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Trace Elliot “ELF”
- Thread starter PleyswethSqwerl
- Start date
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- Tags
- amps bass amp gear trace elliot
Yes, you can use two TE Elfs (Elves?) to get more power. Here's how to do it: you'll need some sort of 'Y' cord to get the bass signal into the input of both amps. Then plug the speaker output of one of the Elf amps into your speaker cab. Then -- and this is the tricky part -- plug the output of the second Elf into second, different speaker cab. Voila -- dueling Elves! But whatever you do, do NOT plug the output of two amps into one speaker cab; given that the input connectors on a speaker cab are parallel, this is equivalent to plugging the output of one amp directly into the output of another amp. That absolutely guarantees a catastrophic failure. If you do choose to try it, video it with your phone and post it -- I, for one, enjoy a good disaster movie. 
Edit: Apologies -- I didn't see the key word 'combos'. Never mind.
Edit: Apologies -- I didn't see the key word 'combos'. Never mind.
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The short answer is no, while you could split the signal to feed both combos the output of each combo into it”s internal speaker is only 130 watts @ 8ohms. This would yield 260 watt running 2 elf combos. The only way you get to 200w per combo is each combo would need an 8ohm extension cabinet added. So you would end up with 2 combos and 2 extension cabinet, 4 cabinets total to get the the 400w output mark.
Can you run two combos together? You can. A splitter box will get you there.
Should you run two combos together? Depends on your end goal and budget.
For instance, an Elf 1x10 combo is $599 and you need two of them so that's $1200.
You also need two extension cabs to get to 200 watts like @Wild_Bill_57 said. That's $700.
So now you're at let's say $2000 by the time you buy the splitter box and other cables and you've got a 400 watt 4x10. It would likely actually sound fine but that's a lot of stuff to move and hook up and having two heads is such a hassle to deal with.
For $1750 you can get two Fender Rumble 210 cabs and a Rumble 800 head.
Twice the power, better quality, easier to move and hook up, less cables to buy, no splitter needed, and $200 left over because all you need to buy is 2 Speakon cables.
Should you run two combos together? Depends on your end goal and budget.
For instance, an Elf 1x10 combo is $599 and you need two of them so that's $1200.
You also need two extension cabs to get to 200 watts like @Wild_Bill_57 said. That's $700.
So now you're at let's say $2000 by the time you buy the splitter box and other cables and you've got a 400 watt 4x10. It would likely actually sound fine but that's a lot of stuff to move and hook up and having two heads is such a hassle to deal with.
For $1750 you can get two Fender Rumble 210 cabs and a Rumble 800 head.
Twice the power, better quality, easier to move and hook up, less cables to buy, no splitter needed, and $200 left over because all you need to buy is 2 Speakon cables.
Dude thanks so much!!!Yes, you can use two TE Elfs (Elves?) to get more power. Here's how to do it: you'll need some sort of 'Y' cord to get the bass signal into the input of both amps. Then plug the speaker output of one of the Elf amps into your speaker cab. Then -- and this is the tricky part -- plug the output of the second Elf into second, different speaker cab. Voila -- dueling Elves! But whatever you do, do NOT plug the output of two amps into one speaker cab; given that the input connectors on a speaker cab are parallel, this is equivalent to plugging the output of one amp directly into the output of another amp. That absolutely guarantees a catastrophic failure. If you do choose to try it, video it with your phone and post it -- I, for one, enjoy a good disaster movie.
Edit: Apologies -- I didn't see the key word 'combos'. Never mind.
That’s what I’m looking for. I bought 2 combos and two extension cabs. I’m wondering if I can get these to the 400 watts altogether or will it be 2 separate amps at 200 watts
Well you will have basically 2 separated systems running 200w each in parallel, so that would be a 400w combination overall. Keep in mind each amp's controls will be independent from each other. Also keep in mind that there may be slight differences in each amp depending on tolerances. But you can divide an input between 2 separate amps. There are a lot of ways to divide the signal some better than others. Another big issue is you want to make sure all of your phasing between everything is the same or you will end up with weird phase cancellation issues. I'm not sure why you would want this configuration, but this is how it works out.
The question is was it “achievable” as it pertains to this brand. It seems to be more of a headache. Thus I’ll just stick with 200 watts. GK used to run a bi amping system where you could achieve this “easily” Trace is presumably not that advanced yet,
Cave Puppy
"Humph Bo, he's wond!" - John Lennon
Cave Puppy
"Humph Bo, he's wond!" - John Lennon
My old Carvin R600 has two power amps and built in crossover to biamp. I never use it like that. In fact, I don’t even use it as a bass amp anymore. I use it for a PA system power amp! And it works great for that.
Well no, that's not what bi-amping is. Bi-amping is using separate amps for the low band and the high band by putting a crossover in between. That's what GK was doing.
It’s not a matter of not that advanced, the Elf is purpose built for a specific application. It has several features that are “Baked in” to the design. It is designed to be small with a few basic features like built in compression. Unfortunately if you don’t like the features then you have the wrong amplifier for you. If these features accomplish what you want, then you’re good. You need to understand what a specific amplifier is made to do and if it is right for your application. Bi-amp, Stereo, Dual Mono, Bridged output, etc are all very different things. There are all kinds of different amps out there, do your research. Buy once, cry once.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
400w isn't 2x as loud as 200. You need 10x the watts for 2x as loud.
Power output is kind of a relative thing in actual application. There are lot of factors that play into things. The frequency that you are trying to reproduce and how long a frequency is reproduced factor into this a lot. The lower the frequency you are reproducing the more power required to reproduce it. This is were a Hi Pass Filter comes into play, why waste power on an extremely low fundamental if you don't need to. Another thing to consider is how much headroom do you have before distortion. The speaker you are using has a huge effect on things as well. What is the physical characteristics of the driver(s), What is the power handling, what is the nominal impedance, what is the excursion of the cone, what is the efficiency, what is the tuning of the cabinet / porting. Lots of things play into the whole equation.
Why not get a compact head with more power and relegate the elf for the smaller gigs?
That's not how this works, that's not how any of this works. Lmfao.
The biamping system on GKs effectively split the high and low frequencies and amplified them separately from the same amplifier. It had nothing to do with pairing two combo amps and two additional extension cabs to operate as one.
Secondly, why on earth did you buy two elf combos and two extension cabs in hopes of using them together? Were they some kind of crazy deal you just couldn't resist?
I’m sorry I explained GK’s system incorrectly or used the incorrect language to convey my assertions. Basically I’m just wanting to combine 2 heads and 2 cabs for 400 watts instead of merely 200 watts that’s to low