers you can generally use an amp with less than twice the speakers' rated (RMS/Program/average) power.
 
I've seen that paper before, and it's a good one. I could do well with the refresher ("A professional does not need to be told- but he always appreciates being reminded!" -Zig Ziglar.) but I am feeling so wretched with sinusitis I can't focus on it.
 
Anyone have info on that Pyle equipment, or their stuff in general?
 
I googled about a piece of Pyle a while back, and Pile gear I find online is car audio stuff- and that market is so full of hucksters and charlatans, I would stay far away. Several years ago, I ended up with a 112 guitar cab that had a Pyle speaker in it, and there was precious little info on it, then. Given the lack of info (at least that I could find,) I don't put a lot of trust in Pyle's stuff.
 
Like I said I'm no expert - I think it was something to do with older SS amps being overdriven and the waveform becoming square, this was eating the horns and overheating the drivers, modern amps have overdrive detection circuitry and cabs often also have biuilt in protection so this is less of a worry.
I know for a fact others here know lots more than me :)
P.s I do know for afact though ... in 30 odd years of live gigging I've never blown a speaker (and I like it loud)
 
I read some bad reviews on the Pyles stuff - can't be very good for $99 or whatever it is. Anyway, I found a good deal on the Crown XLS 1000 only $247 delivered. So I'm all good. I'll let you know how it sounds. Now I just need to sell my PA so I can cover the cost :eek:
 
Can you guys get the new peavey stuff? Big power for the price and hardly any weight - look really cool
 
Arc is in the Atlanta, GA area- Peavey stuff is so common here you sometimes find Peavey gear under rocks! :D
 
stevieb said:
I googled about a piece of Pyle a while back, and Pile gear I find online is car audio stuff- and that market is so full of hucksters and charlatans, I would stay far away. Several years ago, I ended up with a 112 guitar cab that had a Pyle speaker in it, and there was precious little info on it, then. Given the lack of info (at least that I could find,) I don't put a lot of trust in Pyle's stuff.
Click to expand...
I have a guitar amp )Ampeg VT-40} that I bought from Jimmy Eppard (google him) and he replaced the old speakers with Pyle speakers that he specifically chose for their sound.
And they do sound great.
 
arcadeko said:
That link is perfect - so I think I am good to go with the Crown XLS 1000 or even the 1500! Awesome. Thanks everyone
Click to expand...

You will be good Wes. Just make sure that you never go into clip mod on the amp and all will be fine.
Another thing that people neglect to do is to get the speakers high enough on the stand ..... it will make a world of difference.
 
moresound said:
You will be good Wes. Just make sure that you never go into clip mod on the amp and all will be fine.
Another thing that people neglect to do is to get the speakers high enough on the stand ..... it will make a world of difference.
Click to expand...
yeah .... clipping is the big thing.
If an amp doesn't have enough power people will often turn them up and up trying to get them louder .... but they don't get louder .... they just start clipping which is high energy and will take out horns quickly and even woofers if you don't watch it.
Experienced players can hear that sound of distress when a speaker is freaking out and they'll back off and simply accept the fact that that's as loud as it's gonna get.
That's why I can use an amp with equal or even less power than my speakers are rated at and there's no chance I'm gonna blow a speaker because of that.
But by having an amp with some extra power you can get it loud enough to satisfy you and won't turn it up into clipping so usually you won't blow anything.
However ..... don't be misled by the "twice as much power as your speakers can handle" thing.
You can definitely blow a speaker by continuously putting twice it's rated power to it.
 
Lt. Bob said:
However ..... don't be misled by the "twice as much power as your speakers can handle" thing.
You can definitely blow a speaker by continuously putting twice it's rated power to it.
Click to expand...



Yup we all have bloody ears to confirm that. What? Speak up! Will somebody answer that dang phone!! :D
 
arcadeko said:
I found a good deal on the Crown XLS 1000 only $247 delivered. So I'm all good. I'll let you know how it sounds.
Click to expand...

I actually just picked up a XLS2000 a few weeks ago, I use it on a small PA set up my band uses (If we do a big venue there is always an in house PA). The main reason I bought it was that it only weighs 4.9Kg (10.8 lbs) at 2U high it also has a built in programable crossover and a limiter to stop clipping. I replaced one of my old faithful Peavey CS800's that weighed in at over 20 kg (44 lbs) and was 3u high. Funny how the weight becomes a factor as you get older.

The XLS 1000 is a good choice, the inbuilt limiter will also help protect the speakers from damage due to clipping the amp.

Alan.
 
moresound said:
You will be good Wes. Just make sure that you never go into clip mod on the amp and all will be fine.
Another thing that people neglect to do is to get the speakers high enough on the stand ..... it will make a world of difference.
Click to expand...

Well for rehearsal they are powering floor monitors :) I don't really have room to put them on stands. I could probably make room but it's just me and the drummer so the wedge monitors pointing up at us work pretty well.

I am gonna get to know the amp and make sure the limiter is set and I can't imagine I would get it near loud enough to be clipping! The 80 watt PA is almost loud enough but it starts to distort at peak volume, so I think this will be more than enough for my little 12x14 studio/rehearsal space :)

Luck must be on my side cause I just decided screw it I'm buying the Crown XLS 1000, $247 was too good a deal and it was a limited time deal since they are usually $299 everywhere. And then an hour ago I get a call on the craigslist ad and the guy is supposed to come buy my old PA tomorrow morning for $250. And since the place I bought it from is actually here in Atlanta, I checked the UPS tracking number and its supposed to arrive tomorrow afternoon!

My evil plan is working out perfectly Muwahahahahah :laughings:
 
arcadeko said:
Well for rehearsal they are powering floor monitors :) I don't really have room to put them on stands. I could probably make room but it's just me and the drummer so the wedge monitors pointing up at us work pretty well.
Click to expand...

Well, unless you're expecting your stage monitors at a gig to be on poles it makes sense to rehearse with wedges on the floor where they belong.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top