First And foremost, I really want to express my gratitude to you for postings these extremely informative and detailed videos. I applaud your ability to explain what can often be perceived as a very intimidating subject/topic to many in a simple, precise & concise manner ! Thank you ! 🙏😎
EXCELLENT. I spent my whole life not knowing all this. You have just put it all into INSTANT UNDERSTANDABLE CONTEXT IN JUST 20 MINUTES! Thank you so much!
Others tutorial explain like they thought everyone are already smarter enough to understand this topic. This tutorial explained very carefully for beginners like me, thank you for making my life easy.
I spent hours trying to find information for my audio set up and this covers it perfectly. All the information I need was presented clearly and answered all of my questions perfectly. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much sir please I have two speakers with 600watt each and 8hm each please sir what kind like the capacity of amplifier can use for this speakers
This man deserved the best award ever,God bless u ,at last i have come to understand what i have been searching for since i have been in this music industry without knowing how speakers connections works with power Amps, God bless you once again and lot of greetings from Germany to your lovely family .
@@GLBProductions Your welcome sir ,please sir i have one more question to ask, can i use 2400watt skytec amplifier with 4ohm and connect with speakers with 8ohm is it possible or does it has disadvantage ????
This video makes more sense then any of the manufacturer’s own information. The manufacturer websites don’t even explain this topic to such a high degree. More amplifiers and speakers will be saved from an untimely death thanks to this video!
Sadly, they won't be saved, but if you follow it, this is the best info I have seen so far. CONSTANTLY monitor your levels!!! I have been in the industry for over 40 years..... the horror stories I could tell you..... P.S. dj's are the worst!!! 😆
So far I've seen people saying that amp power should be less than speaker power because speakers only "drain" as much power as amp can provide. So for example if speaker is rated at 150 watts I would need amp that can provide maximum of 150 watts to avoide damage so I don't know if that is true, and thanks for the video :)
+Filip It's important to understand that speakers do not 'drain' power in a proactive way - they are simply a magnet and a coil of wire that respond to whatever voltage is presented to them. You could use a 1 watt amp and still get a lot of sound out of modern speaker cabinets! The reason that we recommend an amplifier that is rated at more than the speaker's RMS rating is because music is not a steady state signal - it has peaks and dips and as such we need to make allowances for this dynamic range.
I build custom speaker enclosures with emphasis on performance so it's critical to me that my components will perform optimally in my enclosures, therefore I have a minimum requirement of 100db in my low and mid drivers. A lot of people don't realise what a difference that it can make if you don't maintain efficiency standards. Example: if I use a driver that has 97db efficiency, that doesn't seem like much difference than 100db; but in fact it will take a 1000 watt amp to achieve the same output level as a 500 watt amp if you use the more efficient (100db) component. The difference in price between a 1000 watt amp and a 500 watt amp is considerable so it is highly critical to use the most efficient speakers that you can get; you'll save money on amps later.
Also if you stack two bass cabinets you'll get a free 3db extra in efficiency. Low mass drivers and a big volume for the bass cabinets also with low mass long throw drivers and max vas (equivalent volume, low suspension). And offcourse ribbon tweeters for the tops, niceee. And a middriver in the tops for snappy percussion. A 12'' or 15'' driver is not necessarilly 'bad' in mids it's just that percussion doesn't pop out properly. You can talk about ohms and watts all day and it does matter but what you want is large bass cabinets and good sounding hi-eff tops. What you don't want is those high mass car type subwoofer speakers I've tried that. I also don't believe in 'tricks' to get more bass like bassreflex or bandpass they all have their problems the tradeoff is not worth it, sealed all the way.
@@TimpBizkit yeah but designing a bass reflexx cabinet you also have to get a speaker that more stiff and heavy so at the same time it works against efficiency. I guess you might view speakers as 'entertainment devices' so in that sense bass reflexx is not that bad. It all get's a bit 'difficult' or 'subjective' with this kind of thing. There's also the cooling thing so when the fs is around 50hz you might think that's the not efficient part of the spectrum but actually the speaker has to do very little work in that area and get's lots of cooling so.. It all get's quite complicated the mix between entertainment devices and all kind of technical considerations. I guess in general any use of 'tricks' like bass reflex or bandpass makes the system more compact so you have to lug less wood around and store it somewhere. I had an outdoor party lately and the 4 18'' bass cabinets really had trouble filling it with any kind of bass. At some point there was quite a bit of heat coming from the speakers and I had to tune the limiter down. I hope it didn't damage the magnets I guess that's a case of not enough rig for the gig. And that's another factor how hot does it get inside that box I assumed it was 'ambient' but there just might be a problem with heat buildup. One advantage of bassreflex is that it has that ventilation to the outside world.
I don't know if 'lower' is 'less efficient' so to speak there's a bit of a difference between the lower bass (below 40) and the upper bass, the upper base has to be loud 'preferably' whilst the lower base just has to be audible when the lower bass like 30hz is audible that's enough, at least that's my experience the lower bass just has to be 'there' it doesn't matter much how loud it is. So you can crank up 30 hz 10 decibels it doesn't make much difference when it's audible it's audible when it comes to higher bass it's different. So you have to design a speaker to match those requirements.
I really enjoyed your nuts and bolts approach to the subject. I always walk away knowing much more than when I started. i have a lot to learn so keep 'um comin'. JimE
Hello! i have these specifications for speakers: 1. 250 watts noise. This means that the speaker can handle 250 watts of power when producing a noise test signal over a long period of time. 2. 500 watts program. This tells you that the speaker can handle 500 watts when producing a “program” test signal, a signal which more closely resembles music. 3. 1000 watts maximum (peak). This is the maximum amount of power that the speaker can accept instantaneously (for a fraction of a second) without damage. 4. impedance 8 ohm when I choose the amplifier, what power should I look at, noise or program? is a 2x300W / 8 ohm amplifier enough? Thank you !
Hi Malinvis! I recommend that you use program. 300 watts into 8 ohms per channel should be plenty for this setup, although the ideal would be 500 watts into 8 ohms.
YOUR DETAILS IS VERY INFORMATING INDEED. THE QUESTION STILL ARISES , HOW CAN I FIND OUT THE MAX POWER HANDLING CAPACITY OF A BOXED LOUDSPEAKERS, BOTH IN RMS AND PEAK. I HAVE A STEREO AMP OF 160 WATTS RMS INTO 8 OHMS LOAD.
That information is usually found on the manufacturer's label on the back of the loudspeaker. Otherwise it will be found in the loudspeaker's spec sheet/user manual.
Better late than never: Thanks for a very detailed and useful description of amps and inactive loudspeakers. Though I think that I miss one explanation, and that is how to connect 4 loudspeakers to an 2 channel amp. The amp is a Crown XLI3500 and the loudspeakers are a new Danish brand called Vestlyd 15". Output on the amp is the same as in the video but the speakers only have one speakon input and one binding post connector. So how would you recommend to connect 4 speakers to this amp. Once again thanks a lot for your great videos.
Hi there Michael! In your case, there is no way to daisy-chain your loudspeakers by using conventional speaker cables, so you will need to make up some custom speaker cables that are binding post compatible on one end and speakon on the other. This will allow you to connect each amp channel thus: amplifier -> first speaker (using standard speakon cable) and then first speaker -> second speaker using the custom cable.
If I am using a qsc ex4000 power amplifier to play four 1200watt bumpers speakers and its clipping at 12oclock,could bridge it to get more wattage on it would av no problem
Bridging the amp won't necessarily solve the clipping problem - first check that the amp is correctly matched to the speakers and that you have the right type of speakers for the application.
Thanks for all this explanation, I still cannot get my head around why Hifi manufactures spec their power amps with so little power. I know now that D class amps are the answer to avoid clipping even for home use. Many thanks.
It's a totally different market :) Hifi amps typically power 2-4 loudspeakers for an audience of less than 10 people. Pro audio amps need to power large systems that may be used for audiences in excess of 100,000 people. So the requirements are very different. Having said that there's nothing stopping you from using a pro audio amp in your home hifi setup, just be sure to match the levels correctly ;)
Sure, I was referring to the extortionate prices people pay for a Hifi amp, let's say, £40000, with just 300 watts, just because they think hi end has a superior sound against PA amps; Crown, Behringer, they cannot get in their heads that D class amps do sound as good, specs don't tell you otherwise and price is a tenth. They just don't have the looks and the snake oil marketing foolery. Thanks so much for the reply, much appreciated.
Thank you. But at minute 19:00you said if you clip a properly rated amp could damage the speaker, how can a PROPERLY RATED amp get clipped? Im just learning.. thank yu for answering this question :)
You're welcome Terry. An amplifier can clip at several points along its signal path - in particular, too high of an input signal can clip the input stage of the amplifier, resulting a distorted signal being sent to the rest of the circuit. This will happen regardless of the speaker that the amplifier is matched to. This is why it's so important to listen for distortion in your system, as well as to monitor the input indicators on the front panel.
Excellent explanation of amp vs speaker specs. Wish I would have found this before a recent power amp purchase as what I bought is slightly under powered but was twice as much wattage as we had before for our monitors so we are better off. I'll just have to watch the clipping light. Thanks for posting this. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain stuff like this to dolts like me :-).
