High power/ Low power

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Member Since: Jul 24, 2008

What does it mean to run your power amp in low power and/or high power?

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MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Aug 26, 2008 01:51 am

One means to run it on high power, the other on low.

If you need much less power, run it on low. If it's 1-2x the rated power of your monitors, run it on full.

Member
Since: Jul 24, 2008


Aug 28, 2008 04:37 pm

How do you/I know if I am in low or high power? And why would you need to run in high or low power?

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Aug 28, 2008 04:44 pm

Quote:
How do you/I know if I am in low or high power?


depends on the amp, i'd wager.

post up the model, and i bet someone'll help.


Quote:
And why would you need to run in high or low power?


if the power amp is rated to 500watts, and your speakers can only handle 100 watts, and you're only playing for 10 people, run it on low.

If the power amp is rated 500watts, and your speakers can handle 1000watts, and you're playing for 1000 people, then use high power.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Aug 28, 2008 05:33 pm

Are you referring to a guitar head?

Some of them have a dual bias switch. Depending upon which tubes you have in them.

Such as Meas Boogie. They can either run 6L6's, or EL34's. The 6L6 produce a higher current. So they would be the high power. And the switch needs to be in that position.

If you are referring to a reinforcement amp. Then I have no idea of what you saying. For a reinforcement amp, they are ohm load dependant. I never heard of a high low switch for them.

Member
Since: Jul 24, 2008


Aug 31, 2008 10:58 pm

Well, I'm working with a Carvin DCM2500 power amp. I read over the owners manual and it talks about using it in low power and high power applications. It says for low power applications I should use the 1/4" or speakon outputs and for high power I should use the binding posts outputs. I'm just wondering why.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Aug 31, 2008 11:23 pm

I just downloaded the manual on line. And I see where it mentions the high power connections, but I have yet to find where low power is even mentioned.

From what I can see from reading the manual, is that they are referring to the size of the cable that certain connectors can accommodate.

Most 1/4" connectors usually can only handle cable that is around 14 gauge in size. You can force larger cable in, but the connector is only rated for 14 gauge.

NL4 can handle around 12 gauge. We remove the clips for them. So we can squeeze a 10 gauge in. The NL4 has a high current rating. So this is an acceptable means of making that connection.

For the most part. The manual is saying that should you need a high current connection, to use the binding post. Because it can accept up to a 10 gauge cable.

To elaborate on this. The size of the cable, dictates the current rating. The lower the number, the thicker the cable, and the higher the current it can handle.

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