Im looking for some live sound advice.
If i was working with a powered mixer of 1600 watts / 800 + 800.
and have (2) 1200 watts peak 4 ohms , (2) 1000 watts peak 8ohms, and (2) other speakers which im not sure of specs wise. How loud can it get? would the mixer actually give me 1600 watts of power? Or should i say enough power to make vocals pop out to a small venue with about 100-150 peeps in it? I also have a power amp with 3000 watts @ 80hms bridge.. what does this mean?
If i was working with a powered mixer of 1600 watts / 800 + 800.
and have (2) 1200 watts peak 4 ohms , (2) 1000 watts peak 8ohms, and (2) other speakers which im not sure of specs wise. How loud can it get? would the mixer actually give me 1600 watts of power? Or should i say enough power to make vocals pop out to a small venue with about 100-150 peeps in it? I also have a power amp with 3000 watts @ 80hms bridge.. what does this mean?
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You shouldnt need 1600 watts in a small venue of ~200 people. 200 watts should be enough, else you will deafen your audience. You could be playing death metal of course? 🙂
1) Your amp is capable of a certain amount of power in to a specific impedance, the manual should have that information.
2) Speakers have different sensitivities, 100 watts in to a speaker with 100 dB sensitivity (one watt at one meter) produces the same SPL (sound pressure level) as a speaker with 90 dB sensitivity driven with only 10 watts. The manual for the speakers should have at least some basic sensitivity specifications.
3) "Loud" is relative, a snare drum can produce around 120 dB SPL, a loud guitar amp is also in the same range, while a "loud" acoustic guitar is around 100 dB.
It takes 100 times the power to produce 120 dB compared to 100 dB.
4) Doubling speakers can increase the level by 6 dB, +3 dB for doubling cone area, +3 dB for doubling amp power.
That said, unless the speakers are matched and arrayed properly, doubling up on speakers actually can reduce level due to destructive interference and amplifier current limiting.
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