+John Burgett You're welcome, thanks for watching! At the end of the day as long as an amp/speaker combination is loud enough for its intended use and there is no distortion or clipping the exact numbers do not really matter - you could use a 1 watt amplifier and still get decent level out of many modern loudspeakers! The key is having enough headroom to handle the peaks. Feel free to get in touch any time you have questions.
I forgot to explain that one amp in bridge mode we'll run the left Channel feeding 2 Tower speakers and then the same for the right side thanks again for your responses
Wish this had been out about a year and a half ago when I was tasked with purchasing new speaker for our church's sanctuary. It basically covered and confirms what I thought I knew for the most part. But could you expand upon load balancing speakers in a future video? I'm referring to multiple speakers from a single amp in mono mode, and especially a three 8 ohm speaker setup that so many churches use at the front of house.
+cee128d Glad the video was helpful. My previous video on connecting loudspeakers to amplifiers discussing this topic in greater detail. When you say multiple speakers from a single amp in mono do you mean bridge mono? And when you say three 8-ohms speaker setup are you referring to a three speaker cluster at the front, all driven by a single amplifier?
+GLB Productions Not using bridge as the second channel of the amp is used for the monitors. And yes, a classic three speaker cluster front and center above the pulpit. The speakers are Peavey SS10 Sanctuary Series and the amp is a Peavey PV 1200 with a Mackie CFX 20 Mk II (USA built I believe). I found that other video this morning and watched it. The only question I have is the way the three speakers would be connected. We split them off from a single cable which means they are in parallel correct? That should equal 2 ohms. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm more of a computer guy than a sound reinforcement guy. Your videos have been a great help in that area as I was doing a lot of learning on the fly. Small church in a small town doesn't provide a lot of personal resources to fall back on and my somewhat limited experience in using Kustom PA's back in the '70s kinda put me at the top of the list as the go to guy.
+cee128d Ah one of those, a classic Peavey installation! If they are each 8 ohms and connected in parallel then the total impedance will be 2.67 ohms. Really glad the videos have been helpful, feel free to get in touch any time you have questions :)
Great video for matching the pair for maximum performance. However in some applications, a much smaller amplifier is just fine. For example, a DJ doing club dance will want the thump. A smaller requirement would be a wedding ceremony. Take the same speakers for good coverage and fidelity, but an event such as a wedding is fine with a 50 to 100 Watts /ch. This is useful in older buildings with limited power, outdoor ceremonies with long extension cord use, or events using a small whisper quiet generator such as a beach ceremony. If you use a power meter at several events, you can get an idea of the venue power requirements. Excess SPL is to be avoided for sound reinforcement and reception events.
At the same time, remember that extra power is always useful to handle transients and give additional headroom to the system. This is necessary as live music is a very dynamic form of program material. Some manufacturers will even specify an amplifier that can provide 3dB of headroom over the speakers' PEAK power rating! Extra power does not have to translate into excessive volume :)
@@GLBProductions Absolutely true. Remember the gain structure of the mixer. The +4dbV is about 1.2Volts RMS or about 1.7V peak to peak. Due to the power supply on the mixers the mixer hard limits are between 10 to 12V peaks or a hard limit of about 12-14db above the +4dbV output. A ceremony running 1 watt RMS can only be driven about 12db higher before the board clips. Therefore peak is doubling the power 4 times. Board at +4dbV has up to 14 db headroom. The amp running 1 watt taking a +14db peak scales as follows up to board clipping. +3db 2 watts, +6db 4 watts, +9db 8 watts, +12db 16 watts, +15db is only 32 watts. Any amp more then 50 Watts/ch RMS will handle anything the sound board can throw at it. If your ceremony is running program at 10 Watts, then yes you want a 600 Watt/ch amp and I'm looking for hearing protection. Church I grew up in had an organ amp of 60 Watts. This was a traditional church with no band, a choir, piano, organ, and sound reinforcement for the preacher and elders. Main amp was 30 watts mono. It is plenty of power for a church wedding ceremony.
@@GLBProductions Thank you very much for your reply. Just wonder if you can tell me because we have an Allen and heath fx12 mixer. We wanted to connect an equalizer to it but we don't know which input to puck it to the mixer. Can you show me. Thank you very much.
@@GLBProductions Thank you for your answer. Can you tell me which hole to plug in. Is it output from EQ to aux in mixer? Or is it input from EQ to line in mixer? And is it input or output from EQ to amp? Sorry we don't know much of this. Thank you so much.
Hi, my speaker specification indicates: Maximum power: 650W Impedance: 8ohms What is the amplifier rating that i should get. Thank you very much! Your video, all of them are very informative and well detailed.
'Maximum power' is not an industry standard term - you need to find out the RMS power rating of the loudspeaker. Alternatively, write to the company and ask them what is the recommended power for this model of loudspeaker.
some odd spk manufactures somehow fail to specify exactly the Continous-RMS values of their spk. the 'maximum power' seems to be an 'advisory' of upper-limit permissible amp rating to power those spk.
Advice please... What's better 2, 8 ohm speakers running in parallel output of 450watts or 1 8 ohm speaker on each stereo channel running at 300 Watts per side, the mixer is the Mackie ppm808s? Speakers are Yamaha s115v' s. The first way would free up a channel so I could run monitors instead of buying a separate amp.
Great question Elias! The key here is whether you need stereo in your main speakers - if you don't need stereo then by all means use the left amp to power both main speakers and the right amp to power your stage monitors. In live sound, especially for smaller systems, stereo is typically not needed.
thanks for responding back ,so the rule of thumb is in matching speakers to amplifiers is twice the RMS output wattage of the amp to the rated RMS for the speaker with matching ohms? so in my case I want to use 2 crown xti 4000 amps in bridge mode which is rated at 3200 Watts at 4 ohms, so if I hook two identical 8 ohm rated tower speakers up in parallel can I assume that each speaker will be fed half the wattage of the amp output @ 1600 Watts per speaker? each speaker is rated at 8 ohms 1000 RMS 2000 Peak thanks again for all your professional answers
Hi @GLB Productions, great videos as usual. I need to determine what amp will be ideally suited for my six speaker setup at this particular church. The specs are as follows; 1. 150 Watts Continuous power 2. 8 ohms Impedance Your expert advise is much appreciated
Great explanation of power ratings. I don't understand why the use peak all the time. Men's ego. Lol. I wished companies show the actual specs on speakers. What about using 4 ohm speakers. I use 2 15's in a cabinet with a horn. So if each speaker handles 500 W rms then I need a amp with at least 1000w rms at 4 ohm. How do I factor in the power for the compression driver horn? This is a pro driver and I think it handles either 250 or 350 at 8 ohms. Yes I rebuild my own. I have one tweeter that is rated at 500 rms. I think it's jbl. It's hard finding high rated power amps. Thank you. I like that you clearly explain everything and with diagrams.
Thanks for watching :) When you use an amplifier to power a multi-driver cabinet you need to calculate the impedance based on the crossover and not on the individual drivers, because that is what the amplifier 'sees'. The alternative is to biamp the cabinet (one amp channel for the woofers, one for the compression driver) and use an external, active crossover. High powered amps should not be that difficult to find if you go to a professional PA supplier - you probably won't find them at guitar centre though ;)
I have a Powered Mixer capable of powering 2 Passive speakers with 100W RMS at 4 ohms per channel (each of its 2 outputs). What would be the highest rated speakers I should use?
Any speaker which has a power handling of more than 50 watts into 8 ohms (roughly) can be used. There is no upper limit really. The aim of the video is to show you what the best match would be.
Thanks for the informative explanation sir, can you possibly lump up this video together with wiring requirements for compatibility and synchronicity issues?
Unfortunately, it was my first time to come across your info-video, thanks for the reply, the other videos you have on youtube explained most of the questions I have in mind.
At 8:10 you mentioned that if you run 2 loudspeakers off each channel of the 2500 model, each one would get 387,5 watts. Could you explain the maths behind this?
Sure: Two 8-ohm loudspeakers present a combined load of 4 ohms (in live sound individual loudspeakers cabinets are always connected in parallel). The amplifier delivers 775 watts into 4 ohms per channel (see the 4-ohm dual column). Each speaker receives half of this power, ie 387.5 watts. Hope that helps!
+BACON IZ GUD4ME In general you should use the heaviest gauge speaker cable that will fit in the connector and the shortest cable run practical. For live sound I recommend 14-16 gauge loudspeaker cable.
my amp is a pro sound 1000, delivers 250 watts into 8 ohms per channel, and with two more speakers 500 watts into 4 ohms per channel total output of 1000 watts rms the output of the amp ranges 4 to 8 ohms
If i have multiple speakers on one channel, should the amp be capable to deliver the power needed for all the speakers on that particular channel combined?
That is something that you will need to calculate for your specific amplifier/loudspeaker combination. You will also need to work out if the amp can handle the combined impedance of the speakers you intend to connect.
@@GLBProductions about the impedance, if i connect the speakers in series, it adds up, if I connect them in parallel, it's the impedance/nr of speakers. Like, 2 speakers of 8 ohms in parallel would be 8/2=4 ohms I can manage with the impedance. I was just curious if the watts for each channel are divided to all the speakers on the channel Or, fir example, if the amp gives 500 per channel, and I have 3 speakers, would each speaker get 500w, or a fraction of the total power?
