Can I run a 240w amp at 8ohms into a 200w RMS speaker at 8ohm

[jeffnesham]

I have a Hartke HA3500 which would output 240w at 8ohms with a single cab. Can I safely run an Ampeg SVT210AV which is rated for 200w RMS at 8ohms. Or would this be harmful to the speaker?

thanks for help guidance!!

 

[agedhorse]

Yes, but use a little common sense.

 

[Stumbo]

I have a Hartke HA3500 which would output 240w at 8ohms with a single cab. Can I safely run an Ampeg SVT210AV which is rated for 200w RMS at 8ohms. Or would this be harmful to the speaker?

thanks for help guidance!!

You can run a 1000w amp into a 200w cab if you do not overpower the cab. Listen for distortion.

I suggest adding a HPF to your signal chain to help protect the speakers. For more info on the topic check out my TB Wiki: High Pass and Low Pass Filters

 

[BassmanPaul]

If your amp starts to sound bad turn the thing down!

 

[Rob Warren]

You will be fine. You’re actually better off over powering than under powering in a lot of situations. you can run your amp lower and still move the speaker better.

 

[Bass_Pounder]

You will be fine. You’re actually better off over powering than under powering in a lot of situations. you can run your amp lower and still move the speaker better.

There is no such thing as "underpowering" - a complete myth, and debunked repeatedly.

 

[scottfeldstein]

I don't know if this is right or not, but I always figure that when I use a 500w amp it just means that there are 500 watts in that master volume knob. If I only turn it half way, I'm only using half of the watts. Technically, I'm sure this is absolutely wrong. But the principle is sound, I think: don't turn it up too loud.

 

[Raf Seibert]

You’re right, that’s wrong. Some amps will give you full power well before the knob is fully turned. It’s better to listen to your cab for signs of distress.

 

[sawzalot]

Turning it up halfway does not in any way map to using half the watts. But the principle is sound—don’t turn it up too much. Also use the search function on the forum, this is a very frequently discussed topic.

 

[Downunderwonder]

You’re right, that’s wrong. Some amps will give you full power well before the knob is fully turned. It’s better to listen to your cab for signs of distress.

This. And if using a HPF or mid heavy tone put on some earplugs, crank it up until it doesn't get hardly any louder. At that point you are at the limit of thermal handling or possibly beyond and the only audible sign of distress is it will get quiter before going silent. You might smell drivers cooking. Best to turn it down a bit first.

 

[jeffnesham]

Thanks for the feedback this is really helpful. I’ll use search too before I post I was just in a hurry with a cab in my cart and didn’t want to shoot myself in the foot. Thanks again!!

 

[Killing Floor]

Sure can. You'll have a little headroom. Start with the volume low and raise until your notes break when the volume on the bass is full. Then just pay attention to that point and don't turn it up louder. Just be sensible.

 

[StatesideRambler]

Once you start playing through pedals and twisting knobs clockwise the published numbers lose much of their certainty. A lower-spec’d amp plugged into a higher spec’d cab is no guarantee the you won’t let the magic smoke out of either of them. A higher spec’d amp into a lower-spec’d cab can give good results, given a dose of common sense as advised by agedhorse, above.

 

[nilorius]

Yes, but not at full volume.

 

[sedan_dad]

Do you have a volume knob? If so the answer is yes.

 

[buldog5151bass]

You can blow almost any speaker with almost any amp. Before you turn up with the band play it alone so you can get an idea where you can push it.

 

[iagtrplyr]

I have a Hartke HA3500 which would output 240w at 8ohms with a single cab. Can I safely run an Ampeg SVT210AV which is rated for 200w RMS at 8ohms. Or would this be harmful to the speaker?

thanks for help guidance!!

Jeff, best advice I can give you. Like Aged Horse said, good common sense is an asset. Use your ears as well as your eyes to determine if the cabinet is reaching its limits.

I owned that particular cab and while it has a really sweet sound, it’s a tad bass shy in the sense it’s in a sealed box without a port. So the tendency is to crank the bass control to warm it up is very tempting. Just remember that you’re adding decibels when you increase tone so you won’t be able to go as far on the volume control without pushing the cabinet beyond safe limits.

If you want to run it louder then I’d leave the bass on the amp flat or slightly bumped. Those are seriously nice bass cabs and you’d hate to do any needless damage. A lot of players add a second one to add more volume and fullness to the room.

Enjoy while being wise!

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I have a Hartke HA3500 which would output 240w at 8ohms with a single cab. Can I safely run an Ampeg SVT210AV which is rated for 200w RMS at 8ohms. Or would this be harmful to the speaker?

thanks for help guidance!!

Go for it. Should be perfect

 

[Ric5]

Can I run a 240w amp at 8ohms into a 200w RMS speaker at 8ohm

yes of course … just don't run it on 10

 

[mikecd1]

I run two svt210av's with my Mesa Subway d800 and it works great. I never go much above 11 o'clock on the master. 240 watts is a good match for your 200 watt cab and again some common sense with the master volume will go a long way! If you need more volume, grab a 2nd svt210av - they are great cabs and the sealed / infinite baffle design (the the svt 810 cabs) projects so well. The second cab gives a good bit more bottom end which is lacking with just on svt210av. Enjoy!