Author Topic: Just got an F-1X, I don't want to blow it. (Read 408 times)

electronicstud · « **on:** March 09, 2010, 07:54:18 PM »

Hello, I decided to go with an F-1X and used the pre out and pre in of my Hartke power amp to #1(in) and rullrange (out) of my F1-X. My power amp also has post in and post out. It seems that I could also simply run my Epic through the F-1x (# 1 or 2 input on the front) then from Fullrange on the F-1x to tne input -10db or -20db on my power amp. I am sure that I will try these combonations soon but I am worried about my ignorance. I dont want to learn the hard way..I have done that a few times before, not fun. How do you guys hook up your pre amps to your power amps? pre, post, or in to out? So far I am very happy with my F1-X, I have just messed around with it a bit (got it today) and somehow I sound like a bass player. Solved my G string twang prob instantly, I was about to jack with my pickups. Thanks guys, you always do me right. Any and all comments help me...thanks!

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2010, 08:11:01 PM »

Which model Hartke?

edwin · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2010, 09:51:51 PM »

If it were me, I would bypass as much of the Hartke electronics as possible. So, I would go from the fullrange out of the F1X into the amplifier in of the Hartke and leave their preamp out of it entirely.

The only caveat is that there might be some preshaping in the Hartke preamp that the power might need. I've had this issue with some cheaper combos or integrated heads where the power amp doesn't reach the very lowest frequencies so the preamp has a low mid bump to compensate. If it's a higher end Hartke, it probably won't have this issue.

Have fun! These preamps rock!

electronicstud · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2010, 02:20:02 PM »

It is a Hartke HA4000. 12 knobs on the front. I think it is a mid 90's model. Right now I keep all of the hartke sound shaping knobs at 12 o'clock (neutral-ish) all 11 of them. I cant turn the volume knobs up very high on both at the same time, my house starts shaking and my ampeg 410 starts clipping my power amp. I wonder if I need more speakers now!? I dont think I can bypass the Hartke pre, I can put the f-1x before the hartke pre through the pre loop, or after through the post loop. I think.

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2010, 05:14:18 PM »

Go with Edwin's advice.

Run an instrument cable from the full range out on the F-1X to the Return Post on the back of the Hartke. This bypasses the Hartke's preamp. Unfortunately, there is no separate volume control for the power amp portion of the Hartke head, so your only volume control will be the one on the F-1X. All of the controls on the front of the Hartke will be by-passed. From the back of the Hartke, run a spearker cable from one of the speaker outputs to the cab and your all set.

Plug your bass into either input one or two on the front of the F-1X. There is a 10db difference, so that gives you a little help in matching up with the Hartke.

Is your 410 a four ohm cab or an eight ohm cab? It should say on the back. And what is the power rating? It might show that on the back as well. What is the model number? A good quality 410 should be sufficient to fill your house with sound.

electronicstud · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2010, 08:18:18 PM »

Right! post return I did it and it worked! not like last night when I tried hooking the f-1x in the pre and post loops and then in line; my poor Hartke turned into a space heater! That cooling fan was actually blowing out more hot air than the space heater I have in my bathroom before it went into protect mode and shut off. I just learned something; I never would of guessed to hook straight into the post return, kinda like tapping a transformer. The loss of controls makes me wonder about power amp options. This just doesn't seem practical..but it works. Are other power amps more welcoming to a pre-amp? My cab is a svt-410HEN 500Watt 8ohm. Thanks Dave and Ed, you were much more help than the Hartke manual and all the blogs I read. Hostile takeover with an F-1x.

David Houck · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2010, 08:53:54 PM »

Just to make sure we're on the same page with nomenclature, your Hartke is not a power amp; it's a bass head that includes both a preamp and a power amp. Since the F-1X is itself a preamp, what we've done is bypass the preamp section of your head and we're just using the power amp section. Most stand alone power amps have volume controls, and only volume controls.

I'm thinking your svt-410HEN is not a good match for your Hartke, as this particular 410 is looking for a lot more power at 8 ohms than the Hartke can provide. Your Hartke is rated at 400 watts into 4 ohms; so it's probably capable of around 225 to 250 watts into 8 ohms. This cab needs a power amp that can provide around 500 watts at 8 ohms. Or you could get a 4 ohm cab that's rated around 400 ohms watts to match up with the Hartke.

(Message edited by davehouck on March 12, 2010)

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2010, 10:57:42 AM »

Oops, I'm betting Dave meant 400 watts in post 9165 above.
Mike

electronicstud · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2010, 03:31:39 PM »

ok.. thanks, now I just checked to make sure that the original speakers are in there..32 ohm each, that means to get 8 ohm they are in parallel. and now i realize that disconnecting a speaker or 2 will most likely not help at all. hmm thought I was slick there for a min. Thanks for setting me straight.

elwoodblue · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2010, 04:24:20 PM »

Here's a nice little ohm calculator for cabs I have bookmarked.

rjmsteel · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2010, 04:38:22 PM »

Thanks, elwoodblue, for the very nice calculator link.

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2010, 05:08:06 PM »

Thanks Mike! It's a bit concerning that no matter how many times I proof read something, there's still an obvious error that I just don't see.

elwoodblue · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2010, 05:12:34 PM »

LOL...I kept reading 'watts' just because it made sense, I couldn't find the error even after Mike pointed it out.

electronicstud · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2010, 06:40:16 PM »

I hear speak of a power amp without an intregrated preamp. I have done a bit of searching but without any results. With all of the stand alone preamps available there must be a market for a beastly power amp without a preamp section. Perhaps with 2, 1000 watt channels (4 ohm)? Anyways... does anyone know where I could buy a power amp made with the intensions of a separate preamp (or 2) being used? Or does everyone have to spend $1500 or more on a quality combo (pre and power) amp head only to bypass the preamp section with their favorite separate preamp(F-1X)? thx.

David Houck · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2010, 06:51:46 PM »

There are lots of great power amps out there. Many of us here use QSC, Crown, Stewart and many others. My rig is powered by a QSC PLX 2402.