Your impedance calculations are correct :) Just remember that in pro audio individual loudspeaker boxes are always connected in parallel - that way if one blows or suffers some kind of open-circuit failure the others boxes on that amp channel will continue to operate. The wattage is divided equally between the loudspeakers *IF* their impedances are identical, so to use your example: three identical loudspeakers connected in parallel to an amplifier channel delivering 500 watts, each loudspeaker will receive 166.66 watts. If the impedances are different your calculations are more complex.
Hi Bruno For church live sound... Is it better to connect a subwoofer via aux send and control it independently, or via the main L/R FOH speakers? And what is the best way to connect the subwoofer and speakers to the mixer and the best way to set these up in a digital mixer? I’ve never had a subwoofer connected before but have watched a few clips now on RUclips saying the sound difference of an additional subwoofer is night and day. I’m planning on buying the Behringer XR18, with a couple of active speakers and an active sub (or two if cheap enough). I’ll also be purchasing in ear monitors for all the band members to avoid floor wedges and i also won’t be buying a bass amp for the bassist ... hence the subwoofer... thought it’d be better to keep the stage clean and have the bass and some of the drum kit come out of the main sub woofer. Thanks.
It can be connected either way - aux fed allows more control but is more confusing for operators. Watch my video on how to connect an active subwoofer for more info on that: ruclips.net/video/548GZAF6fMY/видео.html If you are purchasing for a church, before you buy ANY equipment I strongly recommend that you consult with somebody who can help you develop a plan for your system and give you advice on choosing gear. In ear monitors in particular are FULL of challenges that you need to be aware of before spending any money.
The Bose 901 series VI Speakers impedance is 8 ohms but did not specify the RMS rating. It only stated that it is compatible with an amplifier or receiver rated from 10 - 450 watts RMS. Rated 250 watts IEC. The speakers comes with the series VI active equalizer. My question is can I use an amplifier with a power output of more than 450 watts RMS @ 8 ohms without damaging the speakers or the amplifier . Thank you very much.
Bose is well known for not giving complete specifications on many of its products - in this case your amplifier is right at the top of the allowable power range so you should be ok. Be very sure to follow the instructions on connecting the active EQ unit - this has to be connected between the signal source and the amplifier, NOT between the amplifier and the speakers. If you are in any doubts give Bose a call and talk through your precise setup - they generally have very good customer service.
Love your work, can you do a video in regards to setting the gain level to match the power input of your speakers so to minimize the risk of blowing them up
nice video. Here's a complex question just asking to confirm what i think is correct. (SPEAKING FOR ROUND NUMBERS) A 2 channel amp @ 4000 watts per channel @ 8 ohms, can or can not comfortable run 4- 8 ohm 1000 watt speakers series/parallel per channel. I ask because Im putting together a very large sound system and don't want to waste money on amps nor the repair cost of blowing something up. Thanks
+tom langreder You need to find out the output of the amp into 2 ohms (the total load of four 8-ohm loudspeakers) and also whether the amp is capable of running both channels into a 2 ohm load. Many amp manufacturers claim that this is possible but I personally do not recommend it as it often generates a lot of heat which can cause other issues.
Brunno, Thanks for your selfless service and prompt responses. I have 4 speakers ( all rates 500W) and existing Power Amp of 500W/channel. I don't want to bridge or run parallel. I have bought an Additional Power Amp of 500W/channel. Your video on matching power amp and passive speakers is not completely addressing this type of issue. Kindly advise.
In this case you would connect one speaker to each channel of your power amplifiers - you have a total of four amp channels so that works out fine. You then need to figure out how to get the signal to each amp channel, either by daisy-chaining or by using additional outputs on your mixer.
GLB Productions some of speaker products here is not indicate the RMS rating. only the peak wattage, ,example 1000watts peak, How do i determine the Rms of this 1000watts peak?
micha sy RMS power is generally one quarter of peak power, but be very careful with products that do not state RMS power handling - they could just be pulling any number out of the air and slapping it on the product. Look for a proper data sheet that also lists things like sensitivity and recommended amplifier power. This is why it's so important to use name-brand loudspeakers that are recognised and sold internationally.
what if it has not have any datasheet? example crown speakers only the peak wattage is given ..i have read a article, while rating is 400wRMS, Program Rating is 800w and Peak Rating is 1600w. ,, can we apply this to the other brand of speakers?
Hey I just saw some yamaha amplifiers to power my loudspeakers...on the specs sheet it says that it delivers 2×500 watts at 8 ohms in stereo does that mean that each channel delivers 500 watts or that both channels combined gives 500 watts?
Hi concerning the yamaha amp the output is different on 20hz-20khz and 1khz how do I set the amp then cause the wattage output power will be different..
Great video, great instruction and here is the situation I'm bump into. My cousin gave me a pair of Infinity Kappa 8 4 ways speakers, built back in 1989 and here is a spec.Nominal Impedance: 4 to 6 ohms Power Rating: 50-250 watts RMSEfficiency: 89 dB @1 watt, 1 meter Crossover Frequencies: 80Hz, 800Hz, 4500HzFrequency Response: 33Hz-45kHz +/-3dBand what amp should I get to run these speakers as well as brand or anyone? pls. Thanks
+Jay Bui That's a rather interesting spec :) A quick google search tells me that infinity is still around, so my first step would be to contact them - as the loudspeaker manufacturer they would be able to give you the best advice on which amplifier to use.
+GLB Productions thanks for a quick replied. I read the spec on this Yamaha DSP-A1: usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/hifi-components/amps/dsp-a1_black__u/ and saw it included 8/6/4/2 ohm, do you think I might be able to use this amp run these speaker?
drat! Now I have to check out my NS-10's and my little Tannoys (which have no impedance ratings or model number on them.. My old Crown amp is still in hiding so its specs are a mystery until I find the amp or crank up my memory. I wonder where that old Mackie miser is too.
If your existing setup is working fine I wouldn't worry about it - this video is directly more at those who are assembling a new system and need maximum volume from their speaker/amp combination.
+David E. Nieves Torres Hello David thanks for getting in touch. Unfortunately price variations around the world make it difficult for me to advise you but in the budget range I am currently recommending the Allen and Heath ZED series mixers and speakers such as the JBL EONs, QSC K series and FBT ProMaxx series.
I have a question on this one, so if my power amplifiers are good enough for the loudspeakers, the question is "do I turn the adjust volume know of the amplifier all the way up? or I should put it 12 o'clock. Thank You for sharing!
Yes this is a very common question - assuming your mixer is connected directly to your speakers and gain structure on your mixer is correct, set the mixer volume such that it is appropriate for your venue. In other words, the amp volume acts as the overall volume control for your sound system.
I have a Cerwin Vega SUB15 500 watts peak 1000 sensitivity 4 ohms and a RockvilleRSG 12.4 500 watts rms 750 program peak 1000 . The first cabinet is a sub and the second cabinet is for mid and highs.
Extremely easy to understand. Good video. I can keep watching this video again and again. 1 question though. What if I have 2 speakers operated in different rated of impedance and I want to daisy chain those speakers? 1 subwoofer rated at 4ohm and 1 loudspeaker rated at 8ohm. It gives me total of 2.666ohm. On the amp manual, only show 4ohm and 8ohm specification only. Does it mean i can't connect like that? Thank you.
Oh i see. I'm using powered mixer pmp4000 behringer. Btw, those setting i asked earlier was taken from the mixer's manual in wiring example section. I'm confused thats why asked. Thanks.
Ok if you look on the back panel of your mixer above the speakon outputs you'll see that it says 4-8 ohm loads in 2-channel mode, so the above set up is not possible :)
thanks I'm learn in your vedio sir, i have a question in talking of amplifier,what if I have a 5 amplifier two channel per amplifier, then I will make in stereo work,how to connect,or what is the connection,1st amplifier to 2nd amplifier to 3rd amplifier to 4th amplifier 5th amplifier,input by input? its possible or not in stereo? if not what should we need?
Hi Bruno, please let me know. I have already got the following- Pair of 15w full range 4 inch speakers. 8ohms. Pair of 40w 4 inch woofer speakers. 8ohms. Pair of 15w tweeters. 8ohms. Pair of 30w ribbon tweeters. 8ohms. Pair of 300w crossover modules. 210w x 210w amp. 4 ~ 8 ohms. Wiring plan: The 2 tweeters parallel to eachother, and 1 woofer, goes through crossover. The full range speaker gets direct parallel line. (On each side). 1) Did I buy correct specification material? All values combine ok? 2) Will that wiring plan work out perfect? Thank you
I'm afraid I'm not a speaker designer so really cannot tell you for sure if these components will work well together. I strongly suggest working from an existing design that tells you exactly what you need and how to put it together - this is not really a time for improvisation.
Plz explain different RMS power and AES power(Continuous Power, Program Power, Peak Power) (RMS value 200w peak400w) But (AES value, Continuous Power 200w,Program power 400w, PeakPower 800w) Please explain sir
Dear Sir, Your video is quite interesting. I am setting up my home 5.1 home theater in my lounge, which is about 22 ft x 15 ft. sitting distance from speaker fronts about 15 feet. not carpeted, not acoustically controlled. I love the Monitor Bronze 6 speakers, rated at 150W at 8 Ohms. I also own a new Pioneer Elite LX 101 rated at 80W also at 8 ohms (2 channels). From your discussion this is not good enough and will cause clipping. The sales team tell me that I would be better off buying an amp rated at 100W also at 8 ohms. But your video suggests that too may not hit the mark and cause clipping. Some other discussions show there is not much difference between 80W and 100W amplifiers plus there is a huge price gap. So, what do you suggest I do ? Should i buy lower speaker model (Bronze 5) rated at 125W for this room size and use my 80W amp, or should I invest in a bigger amp ? If a bigger amp, then what ratings at 8 ohms (2 channel) should I be looking at ? Thank you in advance.
