Sufficient Power?

[chevelle100]

I currently have a behringer ep2000 running off of a Numark M1USB mixer to power a pair of Cerwin Vega PD18C speakers. What I'm wondering is if I ran both speakers off of one channel and got an external crossover, whether or not I would have enough power on the other channel to run something like a Tuba HT? I realize I won't be retaining stereo. I'm pretty new to all of this, so thank you for your help!

[Grant Bunter]

I currently have a behringer ep2000 running off of a Numark M1USB mixer to power a pair of Cerwin Vega PD18C speakers. What I'm wondering is if I ran both speakers off of one channel and got an external crossover, whether or not I would have enough power on the other channel to run something like a Tuba HT? I realize I won't be retaining stereo. I'm pretty new to all of this, so thank you for your help!

Hi Chevelle100,
Welcome to the forum

The ep2000 is perhaps best described as underpowered to take the larger of the tuba series with premium drivers to full potential. Which particular tuba were you looking at?

You may as well know up front, any of Bill's pro sub designs require brick wall limiting to protect the drivers and the Behringer DCX2496 is a great example. It will also do crossover duty, and some mild EQing.
It's quite likely that your cerwin vega's will take on a new lease of life run as tops!

There's heaps that can be learnt here, and lots of people are willing to help, so enjoy your time...

[MissileCrisis]

I irc the tuba HT is a home audio subwoofer. So as long as that is its intended use you don't need as much power. The max I would run a tht is 28-30v which is like 200 watts. Bills pro subs will take about 40-50v depending on the driver used which ballparks at 350-400watts on the higher end. Mind you the pro subs are almost all 8ohms or more so you're actually looking for a decently beefy amp to run them. What you have should run 1 sub to near max if not max potential but if you were to add on I'd recommend a seperate amp for subs and tops. Best of luck friend and I hope I can be of assistance.

[sine143]

if your use for the THT is in the Home, then you dont need limiting... You WILL probably want stereo though if its for HT

if your application is NOT in the home, then you should probably try and go with something other than the THT.

[Grant Bunter]

Ooops, missed the Tuba HT.

I wouldn't use that live, that's not it's application...

[chevelle100]

The purpose really is for music in my home (college setting) along with use for some games and home theatre. I like the Tuba HT because of its ability to reach such low frequencies at high decibel ranges, making it suitable for shaking everything like an a**hole college kid. But really, I'm not concerned about stereo because I'm not going for a hi-fidelity sharp sounding HT system currently, especially with the cerwins. I would prefer to get away without a speaker management system and just use an external crossover if at all possible to save money. Would it be more appropriate to run something like a T39 in this situation?

[sine143]

the problem you're going to run into is the requirement for both a hipass, and a lopass on your sub, as well as a hipass on your current mains.

a tht leans towards the home theater side of things, as little music takes advantage of it low extension (very little music). if you still want to go LOW, perhaps a Table Tuba, or dual loaded table tuba would be more up your alley. these still require similar processsing (lopass and hipass on subs, hipass on tops).

[Grant Bunter]

The purpose really is for music in my home (college setting) along with use for some games and home theatre. I like the Tuba HT because of its ability to reach such low frequencies at high decibel ranges, making it suitable for shaking everything like an a**hole college kid. But really, I'm not concerned about stereo because I'm not going for a hi-fidelity sharp sounding HT system currently, especially with the cerwins. I would prefer to get away without a speaker management system and just use an external crossover if at all possible to save money. Would it be more appropriate to run something like a T39 in this situation?

Thats explains heaps including your thinking on the Tuba HT.

The T39 as a single has to be high passed at 45Hz. If you want response lower than that, a single T30 can be high passed at 35Hz, but the T39 will be louder.

Sad to say, you can't go without some form of processing, an external crossover just doesn't do what needs to be done to protect your driver(s). IMO this is even more important with one cab. There is another option, to get an amp that has on board DSP. You don't seem to mind Behringer, so the Inuke series amps fit the requirements nicely. Maybe you could sell the EP2000 to a college buddy to recoup some costs.

I'm not sure I understand how adding a sub solves your problem, unless you were planning to stack the CV's on top of the sub on one side only. If that's your plan, stack the CV's vertically on top of the sub, with the topmost CV upside down, so the HF drivers are closest together.
It sounds heaps better (even without a sub), try it...

[chevelle100]

The linked behringer DSP would provide both high and low pass necessary, correct? My idea was to run both CV's off of one channel (series?) and then to run the sub off of the other channel. The reason is to provide greater bass and be able to drive the mids and horn tweeters higher since they have greater power handling (I believe) than the 18" woofers which bring the amp into clipping. Interesting... what would be the most I would be able to drive with this amp then? Also, wouldn't the THT still be pretty viable for music? I know it reaches low but it seems like it had higher sensitivity going into higher frequencies as well. Ultimately I want something that is loud and will reach low frequencies. Space is not an issue, building ability is not an issue, but budget is best constrained.

[sine143]

you may have looked at the corner loaded box. the TT is the box to go with. sacrifices extension below 30hz for higher sensitivity and smaller box.

[chevelle100]

In what way would that be preferable to the THT?

[sine143]

It smaller, its an easier build, its just as loud if not louder in the music pass band, and its cheaper due to less wood and less expensive drivers (even a dual loaded mcm box is AT LEAST half the price than a single loaded tht)

[chevelle100]

MCM? How low can the TT go frequency wise? And would a DSP and one channel of my EP2000 be sufficient to run it?

[Michael Murphy]

Q1. http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/T18.htm
Q2. http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/TT.html
Q3. DSP not required. Experts validate this for me.
Q4. EP 2000 1 channel has enough power. Experts validate this for me.

[Ryan A]

MCM? How low can the TT go frequency wise? And would a DSP and one channel of my EP2000 be sufficient to run it?

TT extends to 30hz or so.

Their power ratings don't match. Chances are you could fry the MCM in short order with that amp. Match the RMS ratings up to find a suitable combo. A dual loaded MCM, series wired, would probably be ok though.