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A bit of a long shot this but here goes...
I have a new Line 6 Spider Amp Head. Its a solid state modelling amp with 2 channel outputs (L&R) and the Line 6 website states that this should only be connected to a cabinet that also has 2 (L&R) inputs.
However, when gigging the set up is usually bring your own amp head and use the "house" cab. This often only has a mono single input.
Anyone else have to deal with this scenario? Will my amp be OK if i just use one of the channels (L) ?
And whats the deal with Ohms, both channels on my amp are 8 ohms. can i run through 4, 8 and 16 ohm cabs??
If anyone has answers to any of this i'll be amazed but fingers crossed.
Thanks
Which head is it?
Line 6 advice always having a load, but only the DT and Spider Valve will result in power transformer failure.
As for Ohm load, if they are 8 ohm load ready, then you can run 8 ohm cabs, 16 ohm cabs. Or run multiple 4 ohms to create an 8 ohm load. Of multiple 8 ohms to create a 16 ohm load.
DO NOT RUN 4Ohm load, that will fry the power stage
Actually see here:
http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/general-faq/cabinet-connection-and-ohm-faq-r436
But really Line6 model quite well, so use that and line out to the desk rather than miking for the main mix.
Thanks. Strangely ive been given some quite conflicting advice on the ohms issue. My amp runs at 8 ohms. The guy at PMT in Manchester to told me i can use this through 8 (preferable) and 16 ohm cabinet but never 4 ohm. Then the guy at Dawsons told me i can use 8 (preferable) and 4 ohm cabinet but never 16 ohm.
Which one is correct?
Thanks. Strangely ive been given some quite conflicting advice on the ohms issue. My amp runs at 8 ohms. The guy at PMT in Manchester to told me i can use this through 8 (preferable) and 16 ohm cabinet but never 4 ohm. Then the guy at Dawsons told me i can use 8 (preferable) and 4 ohm cabinet but never 16 ohm.Which one is correct?
The guy at PMT is right - Solid state you can increase the load and it survives. If you put a 4 ohm or higher cab, you will overheat and fry the amp.
The guy in Dawsons is wrong, he is thinking of a Valve amp where the output transformer will overload with too much resistance (hence not being able to run without a cab). Generally it's best to assume in the even of conflicting info Dawsons will be wrong.
Read this article: http://www.prestonelectronics.com/audio/Impedance.htm
The guy in PMT!
As for going lineout rather than micing.....all good if you've got decent monitoring, if not then how will you hear yourself!!!
"if in doubt the guy in dawsons is wrong" ha ha ha the halfords of music shops.
Its only small DIY punk gigs we do so we never end up using monitors etc.
Cheers
Running through a 4ohm cab will fry the amp if you turn the volume up, all the house cabs I've ever seen have been 8 or 16 ohm. A 16 ohm cab will just be quieter but there will be no risk to running the amp flat out.
There is no risk to only using one output on a solid state amp. Some people seem to think that having no speaker connected means 0 ohms but in fact it's infinite ohms so no risk.
The problem with line out/XLR is that you don't get the sound colour of the speakers. If the house cabs are cheap this may be a good thing. You may find that by changing the cab type in the modeling you can create a setting that will improve the sound of the amp through the PA if you choose line out (you can still use the house cab for monitoring as XLR doesn't cut the power amp circuits).
If in doubt take your own cab. Number of times I've been told 'just take your breakables' then turn up to find a drum kit shaped collection of objects that haven't been tuned or given new heads since about 1973...
Or the 'headline' band providing the drums have failed to show up until 5 minutes before they're due on stage...
I take my own drum kit now regardless of instructions. Many times it has saved the gig for all involved, and more than once been the nicest kit there