I'd say try the 80 watt amp first and see how it sounds. You're right that there is very little difference in practice between an 80W amp and a 100W amp, assuming the two are rated correctly.
Thanks for your teachings. It's impressive. I have a speaker of 500W into 8ohms & want to use a pair of the speakers into one channel of the amplifier. That is using one amplifier to drive four boxes. Please what's the recommended amplifier for this purpose cos it will be going down to 4ohms per channel. Please I need an answer. Thanks
You're correct in general - the lower impedance speakers (smaller number of ohms) will draw more power from the amplifier, other things being equal. However whether they are louder than another speaker depends on many other things such as sensitivity, distance to audience and the environment in which the speaker is being deployed.
No it does not - speaker efficiency is the dB SPL output of a loudspeaker system when supplied with 1 watt of power, measured at a distance of 1m. It is used when comparing loudspeakers to determine how loud each will play when supplied with a given amount of power, it is not helpful in determining which amplifier is the best match for that loudspeaker.
Hi Bruno!!! I love your very informative videos on sound reinforcement.... I have a question on matching amps and speakers, particularly stage monitors... If you have a stage monitor that is rated at 500 watts RMS, would you need a power amp that's rated 750 - 1000 watts or can you use a power amp that is rated at 400 - 500 watts since you will be using way less than a quarter of the power of the amplifier???
If your stage monitor is rated at 500 watts rms the ideal match is an amplifier of around 1000 watts. Having said that, you can use the smaller amplifier if it produces the level that you need.
Thank you!!! I have been using a 500 watt amp on monitors rated at 500 watts for vocals, and when I turn the volume up... the vocals are way too loud for everyone on the stage I use, I guess on a larger stage I would need a larger amp.
It depends on the impedance of your loudspeakers and the power delivery of your amplifier into that impedance, especially if you are planning to run more than one speaker on each amp channel.
Very good video sir, as always. It cleared up my confusion on power per channel and such. Thank you. By the way, I suggest you put an annotation at 10:02, you say "we're looking for a loudspeaker that delivers 600w per channel into 8 ohms". I think you meant amplifier. Although it is obvious, it may help someone who is watching the video and doesn't know very much about the topic. Otherwise, great video and thanks for posting! Also, while I'm at it, what microphone was used to record this video? I'm asking because I'm not very familiar with dynamic body style condenser mics (like the SM86) or the one I assume was used to record this since you weren't speaking like you would into a dynamic mic.
+John Creek Many thanks for spotting that John, annotation has been added :) The mic used in this particular video was a Beyerdynamic MCE72 - it's a stereo condenser mic which is specifically designed for picking up sounds at a distance, hence why it can be placed off to the side yet still sound good. I also like it because it runs on batteries and has an unbalanced output so I can connect directly to a video camera without the need for a mixer.
+GLB Productions Ah nice. It makes sense now not to have seen you with your trusty Mackie mixer. It's great that you can use the hardware you have to make better videos! Thanks for your quick reply.
sir! i have "ssa300" indain AMP..... my question is " which' inch or wt 'Loud Speakers is best.. for "SSA 300 amp... 500 wt 600.. dual speaker or 12ich .. 15inch speaker ... what type of dual speaker i can use for my "SSA300" amp.. plzzz clear my doubt . hoping for reply.
QSC Amplifier: PWR/Ch. 650 watts @ 4ohms. Speaker: Vintage Pevey 150 watts @ 8ohms. Can I use these two together? I get confused on how the ohms on each component relate to one another.
Your videos are awesome. I need your help today and I m sure that u r the one who can help me with. I have two speakers of 50W, 8 Ohm each. I want to make a woofer so how to wire these both speakers and what type of amplifier ( Power rating) I have to use. pls explain me about it.
ok let me explain u again. I have four coaxial speakers of each 50 Watt and 8 ohm. I need to make an amplifier which suits these speakers, as I want a bass amplifier. and I want to wire these speakers in parralel. as a result it will be 2 ohm and 200 watt. in one channel. is it possible sir. could please help me
Ok I understand now. Your calculations are correct. However you may consider building a 2-channel amp instead, 100 watts per channel, which will allow you to run your system in stereo, 4 ohms left and 4 ohms right.
Thanks for sharing it was very helpful. Now that I know, I feel like I should've figured this out on my own lol. All you gotta do is look it up in the owners manual
I still have question bout ohms, i notice when ohms gets higher it will reduced wattages, so ex: i own already a power amp 1500w into 2ohms and x2 1000w spkr in 8 ohms, if i did parallel it will equal to 4ohms only, and my 2 sub box has their own individual spekon, hope u still notice my question bout ohms differences though this video is long time, thanks!
That's right - you need to work out the power delivery of your amplifier into the intended total combined speaker load, not just one speaker of the type that you intend to use. In other words you have to plan your entire system as a whole.
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First And foremost, I really want to express my gratitude to you for postings these extremely informative and detailed videos. I applaud your ability to explain what can often be perceived as a very intimidating subject/topic to many in a simple, precise & concise manner ! Thank you ! 🙏😎
You're most welcome, and thank you for watching :)
EXCELLENT. I spent my whole life not knowing all this. You have just put it all into INSTANT UNDERSTANDABLE CONTEXT IN JUST 20 MINUTES! Thank you so much!
That's great Paul, very glad the video was helpful!
Others tutorial explain like they thought everyone are already smarter enough to understand this topic. This tutorial explained very carefully for beginners like me, thank you for making my life easy.
You're welcome Adi.
the way you speak is owesome. thats very clear explanation. thanks again.
The best tutorials for everything related to audio engineering. Everything crisp and clear. Thank you.
You're welcome!
Honestly, you are a sound tutor. I have been having a problem with connection and not understanding settings. Thanks a lot sir
You're most welcome!
I spent hours trying to find information for my audio set up and this covers it perfectly. All the information I need was presented clearly and answered all of my questions perfectly. Thank you so much!
You're welcome Nathaniel. Hope your system sounds good!
I have to say you speak, explain, and display everything very clear and well. Two thumbs up from me, thanks for the informative video.
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
I cannot even begin to describe, how useful your videos are, thank you so very much, good sir!
You're most welcome, thanks for watching!
Thank you so much sir please I have two speakers with 600watt each and 8hm each please sir what kind like the capacity of amplifier can use for this speakers
Such a helpful video!!! Well scripted. Clear delivery. Bravo.
Thanks for watching Ryan!
This man deserved the best award ever,God bless u ,at last i have come to understand what i have been searching for since i have been in this music industry without knowing how speakers connections works with power Amps, God bless you once again and lot of greetings from Germany to your lovely family .
That's great Rich, all the best with your music!
@@GLBProductions Your welcome sir ,please sir i have one more question to ask, can i use 2400watt skytec amplifier with 4ohm and connect with speakers with 8ohm is it possible or does it has disadvantage ????
This video makes more sense then any of the manufacturer’s own information. The manufacturer websites don’t even explain this topic to such a high degree. More amplifiers and speakers will be saved from an untimely death thanks to this video!
Thanks my friend, glad the video was helpful. May your speakers have a long and productive life 😄
Sadly, they won't be saved, but if you follow it, this is the best info I have seen so far. CONSTANTLY monitor your levels!!! I have been in the industry for over 40 years..... the horror stories I could tell you..... P.S. dj's are the worst!!! 😆
So far I've seen people saying that amp power should be less than speaker power because speakers only "drain" as much power as amp can provide. So for example if speaker is rated at 150 watts I would need amp that can provide maximum of 150 watts to avoide damage so I don't know if that is true, and thanks for the video :)
+Filip It's important to understand that speakers do not 'drain' power in a proactive way - they are simply a magnet and a coil of wire that respond to whatever voltage is presented to them. You could use a 1 watt amp and still get a lot of sound out of modern speaker cabinets! The reason that we recommend an amplifier that is rated at more than the speaker's RMS rating is because music is not a steady state signal - it has peaks and dips and as such we need to make allowances for this dynamic range.
+GLB Productions Thank you for explanation. Cheers
Filip You're welcome :)
This is brilliant and i shared it as someone was commenting with wrong info so I shared to back up what I was saying.
Oh yes there is all sorts of strange information out there on this topic...
all of Bruno's videos are GOLD! ... thanks Bruno for sharing your knowledge
Very simple and easy to understand explanation and with good examples. Amazing job GLB Productions. Thank You
+Binny NT You're welcome, thanks for watching!
I build custom speaker enclosures with emphasis on performance so it's critical to me that my components will perform optimally in my enclosures, therefore I have a minimum requirement of 100db in my low and mid drivers. A lot of people don't realise what a difference that it can make if you don't maintain efficiency standards. Example: if I use a driver that has 97db efficiency, that doesn't seem like much difference than 100db; but in fact it will take a 1000 watt amp to achieve the same output level as a 500 watt amp if you use the more efficient (100db) component. The difference in price between a 1000 watt amp and a 500 watt amp is considerable so it is highly critical to use the most efficient speakers that you can get; you'll save money on amps later.
