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Topic: Safe speaker wattage |
Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 19 Apr 2018 2:03 pm |
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I have a Ashdown bass mini amp with an output rating of 400 watts rms and a peak rating of 640 watts.
I want to use it to power a 12", 8 ohm bass speaker that will be mounted in a closed cabinet 12" x 24" x24". This cabinet can be a open back if needed.
What is a safe wattage for a bass speaker that I should consider. I have no intention of running the amp "wide open".
Thanks for any suggestions. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 19 Apr 2018 3:23 pm
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Bass guitar requires a lot of balls, and 400 watts into a single 12" is kinda overkill. Still, if you run the rig at reasonable volumes, any good 200w RMS bass speaker should be okay. But...
Don't even consider an open back cab for bass with this much wattage and only a 12" speaker!
All IMHO, of course. |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 20 Apr 2018 12:06 am Re: Safe speaker wattage
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| Tom Campbell wrote: |
I have a Ashdown bass mini amp with an output rating of 400 watts rms and a peak rating of 640 watts.
I want to use it to power a 12", 8 ohm bass speaker that will be mounted in a closed cabinet 12" x 24" x24". This cabinet can be a open back if needed.
What is a safe wattage for a bass speaker that I should consider. I have no intention of running the amp "wide open".
Thanks for any suggestions. |
There are bass 12's that will handle 400 watts RMS.
May as well get something made to do what you are asking 1x12 to do with such a huge power amp.
Too much power is what kills speakers.
If you're making your own cabinet will the cabinet be the right Thiele_Small parameters (volume) to allow the speaker to do what you are expecting with said amp? Or, will the speaker be the right model for an existing cabinet's volume?
The amp/speaker/cabinet work together. Speaker has to be matched to the cabinet-volume (internal size of cabinet) requirements of the speaker.
Putting a speaker in the wrong cabinet hampers the speaker's performance. The right speaker in the right cabinet makes efficient use of an amp's wattage.
Open back? You're playing guitar or psg through this ultimately?
As mentioned, for bass an open back is useless because the front wave will cancel out low frequencies when it meets the rear wave.
But will work fine for guitar as does a combo amp like a Twin.
It's not just the watt capability it's also the cabinet and the specific speaker model that will live in any particular sized cabinet. Then you have to consider a sealed or vented cabinet and also match a speaker than can do one or both.
Usually if sealed it may be a different cabinet volume vs vented.
Reason there are speaker/cabinet specs given for each speaker made if the manufacturer knows what they are doing.
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 20 Apr 2018 12:10 pm
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Why have you not called Ashdown support?
All you can get here are opinions - some maybe "qualified", some - who knows?
A question like that is one for the amp manufacturer to answer.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 20 Apr 2018 3:37 pm
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| Jim Sliff wrote: |
| Why have you not called Ashdown support? |
My thoughts as well.
I think the OP is wanting a versatile speaker cabinet, hence the "open back if needed."
EMINENCE KAPPA-12A
Will handle 450 watts RMS.
fs:45hz
8 ohms
Needs a 2 cubic foot vented cab.
12"x24"x24"= 4 cubic feet.
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 20 Apr 2018 7:08 pm
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Godfrey
That looks like what I am looking for. I went to US Speaker website and looked at the specs. I think it will do the job...and it's priced right.
Thanks for the info. |
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