Powerstage 700 power question

MMFB

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Ive been looking at getting the Powerstage 700. Does anyone know if the rates 700w is program, peak or continuous power?
Thanks!
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

Welcome to the forum!

This is a question that has been asked a few times here, and as I look through the archives (and the product page), I can't seem to find the answer to, at least in a definitive way. It is one of those things that isn't listed in the specs, and probably should be. My first guess is continuous, but that is just a guess until Riley (the New Product guy here at SD) can come in and answer for you. Keep in mind that each discreet side of the PowerStage 700 is 700 watts...so it is pretty powerful.
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

700W of program, peak, continuous, RMS, whatever, are you afraid of running out of headroom?

Sorry, sarcasm intended but not pointed. But if it is peak, it's still about 500W RMS.
 
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Re: Powerstage 700 power question

Thank you for the replies. Yes, 700w @4ohms but 350w per side at 8ohms. Just want to know what power rating they are referring to so I can match it properly to some custom cabinets that will have 300w a side.
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

Gotcha, while I can't imagine playing anywhere that would require running even 1/2 that per cabinet (meaning you would probably not be able to deal with the volume levels before you would get the amp turned up that high), your best bet is to contact SD directly. I would probably just design to those ratings though.

Actually, looking at the website, it doesn't even say that those ratings are per side, I would think they are total ratings, not per side, so again, I would suggest contacting SD.
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

Screenshot_20180412-145000_Chrome.jpg

According to the Sweetwater site it is per side. Maybe someone from SD can clarify this and answer my question?
Thanks!
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

Soooooo does that mean I can run 350w to two 8ohm cabinets and then 700w to FOH or would that be 350w as well?
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

If it is 700 per side and you are running 2X 8 ohm cabinets on one side, that will be a 4 ohm load on that side, so it will be 700W. Not sure how you are planning on running 700W to the FOH, are you planning on running the PA off of one side? You don't want to feed the mixer with a speaker out.

Where do you play that you need 350W - 700W into guitar cabs? Not being a jerk, I just can't imagine... Back when I was playing clubs the soundman would ask me to turn down my 50W Marshall.
 
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Re: Powerstage 700 power question

Well, one cabinet (plan on two for stereo) will be a 2x12 with 2 x 150w at 8ohms each. So, 300w at 8 ohms. 2 for stereo. I assume your Marshall was a tube amp? If so, that is a bit different than solid state volume wise.
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

Well, one cabinet (plan on two for stereo) will be a 2x12 with 2 x 150w at 8ohms each. So, 300w at 8 ohms. 2 for stereo. I assume your Marshall was a tube amp? If so, that is a bit different than solid state volume wise.

a 2x12 with 2 x 150w at 8ohms each
Connected in parallel = 4 Ohms,
or in Series = 16 Ohms.
A 16 Ohm load would bring the output down to around 175 Watts.

350 @ 8 ohms and 700 @ 4 ohms.
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

Well, one cabinet (plan on two for stereo) will be a 2x12 with 2 x 150w at 8ohms each. So, 300w at 8 ohms. 2 for stereo. I assume your Marshall was a tube amp? If so, that is a bit different than solid state volume wise.

If you are running stereo, you need both sides of the Powerstage, I still don't understand your statement about sending 700W to the FOH.

Yes, my Marshall was tube, but we're talking 700W vs 50W here. What the 700W on the Powerstage buys you is lots of headroom, that's where SS comes up short, but in between 1W = 1W no matter how it's made.

FWIW, in reality, you'll probably be fine with a couple of cabs that can handle 150W (or less) each, unless you are trying to play outdoor shows without a PA you'll never get near the limits of the Powerstage. If were to run it wide open, you wouldn't be able to get anywhere near the cabinet at that volume.
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

Remember, the Powerstage 700 has 2 XLR outputs which can have a cab sim activated on them. These are the signals that would go to the PA, not the actual amplified output of the amp, which uses Speakon connectors.
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

Oooohhhh, well it's starting to make more sense then. So what is the out put of the xlr's then?
Thanks for all of your input!
:)
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

the xlrs are line level to feed into a mixer or something similar
 
Re: Powerstage 700 power question

/\ what Jeremy said, you just send a line level signal to the mixer, not a speaker output, that would let the magic smoke out of the mixer electronics real quick.
 
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