Also if you stack two bass cabinets you'll get a free 3db extra in efficiency. Low mass drivers and a big volume for the bass cabinets also with low mass long throw drivers and max vas (equivalent volume, low suspension). And offcourse ribbon tweeters for the tops, niceee. And a middriver in the tops for snappy percussion. A 12'' or 15'' driver is not necessarilly 'bad' in mids it's just that percussion doesn't pop out properly. You can talk about ohms and watts all day and it does matter but what you want is large bass cabinets and good sounding hi-eff tops. What you don't want is those high mass car type subwoofer speakers I've tried that. I also don't believe in 'tricks' to get more bass like bassreflex or bandpass they all have their problems the tradeoff is not worth it, sealed all the way.
@@TimpBizkit yeah but designing a bass reflexx cabinet you also have to get a speaker that more stiff and heavy so at the same time it works against efficiency. I guess you might view speakers as 'entertainment devices' so in that sense bass reflexx is not that bad. It all get's a bit 'difficult' or 'subjective' with this kind of thing. There's also the cooling thing so when the fs is around 50hz you might think that's the not efficient part of the spectrum but actually the speaker has to do very little work in that area and get's lots of cooling so.. It all get's quite complicated the mix between entertainment devices and all kind of technical considerations. I guess in general any use of 'tricks' like bass reflex or bandpass makes the system more compact so you have to lug less wood around and store it somewhere. I had an outdoor party lately and the 4 18'' bass cabinets really had trouble filling it with any kind of bass. At some point there was quite a bit of heat coming from the speakers and I had to tune the limiter down. I hope it didn't damage the magnets I guess that's a case of not enough rig for the gig. And that's another factor how hot does it get inside that box I assumed it was 'ambient' but there just might be a problem with heat buildup. One advantage of bassreflex is that it has that ventilation to the outside world.
I don't know if 'lower' is 'less efficient' so to speak there's a bit of a difference between the lower bass (below 40) and the upper bass, the upper base has to be loud 'preferably' whilst the lower base just has to be audible when the lower bass like 30hz is audible that's enough, at least that's my experience the lower bass just has to be 'there' it doesn't matter much how loud it is. So you can crank up 30 hz 10 decibels it doesn't make much difference when it's audible it's audible when it comes to higher bass it's different. So you have to design a speaker to match those requirements.
Totally top notch explanation... such a good, informative video... searched lots for this information... brilliant, thanks
You're welcome, thanks for watching and commenting :)
I really enjoyed your nuts and bolts approach to the subject. I always walk away knowing much more than when I started. i have a lot to learn so keep 'um comin'. JimE
+Jim E Thanks Jim, always appreciate your support!
Finally..I found the most clear explanation. Thank You..God Bless You....SALAMAT
+Ray Sarael You're most welcome, thanks for watching!
Hello!
i have these specifications for speakers:
1. 250 watts noise. This means that the speaker can handle 250 watts of power when producing a noise test signal over a long period of time.
2. 500 watts program. This tells you that the speaker can handle 500 watts when producing a “program” test signal, a signal which more closely resembles music.
3. 1000 watts maximum (peak). This is the maximum amount of power that the speaker can accept instantaneously (for a fraction of a second) without damage.
4. impedance 8 ohm
when I choose the amplifier, what power should I look at, noise or program?
is a 2x300W / 8 ohm amplifier enough?
Thank you !
Hi Malinvis! I recommend that you use program. 300 watts into 8 ohms per channel should be plenty for this setup, although the ideal would be 500 watts into 8 ohms.
YOUR DETAILS IS VERY INFORMATING INDEED. THE QUESTION STILL ARISES , HOW CAN I FIND OUT THE MAX POWER HANDLING CAPACITY OF A BOXED LOUDSPEAKERS, BOTH IN RMS AND PEAK. I HAVE A STEREO AMP OF 160 WATTS RMS INTO 8 OHMS LOAD.
That information is usually found on the manufacturer's label on the back of the loudspeaker. Otherwise it will be found in the loudspeaker's spec sheet/user manual.
Better late than never: Thanks for a very detailed and useful description of amps and inactive loudspeakers. Though I think that I miss one explanation, and that is how to connect 4 loudspeakers to an 2 channel amp. The amp is a Crown XLI3500 and the loudspeakers are a new Danish brand called Vestlyd 15". Output on the amp is the same as in the video but the speakers only have one speakon input and one binding post connector. So how would you recommend to connect 4 speakers to this amp. Once again thanks a lot for your great videos.
Hi there Michael! In your case, there is no way to daisy-chain your loudspeakers by using conventional speaker cables, so you will need to make up some custom speaker cables that are binding post compatible on one end and speakon on the other. This will allow you to connect each amp channel thus: amplifier -> first speaker (using standard speakon cable) and then first speaker -> second speaker using the custom cable.
If I am using a qsc ex4000 power amplifier to play four 1200watt bumpers speakers and its clipping at 12oclock,could bridge it to get more wattage on it would av no problem
i think you should get 4800w power amp to play four 1200watt
@@tjaynineeight3161 what if a bridge my qsc ex4000 can it work?
Bridging the amp won't necessarily solve the clipping problem - first check that the amp is correctly matched to the speakers and that you have the right type of speakers for the application.
Please can you do a video on how to connect one compressor to the front of house mix and subgroup insert
Have a look at this video: ruclips.net/video/RLf8jXGtF8w/видео.html
Thanks for all this explanation, I still cannot get my head around why Hifi manufactures spec their power amps with so little power. I know now that D class amps are the answer to avoid clipping even for home use. Many thanks.
It's a totally different market :) Hifi amps typically power 2-4 loudspeakers for an audience of less than 10 people. Pro audio amps need to power large systems that may be used for audiences in excess of 100,000 people. So the requirements are very different. Having said that there's nothing stopping you from using a pro audio amp in your home hifi setup, just be sure to match the levels correctly ;)
Sure, I was referring to the extortionate prices people pay for a Hifi amp, let's say, £40000, with just 300 watts, just because they think hi end has a superior sound against PA amps; Crown, Behringer, they cannot get in their heads that D class amps do sound as good, specs don't tell you otherwise and price is a tenth. They just don't have the looks and the snake oil marketing foolery. Thanks so much for the reply, much appreciated.
Oh yeah that's ridiculous... what did they say about a fool and his money? ;)
Thank you. But at minute 19:00you said if you clip a properly rated amp could damage the speaker, how can a PROPERLY RATED amp get clipped? Im just learning.. thank yu for answering this question :)
You're welcome Terry. An amplifier can clip at several points along its signal path - in particular, too high of an input signal can clip the input stage of the amplifier, resulting a distorted signal being sent to the rest of the circuit. This will happen regardless of the speaker that the amplifier is matched to. This is why it's so important to listen for distortion in your system, as well as to monitor the input indicators on the front panel.
@@GLBProductions I got you :) Thank you for clarifying that! I just subs to your channel and I love your videos....!
Wow. Thank you for the wonderful explanation. This is an amazing tutorial! :). helpful for my Salsa dj gig setup :)
You are most welcome.
Excellent explanation of amp vs speaker specs. Wish I would have found this before a recent power amp purchase as what I bought is slightly under powered but was twice as much wattage as we had before for our monitors so we are better off. I'll just have to watch the clipping light. Thanks for posting this. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain stuff like this to dolts like me :-).
+John Burgett You're welcome, thanks for watching! At the end of the day as long as an amp/speaker combination is loud enough for its intended use and there is no distortion or clipping the exact numbers do not really matter - you could use a 1 watt amplifier and still get decent level out of many modern loudspeakers! The key is having enough headroom to handle the peaks. Feel free to get in touch any time you have questions.
I forgot to explain that one amp in bridge mode we'll run the left Channel feeding 2 Tower speakers and then the same for the right side thanks again for your responses
Wish this had been out about a year and a half ago when I was tasked with purchasing new speaker for our church's sanctuary. It basically covered and confirms what I thought I knew for the most part. But could you expand upon load balancing speakers in a future video? I'm referring to multiple speakers from a single amp in mono mode, and especially a three 8 ohm speaker setup that so many churches use at the front of house.
+cee128d Glad the video was helpful. My previous video on connecting loudspeakers to amplifiers discussing this topic in greater detail.
When you say multiple speakers from a single amp in mono do you mean bridge mono? And when you say three 8-ohms speaker setup are you referring to a three speaker cluster at the front, all driven by a single amplifier?
+GLB Productions Not using bridge as the second channel of the amp is used for the monitors. And yes, a classic three speaker cluster front and center above the pulpit. The speakers are Peavey SS10 Sanctuary Series and the amp is a Peavey PV 1200 with a Mackie CFX 20 Mk II (USA built I believe).
I found that other video this morning and watched it. The only question I have is the way the three speakers would be connected. We split them off from a single cable which means they are in parallel correct? That should equal 2 ohms. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm more of a computer guy than a sound reinforcement guy.
Your videos have been a great help in that area as I was doing a lot of learning on the fly. Small church in a small town doesn't provide a lot of personal resources to fall back on and my somewhat limited experience in using Kustom PA's back in the '70s kinda put me at the top of the list as the go to guy.
+cee128d Ah one of those, a classic Peavey installation! If they are each 8 ohms and connected in parallel then the total impedance will be 2.67 ohms.
Really glad the videos have been helpful, feel free to get in touch any time you have questions :)
+GLB Productions Thanks.
