Amplifier & Passive Speaker

[Oli1549]

I am currently using a very old rubbish amp for hifi speakers, i was wondering if i was to buy a EP4000, a 4000w behringer amp for 2 speakers, if it would be able to run the 4 small speakers, pretty sure they are less than 200w each but as it is only a 2 speaker compatible, could you have 2 speakers on the special outputs and 2 on the hifi wire?

 

And in future would a 4000w amp be good to power 2x 1000w speakers?

 

Thanks.

[mariushm]

That Behringer EP4000 has the following specs:

 

• Power at 4 ohm: 2 x 950 W
• Power at 8 ohm: 2 x 550 W
• Power at 2 ohm: 2 x 1250 W
• Bridge mode 1 x 4000 W at 4 ohm, 1 x 2800 W at 8 oh

 

So the amp can do up to 8 ohms per channel. You can put two speakers in series on each channel as long as the impedance of the speakers in series added up does not exceed 8 ohms.

So for example, if you have 2 ohm or 4 ohm speakers, then you can put two in series on each channel and the amplifier will be happy.

If your speakers have 8 ohm impedance, then you can't, you will have to connect just one speaker on each amplifier output.

 

Like the note above says, yes the amplifier could produce up to 1250w with 2 ohm speakers, or 950w with 4 ohm speakers. If your 1000w speakers are 8 ohm, then no, the amplifier can only produce up to 550 watts.

 

[johnt]

It's unlikely you will ever use that much power from your amp. Realistically, it will start distorting before you reach even half. 

 

My recommendation is to connect them in parallel. That way you won't have to worry about the overall resistance as much. And your amp will add more juice (current in amps) to power your speakers.

[spwath]

1 hour ago, mariushm said:

That Behringer EP4000 has the following specs:

 

• Power at 4 ohm: 2 x 950 W
• Power at 8 ohm: 2 x 550 W
• Power at 2 ohm: 2 x 1250 W
• Bridge mode 1 x 4000 W at 4 ohm, 1 x 2800 W at 8 oh

 

So the amp can do up to 8 ohms per channel. You can put two speakers in series on each channel as long as the impedance of the speakers in series added up does not exceed 8 ohms.

So for example, if you have 2 ohm or 4 ohm speakers, then you can put two in series on each channel and the amplifier will be happy.

If your speakers have 8 ohm impedance, then you can't, you will have to connect just one speaker on each amplifier output.

 

Like the note above says, yes the amplifier could produce up to 1250w with 2 ohm speakers, or 950w with 4 ohm speakers. If your 1000w speakers are 8 ohm, then no, the amplifier can only produce up to 550 watts.

 

No. You can go above 8 ohms safely, going below the 2 is where things go bad.

[spwath]

20 minutes ago, JohnT said:

It's unlikely you will ever use that much power from your amp. Realistically, it will start distorting before you reach even half. 

 

My recommendation is to connect them in parallel. That way you won't have to worry about the overall resistance as much. And your amp will add more juice (current in amps) to power your speakers.

As long as 1/(1/r+1/r) is 2 or greater...

[Oli1549]

@spwath

@JohnT

@mariushm

Im a complete n00b when it comes to anything about sound, all im running at the moment is some 80s stereo system hooked on HIFI to 4 shitty speakers.

 

Speaking in lamens terms, what does connecting them parallel mean? 

Im also wondering what you call the main output for the speakers that lock? what is the name for that connection?

i also see that a 1000w passive speaker i was looking to buy has too inputs on the back? or is that a input and output?,will i need two inputs going to it or what?

 

and i assume if i ran two speakers off the funny locking connector then the other two off the hifi adapters 1+2?

 

If im talking shite please correct me, im just looking to confirm that the EP4000 will be good for 4 speakers, once i know that and how to do it im fairly good at figuiring it out from there. I have mixers and things already.

 

Thanks.

[Oli1549]

Speaker im looking at: https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Behringer-Eurolive-VP1520-15-Passive-PA-Speaker/L9F

[spwath]

What is the goal for this system?

You seem to be only looking at high power pa gear.

[Oli1549]

3 minutes ago, spwath said:

What is the goal for this system?

You seem to be only looking at high power pa gear.

I mean, i would prefer Not to upgrade, although it is only going in a bedroom, bit of a music guy though so like the quality/volume, what would you’re recommendation be? 

 

[Oli1549]

8 hours ago, spwath said:

What is the goal for this system?

You seem to be only looking at high power pa gear.

After some research, putting selection of Amps/Speakers aside, Could i connect Speaker A to one speakon connection, and Speaker B to the second speakon connection. Then daisy chain off Speaker A and Speaker B to get a total of 4 speakers providing the amp has enough wattage?

[Dackzy]

15 hours ago, Oli1549 said:

I mean, i would prefer Not to upgrade, although it is only going in a bedroom, bit of a music guy though so like the quality/volume, what would you’re recommendation be? 

 

PA is only good for people that need to play up like a football field area in size. PA absolutely sucks for home listening, since the gear isn't made for that, so it sounds like crap if you stand too close, put it in a normal sized room or listen to it at "low" volumes, plus the focus of these is not to be very detailed or remotely accurate, the goal of these is to be loud as hell.

