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Post subject: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:00 am
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In the future I plan on using the Hughes & Kettner for recording. The amp has a nice direct out, but still needs a speaker load to record. I'd like to record without the speaker volume. Can I hook up the amp to a blown speaker? Does that work?

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:04 am
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No, because a blown speaker will either present no load (voice coil open), or the wrong load (voice coil shorted) and can damage the amp. They do make devices called a "dummy load" for this purpose. For example something like this http://www.parts-express.com/8-ohm-200w ... r--019-030

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:22 am
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Does is say in the manual the direct out itself needs a speaker load?
Or just that the power section needs a load in order for the pre-out to function?
Those are separate issues.
I think I would study the manual carefully.

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:45 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Does is say in the manual the direct out itself needs a speaker load?
Or just that the power section needs a load in order for the pre-out to function?
Those are separate issues.
I think I would study the manual carefully.


It would not make sense for a "direct out" to require a speaker load, but it also does not make 100% sense that the amp requires a speaker load to allow the direct out to work. It may require more reading of the manual but the gist I got it there is a main volume that works for both and the amp itself will not put out anything without a speaker load on it...perhaps for protection but who knows.

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:59 am
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ebaysux wrote:
It would not make sense for a "direct out" to require a speaker load ....


It makes perfect sense. Tube amps need a speaker load (or a dummy load) whenever the output tubes are powered up, whether or not the amp has an input signal.

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 12:48 pm
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GilgaFrank wrote:
ebaysux wrote:
It would not make sense for a "direct out" to require a speaker load ....


It makes perfect sense. Tube amps need a speaker load (or a dummy load) whenever the output tubes are powered up, whether or not the amp has an input signal.


Correct.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 1:23 pm
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A good analogy would be a microwave oven. The food in the microwave is the "load" into which power is delivered. The magnetron will still radiate power into the oven whether there's a "load" inside or not. It's the same with output tubes, they will still pull current through the output transformer with no speaker load connected.

And we all know what happens when you operate a microwave with nothing in it. Bang. Same with a tube amp, for similar reasons.

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 2:29 pm
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Put cab in closet rapped in lots of blankets. Or use a dummy load, attenuator. Does the lineout sound as good as the cab mic'ed?

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 4:33 pm
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Thanks for the responses guys. Yea, the manual does say that there needs to be a load when using the direct out. I think I will just wrap a cabinet in a different area.

Newer Hughes & Kettner amps address the issue with a built in switchable dummy load. But the older models like mine need a speaker hookup.

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:03 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
GilgaFrank wrote:
ebaysux wrote:
It would not make sense for a "direct out" to require a speaker load ....


It makes perfect sense. Tube amps need a speaker load (or a dummy load) whenever the output tubes are powered up, whether or not the amp has an input signal.


Correct.

Arjay


Ah okay perhaps I have not found a reason to use a "direct out" from a tube amp to record. Honestly if you are going to use a tube amp would you not want to just mic a speaker cab anyway? Otherwise what is the point? Use a freakin tube preamp or just go direct. Am I making sense here?

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 12:24 am
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It makes sense. But I have one with the H&K. I don't really want to buy another preamp. I'm sure I'll just build an isolation box for a cab and do both. It was just a thought.

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 1:16 am
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Jah Soldier wrote:
It makes sense. But I have one with the H&K. I don't really want to buy another preamp. I'm sure I'll just build an isolation box for a cab and do both. It was just a thought.


With your (considerable) skills, an iso cab would be mere child's play. I'll bet you knock it out in a weekend.

:wink:

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 6:21 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Jah Soldier wrote:
It makes sense. But I have one with the H&K. I don't really want to buy another preamp. I'm sure I'll just build an isolation box for a cab and do both. It was just a thought.


With your (considerable) skills, an iso cab would be mere child's play. I'll bet you knock it out in a weekend.

:wink:

Arjay

he could also make the dummy load, and probably quite cheaply.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_ar ... yload.html

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 7:40 am
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I really don't want to trust an aftermarket component in this case. If it's not designed by the manufacturer to work with this amp, then I'm not taking any chances. I honestly didn't know that a speaker that didn't make any sound mattered. But now that I know it does, I'm going to keep things the way they are and build a box. That's pretty cheap too. I can get the wood for free and I already have the foam.

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Post subject: Re: Speaker load question.
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:05 am
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That's precisely what manufacturers want you to say.

An 8 ohm load is an 8 ohm load no matter who manufactured it. In fact a resistive load is a far better match for your amp than any speaker. Speaker impedance varies wildly with frequency, a load box presents a far more linear load.

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