Great video for matching the pair for maximum performance. However in some applications, a much smaller amplifier is just fine. For example, a DJ doing club dance will want the thump. A smaller requirement would be a wedding ceremony. Take the same speakers for good coverage and fidelity, but an event such as a wedding is fine with a 50 to 100 Watts /ch. This is useful in older buildings with limited power, outdoor ceremonies with long extension cord use, or events using a small whisper quiet generator such as a beach ceremony.
If you use a power meter at several events, you can get an idea of the venue power requirements. Excess SPL is to be avoided for sound reinforcement and reception events.
At the same time, remember that extra power is always useful to handle transients and give additional headroom to the system. This is necessary as live music is a very dynamic form of program material. Some manufacturers will even specify an amplifier that can provide 3dB of headroom over the speakers' PEAK power rating! Extra power does not have to translate into excessive volume :)
@@GLBProductions Absolutely true. Remember the gain structure of the mixer. The +4dbV is about 1.2Volts RMS or about 1.7V peak to peak. Due to the power supply on the mixers the mixer hard limits are between 10 to 12V peaks or a hard limit of about 12-14db above the +4dbV output. A ceremony running 1 watt RMS can only be driven about 12db higher before the board clips. Therefore peak is doubling the power 4 times. Board at +4dbV has up to 14 db headroom. The amp running 1 watt taking a +14db peak scales as follows up to board clipping. +3db 2 watts, +6db 4 watts, +9db 8 watts, +12db 16 watts, +15db is only 32 watts. Any amp more then 50 Watts/ch RMS will handle anything the sound board can throw at it. If your ceremony is running program at 10 Watts, then yes you want a 600 Watt/ch amp and I'm looking for hearing protection. Church I grew up in had an organ amp of 60 Watts. This was a traditional church with no band, a choir, piano, organ, and sound reinforcement for the preacher and elders. Main amp was 30 watts mono. It is plenty of power for a church wedding ceremony.
Thank you for showing us. Just wonder can you make a video how to connect receiver to a mixer and passive speakers. And with a DVD player.
I plan to keep the focus of the channel on pro audio content - I'm not an expert on hifi gear :)
@@GLBProductions Thank you very much for your reply. Just wonder if you can tell me because we have an Allen and heath fx12 mixer. We wanted to connect an equalizer to it but we don't know which input to puck it to the mixer. Can you show me. Thank you very much.
You're welcome - if you have an external EQ connect it between the mixer and your power amplifier or powered speakers.
@@GLBProductions Thank you for your answer. Can you tell me which hole to plug in. Is it output from EQ to aux in mixer? Or is it input from EQ to line in mixer? And is it input or output from EQ to amp? Sorry we don't know much of this. Thank you so much.
The sequence is mixer -> EQ -> amplifier. So mixer output to EQ input, EQ output to amplifier input.
Thank you so much sir please I have two speakers with 600watt each and 8hm each please sir what kind like the capacity of amplifier can use
You're welcome! You would want an amplifier that delivers at least 600 watts into 8 ohms per channel.
@@GLBProductions thank you so much sir I really appreciate
You're welcome!
@@GLBProductions so please sir is cs2000amplifire okay for the speakers
I am replacing and amp later this year so this video was useful.
Very clear and valid inputs. Nicely explained. Well done.. Thanks
You're welcome Habibulla.
Hi, my speaker specification indicates:
Maximum power: 650W
Impedance: 8ohms
What is the amplifier rating that i should get. Thank you very much! Your video, all of them are very informative and well detailed.
Hello mate can you tell us rms power of each speaker?
'Maximum power' is not an industry standard term - you need to find out the RMS power rating of the loudspeaker. Alternatively, write to the company and ask them what is the recommended power for this model of loudspeaker.
some odd spk manufactures somehow fail to specify exactly the Continous-RMS values of their spk. the 'maximum power' seems to be an 'advisory' of upper-limit permissible amp rating to power those spk.
Advice please... What's better 2, 8 ohm speakers running in parallel output of 450watts or 1 8 ohm speaker on each stereo channel running at 300 Watts per side, the mixer is the Mackie ppm808s? Speakers are Yamaha s115v' s. The first way would free up a channel so I could run monitors instead of buying a separate amp.
Great question Elias! The key here is whether you need stereo in your main speakers - if you don't need stereo then by all means use the left amp to power both main speakers and the right amp to power your stage monitors. In live sound, especially for smaller systems, stereo is typically not needed.
Thank you very much GLB Productions, you clearly pointed out to me why my carvin speaker is out of commission. I will not make the same mistake again.
Yes mistakes in this area can get expensive really quickly ;)
thanks for responding back ,so the rule of thumb is in matching speakers to amplifiers is twice the RMS output wattage of the amp to the rated RMS for the speaker with matching ohms? so in my case I want to use 2 crown xti 4000 amps in bridge mode which is rated at 3200 Watts at 4 ohms, so if I hook two identical 8 ohm rated tower speakers up in parallel can I assume that each speaker will be fed half the wattage of the amp output @ 1600 Watts per speaker? each speaker is rated at 8 ohms 1000 RMS 2000 Peak thanks again for all your professional answers
Hi @GLB Productions, great videos as usual.
I need to determine what amp will be ideally suited for my six speaker setup at this particular church.
The specs are as follows;
1. 150 Watts Continuous power
2. 8 ohms Impedance
Your expert advise is much appreciated
Great explanation of power ratings. I don't understand why the use peak all the time. Men's ego. Lol. I wished companies show the actual specs on speakers. What about using 4 ohm speakers. I use 2 15's in a cabinet with a horn. So if each speaker handles 500 W rms then I need a amp with at least 1000w rms at 4 ohm. How do I factor in the power for the compression driver horn? This is a pro driver and I think it handles either 250 or 350 at 8 ohms.
Yes I rebuild my own. I have one tweeter that is rated at 500 rms. I think it's jbl.
It's hard finding high rated power amps.
Thank you. I like that you clearly explain everything and with diagrams.
Thanks for watching :)
When you use an amplifier to power a multi-driver cabinet you need to calculate the impedance based on the crossover and not on the individual drivers, because that is what the amplifier 'sees'. The alternative is to biamp the cabinet (one amp channel for the woofers, one for the compression driver) and use an external, active crossover.
High powered amps should not be that difficult to find if you go to a professional PA supplier - you probably won't find them at guitar centre though ;)
One of the Best and clear explanation in RUclips,, great work 👏
Thanks for watching!
Awesome video very informative and very detailed thank you so much truck driver from Southern California🚛
You're most welcome Stephen, drive safe 😄
Amazingly clear, concise, and helpful
Thanks for watching Darla!
I have a good sense of how to do this now. You've answered many questions I had. thanks alot.
You're welcome, glad the video was helpful.
love this video you make it very simple however you left out adding multiple speakers to the amp
Thanks for watching! Once you know how to do impedance calculations it's easy to work out how many speakers can be added.
I have a Powered Mixer capable of powering 2 Passive speakers with 100W RMS at 4 ohms per channel (each of its 2 outputs). What would be the highest rated speakers I should use?
Any speaker which has a power handling of more than 50 watts into 8 ohms (roughly) can be used. There is no upper limit really. The aim of the video is to show you what the best match would be.
Thanks for the informative explanation sir, can you possibly lump up this video together with wiring requirements for compatibility and synchronicity issues?
Please explain what you mean by 'compatibility and synchronicity issues' thanks.
Unfortunately, it was my first time to come across your info-video, thanks for the reply, the other videos you have on youtube explained most of the questions I have in mind.
thank you for the reply. they are 8 ohms and 250w rms 1000w peak
Good - now what is your amplifier's output per channel into 8 ohms?
Output Power
20Hz“20kHz @ 0.1% THD, both channels driven:
8Î per channel-550W
4Î per channel-950W
2Î per channel-1250W
RMS @ 1% THD (sine wave), bridged mode:
8Î-1750W
4Î-2400W
Peak Power, both channels driven:
8Î per channel-750W
4Î per channel-1400W
2Î per channel-2000W
Peak Power, bridged mode:
8Î-2800W
4Î-4000W
Should be ok - amp is 550 watts into 8 ohms, speakers are 500 watts programme. Good match.
At 8:10 you mentioned that if you run 2 loudspeakers off each channel of the 2500 model, each one would get 387,5 watts. Could you explain the maths behind this?
Sure: Two 8-ohm loudspeakers present a combined load of 4 ohms (in live sound individual loudspeakers cabinets are always connected in parallel). The amplifier delivers 775 watts into 4 ohms per channel (see the 4-ohm dual column). Each speaker receives half of this power, ie 387.5 watts. Hope that helps!
@@GLBProductions Got it, thanks!
You're welcome :)
What sort of cable should I use? I noticed there was a calculation on the data sheet dependant on the amplifier and the impedance of the loudspeakers
+BACON IZ GUD4ME In general you should use the heaviest gauge speaker cable that will fit in the connector and the shortest cable run practical. For live sound I recommend 14-16 gauge loudspeaker cable.
my amp is a pro sound 1000, delivers 250 watts into 8 ohms per channel, and with two more speakers 500 watts into 4 ohms per channel total output of 1000 watts rms the output of the amp ranges 4 to 8 ohms
Very explanatory and easy to follow! Thank you very much!!! :)
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
GLB Productions j
If i have multiple speakers on one channel, should the amp be capable to deliver the power needed for all the speakers on that particular channel combined?