Plus it is not like normal bookshelf speakers can't play loud. Not that I would recommend going above 80dB, but 100dB is not really a problem as long as the speakers are decent and the amp is decent. Also I would recommend getting an amp that tops out at the speakers maximum or just a tad below, that way you shouldn't be able to blow your speakers. 

Also the speakers you linked are made to maximum run at 250w continuously, but they can handle a short burst of 1000w, meaning the maximum you should be giving them is 250w.

Edited December 21, 2017 by Dackzy

[Oli1549]

9 hours ago, Dackzy said:

PA is only good for people that need to play up like a football field area in size. PA absolutely sucks for home listening, since the gear isn't made for that, so it sounds like crap if you stand too close, put it in a normal sized room or listen to it at "low" volumes, plus the focus of these is not to be very detailed or remotely accurate, the goal of these is to be loud as hell.

Plus it is not like normal bookshelf speakers can't play loud. Not that I would recommend going above 80dB, but 100dB is not really a problem as long as the speakers are decent and the amp is decent. Also I would recommend getting an amp that tops out at the speakers maximum or just a tad below, that way you shouldn't be able to blow your speakers. 

Also the speakers you linked are made to maximum run at 250w continuously, but they can handle a short burst of 1000w, meaning the maximum you should be giving them is 250w.

So what would you reccommend for a powerfull system, im currently running two 400w 16" speakers and two old shart 25w speakers and the quality, bass, is absolutely perfect for what i want, and when i want to take somewhere for a "do" it is capable to do that too...

 

[Dackzy]

4 hours ago, Oli1549 said:

So what would you reccommend for a powerfull system, im currently running two 400w 16" speakers and two old shart 25w speakers and the quality, bass, is absolutely perfect for what i want, and when i want to take somewhere for a "do" it is capable to do that too...

 

so you have that in your bedroom? I would TBH recommend getting a nice set of bookshelf speakers and then make a dayton ultimax 18, but that will go above 300£. That would give you super well controlled bass that goes very deep and good mids and highs. 

For bookshelf speakers dynaudio, castle  and Monitor audio all make some pretty good affordable speakers. So that is place to start. Ofc floorstanders are also an option.

 

PA only sound good at like a party in a big room (like a indoors hall) or at a festival, which is what they are made for.

[Oli1549]

1 hour ago, Dackzy said:

so you have that in your bedroom? I would TBH recommend getting a nice set of bookshelf speakers and then make a dayton ultimax 18, but that will go above 300£. That would give you super well controlled bass that goes very deep and good mids and highs. 

For bookshelf speakers dynaudio, castle  and Monitor audio all make some pretty good affordable speakers. So that is place to start. Ofc floorstanders are also an option.

 

PA only sound good at like a party in a big room (like a indoors hall) or at a festival, which is what they are made for.

But surely modern day PA Speakers would sound better low volume than my current Pa speakers from the 80s on low volume??

[spwath]

42 minutes ago, Oli1549 said:

But surely modern day PA Speakers would sound better low volume than my current Pa speakers from the 80s on low volume??

Maybe, but you could get something else much better, namely, not pa gear.

[Dackzy]

8 hours ago, Oli1549 said:

But surely modern day PA Speakers would sound better low volume than my current Pa speakers from the 80s on low volume??

I haven't heard old 80's PA, but I have heard a ton of expensive modern PA gear at low volumes and even ones that cost 1k or even 1.5k per speaker doesn't sound good at low volumes or good in a room that is smaller than a indoors hall.

[spwath]

8 hours ago, Dackzy said:

I haven't heard old 80's PA, but I have heard a ton of expensive modern PA gear at low volumes and even ones that cost 1k or even 1.5k per speaker doesn't sound good at low volumes or good in a room that is smaller than a indoors hall.

Certain pa gear can be good, mostly older jbl and altec stuff though.

The stuff the op linked will just sound not good.

[Dackzy]

51 minutes ago, spwath said:

Certain pa gear can be good, mostly older jbl and altec stuff though.

The stuff the op linked will just sound not good.

hmmm I have heard decent old JBL studio monitors. What is one of the good old PA?

[Oli1549]

16 hours ago, spwath said:

Maybe, but you could get something else much better, namely, not pa gear.

What would you recommend? would be looking for something fairly big, what name/title/category should i be searching for the sort of speakers i should be looking at? makes/brands?

 

[Oli1549]

I also think that you may not realise that i usually have my music fairlyyyyy loud and bassy, if im moving about the house i like to hear it in all rooms, so its usually fairly loud in the bedroom but dissapaits as it goes around the house...?

[spwath]

3 hours ago, Dackzy said:

hmmm I have heard decent old JBL studio monitors. What is one of the good old PA?

Altec voice of the theater stuff is pretty good. Jbl stuff, some of the weirder stuff is good, weird horns and such. And there are some good drivers.

 

2 hours ago, Oli1549 said:

What would you recommend? would be looking for something fairly big, what name/title/category should i be searching for the sort of speakers i should be looking at? makes/brands?

 

Normal home theater or just speakers. Can get nice floor standing things.