Power amp.

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Hindu Not Hitler !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member Since: May 28, 2007

I haven't seen a power amp before and how does the plugging arrangment work.

Like , does the power amp have ins and outs and how could i use an unpowered mixer with a power amp to have a pa setup?

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edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Aug 28, 2007 11:49 pm

A power amp's just a powerful amp :-).

Audio ins, speaker outs, and a volume control on the front.

Basic setup would be:
Mixer-Power Amp-Speakers-SMA (Seriously Moshing Audience)

A more complicated setup might be:
Mixer-Graphic EQ-Crossover-Seperate Power Amps to drive different speakers (eg. Sub=Bass Frequency, Mids + Top Boxes=Mids and high F).


Hindu Not Hitler !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member
Since: May 28, 2007


Aug 28, 2007 11:55 pm

Exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks.

Hindu Not Hitler !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member
Since: May 28, 2007


Aug 28, 2007 11:56 pm

But what if I want to use more speakers than the power amp could handle Is there a way to use more than one?

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Aug 29, 2007 01:39 am

You could you use one power amp in mono for left, and one in mono for right, or split your stereo outs into as many amps as as you want.

If you're talking about a monitoring setup you can take outputs from your desk auxs and run them to seperate power amps and speakers. This lets you run a number of different mixes into a number of different systems.

Member
Since: Oct 27, 2007


Oct 30, 2007 06:27 pm

I have a question along the same lines...a power amp...can you hook that up to a powered mixer for a pa system..an 80w powered mixer to increase the volume through the speakers for larger venues?

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Oct 30, 2007 06:43 pm

Noo-hooo-hoooo! All equipment runs at either mic level, or line level, and with proper gain staging both are pretty much configured for maximum gain. By feeding an amplified line level signal to the line inputs of the power amp, you're going to hurt something, and it'll distort like crazy.

Member
Since: Oct 27, 2007


Oct 30, 2007 06:57 pm

hmmm...ok so what can I do to increase the power of my mixer...other than buy a new mixer...its a 4 channel and thats all we need...to buy a better one would give more channels and its just not necessary for what we are doing...seems like kind of a waste just for the added power...any suggestions?

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 30, 2007 10:08 pm

If you have a non powered line output instead of the speaker outputs on the mixer you can use that though.

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Oct 30, 2007 10:51 pm

What model mixer?

Member
Since: Oct 27, 2007


Oct 31, 2007 08:11 am

its a crate pro audio pa-4 mixer, and it does not have a non powered line output so that option is out...any other suggestions? Its only 90w @ 4 ohms...not great for larger venues..but like I said we only need the 4 channels and I can't see spending the cash for more power and lots of channels that we don't need....thanks for the help.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Oct 31, 2007 09:06 am

This was taken from a pdf / html file on that mixer:

< begin snippet >

16. EFFECTS LOOP LINE OUT: Connecting an external signal processor, such as a digital delay or echo, can
be accomplished through the Line In and Line Out jacks. Connect the Line Out jack to the INPUT of the device
using a shielded cable with mono 1/4” phone plugs. This sends a line level signal OUT from the mixer. The Line
Out jack is post-Master EQ and post-Master Level, therefore its tone and output level are governed by the set-
ting of the Master controls. The Line Out jack may also be used to connect to a tape deck or external power ampli-
fier, and does not interrupt the signal going to the power amplifier.

< end snippet >

You can use that output for connecting to a power amplifier input.

You could use the onboard power amp for driving monitor speakers, and use an external poweramp for pushing the PA speakers. That'd be a treat.

full article here (hopefully): 64.233.167.104/search?q=c...lient=firefox-a

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Oct 31, 2007 09:12 am

'nother one for sale in North Jersey:

newjersey.craigslist.org/msg/454543491.html

90$us. whoo-hoo!

Start stacking them babys up, look like metallica with a wall of marshall heads =).


Member
Since: Oct 27, 2007


Oct 31, 2007 03:29 pm

alright cool...thanks I feel kind of stupid...I should have looked that up on my own instead of making you do it...haha...so all I have to do is atach the power amp to the mixer through the effects loop line out...sounds easy enough.
Any suggestions on a power amp that would work well with this mixer? I'm not much of a sound guy and I don't want to buy something that won't be compatible..you know amps and ohms and all that...I don't want to blow anything up. I'm looking to spend about $100 on a power amp...definately on a budget...any suggestions? Thanks for all your help.

Member
Since: Oct 27, 2007


Oct 31, 2007 03:31 pm

here is the power amp that I'm looking at...is it even strong enough to make musch of a difference?

www.musiciansfriend.com/p...fier?sku=482059

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 31, 2007 06:08 pm

What kind of and how big are the speakers you are planning on powering with it? That will make a big difference in what will and won't work.

Just a thought I'll pass on here. My studio monitor's use 150 watts each. So if you are planning on powering a 12" two way speaker it may be just enough. Anything bigger and you will be sucking that amp dry.

I'm also not sure on the Nady amps themselves and the quality. For $79 you are not going to get much in the way of high performance or great sound.

Member
Since: Oct 27, 2007


Oct 31, 2007 06:25 pm

alright...I'm powering 2 10" speakers now...I was planning on getting either 12" or 15" speakers...how many watts do you suggest I get in the power amp?

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Nov 01, 2007 08:40 pm

So your going to add another set of speakers to what you already have. Well you will find that a 12" 2 way will have anywhere from about 250 watt to 350watt max power handling. For most I would say that 250 would be nominal power. That would be a 500 watt amp to power the pair.

For an example, I run a pair of 15" 2 way's for live playing in here when using synths and such. I run a 1000 watt amp for them and it gets the job done nicely. Although I could maybe get by with a little smaller amp.

But you don't want to have an under powered amp or you will put a good deal of strain on the amp itself.

Member
Since: Oct 27, 2007


Nov 02, 2007 06:16 pm

so when i look at an amp I need to divide the wattage in half to figure the watts going to each speaker?

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Nov 03, 2007 04:14 am

i'm not much for info on amps, resistance, and wattage so i'm gonna bump this thread cus it's the best i can do.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Nov 03, 2007 09:08 pm

Yes, that is mostly correct. Although you will find some amps that they give the rating per channel.

It should state fairly clear if that is the case though. It would read something along the lines of 250 watts per channel which would clearly define that.

And yes if you need 250 per channel then you would want a 500 watt amp.

Member
Since: Oct 27, 2007


Nov 04, 2007 02:57 pm

alright man...thanks alot.

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