That is something that you will need to calculate for your specific amplifier/loudspeaker combination. You will also need to work out if the amp can handle the combined impedance of the speakers you intend to connect.
@@GLBProductions about the impedance, if i connect the speakers in series, it adds up, if I connect them in parallel, it's the impedance/nr of speakers.
Like, 2 speakers of 8 ohms in parallel would be 8/2=4 ohms
I can manage with the impedance.
I was just curious if the watts for each channel are divided to all the speakers on the channel
Or, fir example, if the amp gives 500 per channel, and I have 3 speakers, would each speaker get 500w, or a fraction of the total power?
Your impedance calculations are correct :) Just remember that in pro audio individual loudspeaker boxes are always connected in parallel - that way if one blows or suffers some kind of open-circuit failure the others boxes on that amp channel will continue to operate.
The wattage is divided equally between the loudspeakers *IF* their impedances are identical, so to use your example: three identical loudspeakers connected in parallel to an amplifier channel delivering 500 watts, each loudspeaker will receive 166.66 watts. If the impedances are different your calculations are more complex.
Hi Bruno
For church live sound...
Is it better to connect a subwoofer via aux send and control it independently, or via the main L/R FOH speakers?
And what is the best way to connect the subwoofer and speakers to the mixer and the best way to set these up in a digital mixer?
I’ve never had a subwoofer connected before but have watched a few clips now on RUclips saying the sound difference of an additional subwoofer is night and day.
I’m planning on buying the Behringer XR18, with a couple of active speakers and an active sub (or two if cheap enough).
I’ll also be purchasing in ear monitors for all the band members to avoid floor wedges and i also won’t be buying a bass amp for the bassist ... hence the subwoofer... thought it’d be better to keep the stage clean and have the bass and some of the drum kit come out of the main sub woofer.
Thanks.
It can be connected either way - aux fed allows more control but is more confusing for operators.
Watch my video on how to connect an active subwoofer for more info on that: ruclips.net/video/548GZAF6fMY/видео.html
If you are purchasing for a church, before you buy ANY equipment I strongly recommend that you consult with somebody who can help you develop a plan for your system and give you advice on choosing gear. In ear monitors in particular are FULL of challenges that you need to be aware of before spending any money.
Best guide, period! Thumbs up!
The Bose 901 series VI Speakers impedance is 8 ohms but did not specify the RMS rating. It only stated that it is compatible with an amplifier or receiver rated from 10 - 450 watts RMS. Rated 250 watts IEC. The speakers comes with the series VI active equalizer. My question is can I use an amplifier with a power output of more than 450 watts RMS @ 8 ohms without damaging the speakers or the amplifier . Thank you very much.
Bose is well known for not giving complete specifications on many of its products - in this case your amplifier is right at the top of the allowable power range so you should be ok. Be very sure to follow the instructions on connecting the active EQ unit - this has to be connected between the signal source and the amplifier, NOT between the amplifier and the speakers.
If you are in any doubts give Bose a call and talk through your precise setup - they generally have very good customer service.
Love your work, can you do a video in regards to setting the gain level to match the power input of your speakers so to minimize the risk of blowing them up
+koolkiwikat When you say 'gain level' do you mean gain on the mixer? I already have a video on that: ruclips.net/video/KcUgggdxLPM/видео.html
God bless you too! Thank you very much for all your videos Bruno. Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷
nice video. Here's a complex question just asking to confirm what i think is correct. (SPEAKING FOR ROUND NUMBERS)
A 2 channel amp @ 4000 watts per channel @ 8 ohms, can or can not comfortable run 4- 8 ohm 1000 watt speakers series/parallel per channel. I ask because Im putting together a very large sound system and don't want to waste money on amps nor the repair cost of blowing something up. Thanks
+tom langreder You need to find out the output of the amp into 2 ohms (the total load of four 8-ohm loudspeakers) and also whether the amp is capable of running both channels into a 2 ohm load. Many amp manufacturers claim that this is possible but I personally do not recommend it as it often generates a lot of heat which can cause other issues.
Brunno, Thanks for your selfless service and prompt responses. I have 4 speakers ( all rates 500W) and existing Power Amp of 500W/channel. I don't want to bridge or run parallel. I have bought an Additional Power Amp of 500W/channel. Your video on matching power amp and passive speakers is not completely addressing this type of issue. Kindly advise.
In this case you would connect one speaker to each channel of your power amplifiers - you have a total of four amp channels so that works out fine. You then need to figure out how to get the signal to each amp channel, either by daisy-chaining or by using additional outputs on your mixer.
Very well informed explanation
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this excellent easy to understand video
You're welcome Dan!
I love your accent. Sounds Ghanaian.
God really bless you greetings from West Africa
You're welcome Richard.
@@GLBProductions thank you Bruno
thank you sir it help me a lot ! from Philippines. here
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
GLB Productions some of speaker products here is not indicate the RMS rating.
only the peak wattage, ,example 1000watts peak, How do i determine the Rms of this 1000watts peak?
micha sy RMS power is generally one quarter of peak power, but be very careful with products that do not state RMS power handling - they could just be pulling any number out of the air and slapping it on the product. Look for a proper data sheet that also lists things like sensitivity and recommended amplifier power. This is why it's so important to use name-brand loudspeakers that are recognised and sold internationally.
what if it has not have any datasheet? example crown speakers only the peak wattage is given ..i have read a article, while rating is 400wRMS, Program Rating is 800w and Peak Rating is 1600w. ,, can we apply this to the other brand of speakers?
micha sy Yup, see my answer above.
Hey I just saw some yamaha amplifiers to power my loudspeakers...on the specs sheet it says that it delivers 2×500 watts at 8 ohms in stereo does that mean that each channel delivers 500 watts or that both channels combined gives 500 watts?
Each channel delivers 500 watts into a load of 8 ohms.
Hi concerning the yamaha amp the output is different on 20hz-20khz and 1khz how do I set the amp then cause the wattage output power will be different..
Good morning how do I setup a full sound system with mixer and controller please let me know thanks
Great video, great instruction and here is the situation I'm bump into. My cousin gave me a pair of Infinity Kappa 8 4 ways speakers, built back in 1989 and here is a spec.Nominal Impedance: 4 to 6 ohms Power Rating: 50-250 watts RMSEfficiency: 89 dB @1 watt, 1 meter Crossover Frequencies: 80Hz, 800Hz, 4500HzFrequency Response: 33Hz-45kHz +/-3dBand what amp should I get to run these speakers as well as brand or anyone? pls. Thanks
+Jay Bui That's a rather interesting spec :) A quick google search tells me that infinity is still around, so my first step would be to contact them - as the loudspeaker manufacturer they would be able to give you the best advice on which amplifier to use.
+GLB Productions thanks for a quick replied. I read the spec on this Yamaha DSP-A1: usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/hifi-components/amps/dsp-a1_black__u/ and saw it included 8/6/4/2 ohm, do you think I might be able to use this amp run these speaker?
+Jay Bui On paper it looks like a good match but with these things it's best not to guess - get in touch with Infinity and work from there :)
drat! Now I have to check out my NS-10's and my little Tannoys (which have no impedance ratings or model number on them.. My old Crown amp is still in hiding so its specs are a mystery until I find the amp or crank up my memory. I wonder where that old Mackie miser is too.
If your existing setup is working fine I wouldn't worry about it - this video is directly more at those who are assembling a new system and need maximum volume from their speaker/amp combination.
Thanks Sir! you are a great teacher. ..can you tell me what mixer and speakers are the best for $2000 budget? Again thank you for your teaching. .
+David E. Nieves Torres Hello David thanks for getting in touch. Unfortunately price variations around the world make it difficult for me to advise you but in the budget range I am currently recommending the Allen and Heath ZED series mixers and speakers such as the JBL EONs, QSC K series and FBT ProMaxx series.
Thank you so much, Distinguished. .
+David E. Nieves Torres You're most welcome :)
I have a question on this one, so if my power amplifiers are good enough for the loudspeakers, the question is "do I turn the adjust volume know of the amplifier all the way up? or I should put it 12 o'clock.
Thank You for sharing!
Yes this is a very common question - assuming your mixer is connected directly to your speakers and gain structure on your mixer is correct, set the mixer volume such that it is appropriate for your venue. In other words, the amp volume acts as the overall volume control for your sound system.
Sir subwoofer bridge mode working safe or not
Yes it's fine as long as the sub and amplifier are correctly matched.
Wow, excelent, clean and a very clear explanation. Thank you for posting this information.
You're welcome Erick!
hi. thank you for your very step by step videos. they are very clear.
You're welcome Paul, thanks for watching.
Thanks Bruno, another great tutorial.
I have a Cerwin Vega SUB15 500 watts peak 1000 sensitivity 4 ohms and a RockvilleRSG 12.4 500 watts rms 750 program peak 1000 . The first cabinet is a sub and the second cabinet is for mid and highs.
Extremely easy to understand. Good video. I can keep watching this video again and again.
1 question though. What if I have 2 speakers operated in different rated of impedance and I want to daisy chain those speakers? 1 subwoofer rated at 4ohm and 1 loudspeaker rated at 8ohm. It gives me total of 2.666ohm. On the amp manual, only show 4ohm and 8ohm specification only. Does it mean i can't connect like that? Thank you.
In this case you need to work out if your amplifier can handle a 2 ohm load - what amplifier are you using?
