Watts and Cabs

[slawie]

Hello folks I have just picked up a QSC PLX1804 amplifier that I will be using with my series I. So I would like to have each pickup with its individual channel. No problem there as I have a DS5-R and an F2B. Question is regarding the speakers.  
I shall be using on each channel a tc electronic RS212 and RS210 each rated at 400 watts at 8 ohms. Does this mean I will have 800 watts at 4 ohm per channel capacity? The QSC pushes out 900 watts per channel at 4 ohms. Am I going to do something bad here apart from creating minor earthquakes.  
Over to you my technical brethren!

[sonicus]

http://media.qscaudio.com/pdfs/Specifications/PLX2_spec.pdf
 
Power measurements are relative to the  method of testing . I like to use RMS watts @ an 8 ohm load with an input level of +4dBu  (1.228 V RMS)
The methods that QSC quotes generally result in a bigger number  (EIA & FTC)    
 
  This amplifier will very likely sound good with your  F-2B & Series I  . Connect your speakers with the awareness that your amplifier might have the ability to  damage your speakers if pushed  very hard. This awareness is prudent practice in any such setup with a high output amplifier.
 
(Message edited by sonicus on September 19, 2013)

[briant]

You'll be fine doing that.  I used to drive my rig with a Stewart World 1.6 bridged mono.  That's 1600 watts at 4ohms which is exactly how I was rolling (two 8ohm cabs).  Neither cab was rating for anything approaching that kind of power.  It just meant I had a lot of headroom.  It was stupid-dumb loud and clean as you can ever imagine.  I used several cab combinations with that amp and all of them were plenty loud to completely overwhelm any band situation I was ever in; even on huge stages (60'x20' and bigger outdoors).
 
In my experience it's always best to have way more power than necessary and use your ears as a guide to what the speakers are telling you.  As long as you're not expecting a single 15 speaker to drown out two full guitard stacks you will be fine.

[keith_h]

Looks like a pretty good match to me. If you are really concerned contact tc electronic and ask them. I have found most speaker manufacturers to be straight forward when asked if a certain amp is a good match for their speakers. After all the last thing they want is a speaker failure regardless of cause.  
 
Keith

[edwin]

I've found that if you can exercise restraint, having too much power is always best. That way, it's always clean and most speakers can take clean peaks if they are of short duration. Running an amp up against its limits can blow speakers pretty easily, even if it's of lower power.
 
Just use your ears and if it sounds like the speakers are having difficulty (popping and farting) just turn it down. Or turn down the low end. I use a QSC CV1202v, which is the install equivalent of the top of the old Powerlight line. 700 watts per channel into 8 ohms and something like 2000 watts into 8ohms bridged mono. I used to run it bridged, but it's too easy to get enthusiastic and let the magic smoke out of the speakers. You can hear it coming, but it's too hard for me to resist.

[slawie]

Thanks for the input. Always helpful and knowledgable crowd here.  
 
slawie