How To Set Up A PA - Part 1 - Ohms & Peak vs Program

http://www.djtutor.com/briansredd/pro_audio
I try to shed some light on how a person may want to think about setting up a basic Amp/Speaker configuration.

Enjoy!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• DJ
• Tutor
• Brian
• Redd
• Briansredd
• amp
• speaker
• ohms
• JBL
• JRX115
• Crown
• XLS
• 602
• configuration
• how
• to
• help
• set
• up
• match
• build

[000Matthew000]

I digg all of this, but i don't understand what is the diference between 2, 4 and 8 omhs? Better sound quality, lower/higher power consumation? Why are they important?

[briansredd]

It's important so you don't fry your system. You need to know what your speaker impedence is (4 ohms, 8 ohms, etc) when selecting an amp, or vice versa. You need to know what impedence your amp is stable at.

If you put a 2 ohm load on an amp that's only stable at 4 ohms, it'll eventually overheat, distort, and destroy it.

[briansredd]

The amps I'm familiar with (Crown and other reputable companies known for quality amps) are usually stable, in stereo at 8 & 4 ohms. Ideally, I like to run my top cabs at 8 ohms. It's clean power that dosen't overwork the amp.

For subs, I like to use good amps that are stable at 4 ohms bridge mono.

in these examples, 8 ohms gives you clean clear power without working your amp too hard. 4 ohms gives you more power, but it's often not as clean and makes your amp work harder

[0verload]

Good job man. I already knew everything spoken about here because of experience. But you have a good way of explaining it clearly and simply for someone who may be new to the audio world. great video.

[briansredd]

Hey thanks for that!

[mudshovel508]

You know Brian, Im not even a DJ and these videos really help me out with my amp and Cab selection for guitar!

[briansredd]

Thanks a lot! I'm happy they are of use to you

[ProfessorShyGuy]

I'd spell it 'Watt-er'

[PaulEdward27]

excellent excellent excellent video!!! thank you so much for taking your own personal time to share your knowledge and help novices like myself.

[Shaded07]

Thank you so much. VERY informative and not a waste of time at all! You teach very well.. and have some nice analogies to gather this info accordingly. Looking forward to the next videos.

[kookooglue]

im no pa expert, actually iv never set up a passive pa system. but i did take a live audio corse in college. i specifically remember our class lecturer (who was a live engineer working with EV) that u should always have your gain to 0 on the amps in the gain structure of your setup. and speakers should always have a higher rating than the speakers. this way you get maximum output of your amps with no discoloration and dont blow your speakers.

[huggy3ear]

so i could happily run an amp at 250 watt parallel 4ohms into a single 200watt 8ohms speaker?

[gwystyl0509]

@Eleosrocks

Yes,

[gwystyl0509]

@danielobrien8

You've got your numbers correct, but any time you start playing with ohm ratings different than what the amp is designed for, you risk damaging both the speaker and the amp. Trying to get an amp to push a 16 ohm load is working your amp WAY too hard if it's only rated for 8 ohm.

[jdub1023]

I have the new crown xls series, if i were to run 2 8 ohm speakers per side, but i run them one out of the banana plugs, and the other out of the neutrik, would it bring it down to 4 ohms per side?

[Rodcoolj]

Great video! very informative but seems like you need a glass of water . . . sound like a granny !

[Rodcoolj]

Great video! very informative but seems like you need a glass of water . . . sound like a granny !

[danielobrien8]

Always match your amps ( choice amp) TO YOUR SPEAKERS, you can always go higher, (run an 16 ohm speaker on an 8 ohm load) going the other way is deadly.

2 (8 ohm)speakers in series result in a 16 ohm load, 2 (8 ohm) speakers in Parallel result in a 4 ohm load, 4 (8ohm) in series/Parallel results in 8ohm.

[TheKhaotickyle]

i have an ibanez toneblaster150 with 2 8 ohm ports. and i have a 4 and 16 ohm plugin on my speakers. does it matter which i plug it in? or do i need to get a speaker with an 8 ohm plugin?

[tattoolover100]

your a faggot

[Cradlestoner]

thanx a lot man, great video.

I really have been having trouble with this kind of stuff as I am looking to buy speakers and an amp to use with my band for little gigs, band practise and stuff like that. I have a mixer that I bought used&cheap from some guy, its a Behringer Eurorack ub2442fx pro.

Now, what I'm thinking about is having 4 speakers and 2 or 3 stage monitors, but I'm confused about 1) what kind of a amp would be good for that and 2) How I would connect all this together.

Any ideas ?

[Eleosrocks]

Hey, If I purchased 2 jbl jrx115's and a crown 602d would i need another Amp to power an 18" sub?

[haopham1998]

thanssssssssss alot brother==== your info help alot

[WalrusBand1]

Thanks so much for the info, Brian! I love the ohms explanation and the configuration examples. I signed up just so I could let you know how helpful this was. THANKS A BUNCH!

[IReallyLikeMyNamexD]

Peak power is for small bursts of power. its possible to send 1000w trought the speaker for arround 3-5 seconds. It depends on your speaker. at some speakers the peak power i calculated to the max power that is posbile to send trought the speaker for 5 minutes.

(sorry if i hard to understand. Im norwegian, and im not used to talk about specs in english)

[Jortbaarsma]

No setting up speakers in serie will increase resistance and thus decreasing the outputpower.

The gain factor you have to compensate is +3dB. And now the total output power is the same for left and right.

But hooking up speakers in serie is kind of a sin. This is because the internal filters get fucked and the speakers can influence each other if they get out of phase.

[dudelololoop]

Thanks man, i was confusssed and couldnt understand it 'better. THANKS

[doomofdemonz]

hey question, i have a pa speaker at 800watts and an amp at recommend wattage but i only have one of the speakers. the speaker runs at 8 ohms can i hookup the one speaker at 8 ohms and able to play music out of it without hurting the speaker?

[Activethrasher00]

hey question, i'm getting peavey SP6's, 1000w RMS, 4 ohms. but i can't afford a 2000w per side amp (program rating) just yet. I can however afford a QSC GX5 that is rated at around 700w per side at 4 ohms. if i don't push the volume to the point where the amp is clipping is it safe to use this amp?

[wonder449]

hey man can i bridge my amp if im setting up a 2way stereo sound w/ a crossover?

[DJKix22]

Have subs rated at 300W rms @4ohms and tops rated the same. Guessing i need two amps to power subs and tops seperately? Would this also mean i need a crossover or is there any other way of running into two amps from one mixer?