Oh i see. I'm using powered mixer pmp4000 behringer. Btw, those setting i asked earlier was taken from the mixer's manual in wiring example section. I'm confused thats why asked. Thanks.
Ok if you look on the back panel of your mixer above the speakon outputs you'll see that it says 4-8 ohm loads in 2-channel mode, so the above set up is not possible :)
thanks I'm learn in your vedio sir, i have a question in talking of amplifier,what if I have a 5 amplifier two channel per amplifier, then I will make in stereo work,how to connect,or what is the connection,1st amplifier to 2nd amplifier to 3rd amplifier to 4th amplifier 5th amplifier,input by input? its possible or not in stereo? if not what should we need?
Very helpful, thank you for your valuable work
You're welcome Chhangte :)
Hi Bruno, please let me know.
I have already got the following-
Pair of 15w full range 4 inch speakers. 8ohms.
Pair of 40w 4 inch woofer speakers. 8ohms.
Pair of 15w tweeters. 8ohms.
Pair of 30w ribbon tweeters. 8ohms.
Pair of 300w crossover modules.
210w x 210w amp. 4 ~ 8 ohms.
Wiring plan: The 2 tweeters parallel to eachother, and 1 woofer, goes through crossover. The full range speaker gets direct parallel line. (On each side).
1) Did I buy correct specification material? All values combine ok?
2) Will that wiring plan work out perfect?
Thank you
I'm afraid I'm not a speaker designer so really cannot tell you for sure if these components will work well together. I strongly suggest working from an existing design that tells you exactly what you need and how to put it together - this is not really a time for improvisation.
Thank you :)
Plz explain different RMS power and AES power(Continuous Power, Program Power, Peak Power)
(RMS value 200w peak400w)
But (AES value, Continuous Power 200w,Program power 400w, PeakPower 800w)
Please explain sir
Dear Sir, Your video is quite interesting. I am setting up my home 5.1 home theater in my lounge, which is about 22 ft x 15 ft. sitting distance from speaker fronts about 15 feet. not carpeted, not acoustically controlled. I love the Monitor Bronze 6 speakers, rated at 150W at 8 Ohms. I also own a new Pioneer Elite LX 101 rated at 80W also at 8 ohms (2 channels). From your discussion this is not good enough and will cause clipping. The sales team tell me that I would be better off buying an amp rated at 100W also at 8 ohms. But your video suggests that too may not hit the mark and cause clipping. Some other discussions show there is not much difference between 80W and 100W amplifiers plus there is a huge price gap. So, what do you suggest I do ? Should i buy lower speaker model (Bronze 5) rated at 125W for this room size and use my 80W amp, or should I invest in a bigger amp ? If a bigger amp, then what ratings at 8 ohms (2 channel) should I be looking at ? Thank you in advance.
I'd say try the 80 watt amp first and see how it sounds. You're right that there is very little difference in practice between an 80W amp and a 100W amp, assuming the two are rated correctly.
thANK YOU! I LEARNED A LOTS... HOW ABOUT THE 4 OHMS IMPEDANCE SIR OF LOUD SPEAKERS??
Same process, you just use the output of the amplifier into 4 ohms.
GLB Productions thank you very much sir :)
Thanks for your teachings. It's impressive. I have a speaker of 500W into 8ohms & want to use a pair of the speakers into one channel of the amplifier. That is using one amplifier to drive four boxes. Please what's the recommended amplifier for this purpose cos it will be going down to 4ohms per channel. Please I need an answer. Thanks
Any amplifier that delivers 1000 watts into 4 ohms per channel.
@@GLBProductions ok. Thanks for replying. What if I use an amplifier that delivers 1350W into 4ohms will it be too high for it.
It depends on how your speakers are rated - if they are 500 watts RMS then no problem.
@@GLBProductions each box is rated 500W at 8 ohms. I want to use a pair per channel of an amplifier. Thanks for your patience and respond
Those number model of amplifier. Is that the main wattage of amplifier too?
My examples is XLS1000
It depends on the manufacturer - for some it is the maximum output of the amplifier in bridge mode, for others it is just a model number.
From what i see, the bigger ohms of the speaker given the smaller watts is produce? Is it right? If 2 ohms, the speaker might give a louder sound?
You're correct in general - the lower impedance speakers (smaller number of ohms) will draw more power from the amplifier, other things being equal. However whether they are louder than another speaker depends on many other things such as sensitivity, distance to audience and the environment in which the speaker is being deployed.
I have a question about speaker efficiency. when matching a amplifier to a speaker does speaker efficiency come into play?
No it does not - speaker efficiency is the dB SPL output of a loudspeaker system when supplied with 1 watt of power, measured at a distance of 1m. It is used when comparing loudspeakers to determine how loud each will play when supplied with a given amount of power, it is not helpful in determining which amplifier is the best match for that loudspeaker.
Just what I needed
Thanks for watching!
Hello! Can you connect a DAC directly to a power amplifier? Or a cd player? Without having a mixer? Or it's not the best idea?
Yes you can - any line level source can be connected directly to an amplifier without a mixer.
Hi Bruno!!! I love your very informative videos on sound reinforcement.... I have a question on matching amps and speakers, particularly stage monitors... If you have a stage monitor that is rated at 500 watts RMS, would you need a power amp that's rated 750 - 1000 watts or can you use a power amp that is rated at 400 - 500 watts since you will be using way less than a quarter of the power of the amplifier???
If your stage monitor is rated at 500 watts rms the ideal match is an amplifier of around 1000 watts. Having said that, you can use the smaller amplifier if it produces the level that you need.
Thank you!!! I have been using a 500 watt amp on monitors rated at 500 watts for vocals, and when I turn the volume up... the vocals are way too loud for everyone on the stage I use, I guess on a larger stage I would need a larger amp.
@@UniversalAAllah the spa rating on the speaker may be high- a high spl will deliver more sound at lower power
I have 6000 watts Gemini professional amplifier, i have 2000 watts of speakers.
Please can i use this amplifier?
It depends on the impedance of your loudspeakers and the power delivery of your amplifier into that impedance, especially if you are planning to run more than one speaker on each amp channel.
Very good video sir, as always. It cleared up my confusion on power per channel and such. Thank you.
By the way, I suggest you put an annotation at 10:02, you say "we're looking for a loudspeaker that delivers 600w per channel into 8 ohms". I think you meant amplifier. Although it is obvious, it may help someone who is watching the video and doesn't know very much about the topic. Otherwise, great video and thanks for posting!
Also, while I'm at it, what microphone was used to record this video? I'm asking because I'm not very familiar with dynamic body style condenser mics (like the SM86) or the one I assume was used to record this since you weren't speaking like you would into a dynamic mic.
+John Creek Many thanks for spotting that John, annotation has been added :)
The mic used in this particular video was a Beyerdynamic MCE72 - it's a stereo condenser mic which is specifically designed for picking up sounds at a distance, hence why it can be placed off to the side yet still sound good. I also like it because it runs on batteries and has an unbalanced output so I can connect directly to a video camera without the need for a mixer.
+GLB Productions Ah nice. It makes sense now not to have seen you with your trusty Mackie mixer. It's great that you can use the hardware you have to make better videos! Thanks for your quick reply.
sir! i have "ssa300" indain AMP..... my question is " which' inch or wt 'Loud Speakers is best.. for "SSA 300 amp... 500 wt 600.. dual speaker or 12ich .. 15inch speaker ... what type of dual speaker i can use for my "SSA300" amp.. plzzz clear my doubt . hoping for reply.
Can I buy the same amplifiers used inside powered speakers? To transform a passive to an powered system.
Yes you can - look up 'plate amplifier'. However do remember that doing this will likely void any manufacturer's warranty on the speakers themselves.
QSC Amplifier: PWR/Ch. 650 watts @ 4ohms. Speaker: Vintage Pevey 150 watts @ 8ohms. Can I use these two together? I get confused on how the ohms on each component relate to one another.
You need to work out how much power the QSC delivers into 8 ohms per channel :)
Your videos are awesome. I need your help today and I m sure that u r the one who can help me with. I have two speakers of 50W, 8 Ohm each. I want to make a woofer so how to wire these both speakers and what type of amplifier ( Power rating) I have to use. pls explain me about it.
I'm sorry I don't understand your question.
ok let me explain u again. I have four coaxial speakers of each 50 Watt and 8 ohm. I need to make an amplifier which suits these speakers, as I want a bass amplifier. and I want to wire these speakers in parralel. as a result it will be 2 ohm and 200 watt. in one channel. is it possible sir. could please help me
Ok I understand now. Your calculations are correct. However you may consider building a 2-channel amp instead, 100 watts per channel, which will allow you to run your system in stereo, 4 ohms left and 4 ohms right.
GLB Productions thank you very much
Thanks for sharing it was very helpful. Now that I know, I feel like I should've figured this out on my own lol. All you gotta do is look it up in the owners manual
That's great, means you've learned something!
I still have question bout ohms, i notice when ohms gets higher it will reduced wattages, so ex: i own already a power amp 1500w into 2ohms and x2 1000w spkr in 8 ohms, if i did parallel it will equal to 4ohms only, and my 2 sub box has their own individual spekon, hope u still notice my question bout ohms differences though this video is long time, thanks!
That's right - you need to work out the power delivery of your amplifier into the intended total combined speaker load, not just one speaker of the type that you intend to use. In other words you have to plan your entire system as a whole.