Amp to Speaker Help

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www.witchsmark.com
Member Since: Aug 13, 2006

How would you run this amp to speaker setup??

Speakers:
(2) Yamaha SW118 Subs (300noise, 600prg, 1000pk)
(2) Peavey SP2 tops (500cont, 1000prg, 2000pk)
(1) Behringer EP4000 (8ohm 550W, 4ohm 950W) (Bridged 4ohm 2400W...... 4ohm Peak power is 4000W)
(2) EP2500 (8ohm 500W, 4ohm 750W) (Bridged 4ohm 2400W)

Thanks.

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The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jul 02, 2013 05:15 pm

Still not happy with the sound of the rig?

For me, with the choices that you have listed, I would Bridge the 2500 for the subs, and stereo the 4000 for the tops.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jul 02, 2013 05:18 pm

If you want a little more out of the subs, you could always put them side by side in the middle of the stage. This way, they will couple, and gain you an additional +3 dB. The only thing that you lose with a set up like this, is off axis response.

www.witchsmark.com
Member
Since: Aug 13, 2006


Jul 02, 2013 06:58 pm

On the contrary Rob, I am extremely happy with the new setup you all have guided me into. Now, I am just worried that running the EP2500 Bridged to the Subs and the EP4000 Bridged to the tops is a little too much for the speakers they are powering, being that I have never run the Amps wide open like I am now. I realize that if I don't let anything clip I should be safe, but..... I can't gaurantee that won't happen. Thats the reason for the question I asked, if there was a better way... hell maybe keeping everything bridged is the way to go, I don't know that's why I turned to you to guide me here also.
As for the subs, side by side is exactly how we have always done it.
When you say Stereo, do you mean each to it's own 8ohm channel or run from one channel and parallel 4-ohm??
Also, am I better off just keeping them bridged?? If so, how can I make that safer, maybe a tip as to not clip the amps??

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jul 02, 2013 07:36 pm

Oh sorry. Let me clear that up some. On the top boxes, I would take that out of bridge mode, and switch it to a stereo mode. So that it is a one to one between the speakers and amp channels. This will also give you a nice image out at FOH. And allow you to pan some of the instruments Left and Right.

The subs I would keep in bridge. As you don't hear low end in stereo as it is. And you are putting the subs side by side in the middle as well.

Now, you can "Y" the signal from the DBX DriveRack for the subs together. This will increase the signal to the amp by +10 dB. But, you can turn down the level in the DBX if that is too much. The reason for this, is that should you pan any channels on your board, you won't lose any low end.

I'm sure you understand what I mean by "Y". However, just in case.......... :)

Take the signal from the Left/Right from the DBX, and run them into a single channel of the amp. Being that the amp is in bridge mode, it only sees signal from one channel. Typically the Left or A channel of the amp.

www.witchsmark.com
Member
Since: Aug 13, 2006


Jul 02, 2013 08:26 pm

I already have the Lows Amp on the DBX setup as Mono, so I have been running from the Left/Mono Out on the Lows of the DBX then to Input 1 on Amp... will that suffice instead of the "Y"??
My DBX program setup shows my outputs as Right High, Left High and Mono Low.
As far as the EP4000 in stereo mode, I am setting her right now!!!


www.witchsmark.com
Member
Since: Aug 13, 2006


Jul 02, 2013 08:35 pm

My cables originally were setup for biamping and are Speakon NL4 with 4 wires +1,-1 and +2,-2... Can I use these like this to the Stereo SP2 or do I have to clip the +2, -2 wires??
Hey Rob, also out of curiosity... why would I not run from the EP4000 to the SP2's in parallel to give them both 950W as opposed to just 550W?? i.e. obviously panning is no longer an option, but if I am running in all Mono anyways... is it unsafe??


The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jul 03, 2013 01:31 am

If the DBX is allowing you to sum the left and right to a single output, then do that. That way, you don't have to worry about the added 10 dB boost by "Y"ing it together.

For the cables, nah. Having a four wire going to the internal crossover is no big deal. The Speakon inside is only wired in the 1+, 1-. So, it will ignore the 2+ 2- wires.

Now, parallel does not mean bridge. What parallel does is only use one input to drive both outputs of the amp. So, mono. You don't get any extra power by running in parallel. It's the same amount of power as running stereo. And no, it's not unsafe at all.

www.witchsmark.com
Member
Since: Aug 13, 2006


Jul 03, 2013 08:53 am

I'm sorry Rob, I must have used the wrong phrasing when I said running in Parallel... I meant running in Parallel(or maybe it's in Series) from speaker to speaker... so run from Output 1 on amp in Stereo mode, and into Speaker 1, then 1/4" Speaker cable from Speaker 1 to Speaker 2 making watts from 550W per speaker to 950W per speaker because now running 4OHM instead of 8. So ultimately Output 2 on the AMP isn't being used at all. Is this OK, or unsafe??

I

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jul 03, 2013 01:54 pm

No, that a fine way of doing it, and is totally safe. However, this begs the question of what are you doing with the second channel of the amp?

Are you using the second side for a monitor mix?

www.witchsmark.com
Member
Since: Aug 13, 2006


Jul 03, 2013 02:18 pm

Right now as it stands, nothing. I have (4) yamaha bm12 monitors that I am running from an ep2500 and a qsc850. Seems like a waste of a good channel for something. I still have (2) pv115 and (2) pv118 sitting in the garage, wonder if there's something creative I can do.... Maybe side fills.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jul 03, 2013 11:35 pm

Well, you might be able to run the other subs under the tops. That way you can cover the off axis. It just might be to much low end for a single set of tops.

With the PV15's in combination with the 12's you will get a ton of phasing issues. Not to mention the issues that would arise with the subs as well. It's always better to run matched cabinets for the mains.

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