20 • 550x
550x POWER DELIVERY CAPABILITIES (POWER RATINGS)
After determining how the number of cabinets you wish to run affects the total operating impedance, you need to take into
account the power handling capabilities of your speaker cabinets as compared to what the 550x can deliver at that imped-
ance. Those ratings are as follows:
550 Watts @ 4 ohms
375 Watts @ 8 ohms
So if you have two 8 ohm speaker cabinets, they will each get up to 275 watts of power, and more during transient peaks. A
single 4 ohm cabinet will get 550 watts of power, and again, more during peaks. Make sure your speaker cabinet(s) can han-
dle the power.
Also be aware that when running the amp at 4 ohms with extreme settings on the Gain and Master controls and the Limiter cir-
cuit disengaged, you may hear audible clipping of the power amp. If so, you have exceeded the maximum capacity of the
power amp. POWER AMP CLIPPING CAN CAUSE DAMAGE BOTH TO ITSELF AND YOUR SPEAKER CABINETS. Either re-engage
the Limiter (by pushing in on the Effects Blend control) to help smooth out the peaks, or back off on the Gain and Master con-
trols.
Remember, it's always better to have a little too much power than just barely enough. If you find yourself constantly wanting
more power than the 550x provides, either:
a) tell your bandmates to turn down
b) tell the monitor engineer to turn you up
c) (best option) take the time to investigate getting an external power amp and/or additional speaker
cabinets to supplement your rig.
One last time: The best two-cabinet setup is to use two 8-ohm enclosures.
NOTE: The frequency response of the 550x is far greater than usually found in musical instrument
amplifiers (20 Hz to 40K Hz). This was engineered in order to give the bass player the same punch
and clarity on stage as found in the studio or concert P.A. systems. Therefore, it is doubly important
that you are aware of the impedance and power rating of the speakers that you intend to use, and
that they are compatible with the 550x. Speakers that have been overdriven are easy to detect and
generally do not fall under a manufacturer's warranty.
SPEAKER OUTPUT JACKS
Two 1/4" phone jacks and two Speakon Jacks (all wired in parallel) are provided for connection of the 550x to your speaker
system. Whenever possible, use of the Speakon jacks is recommended. Speakon jacks and connectors offer the best possible
connection and are far superior to banana or 1/4" phone jacks in that they not only lock in place (preventing accidental dis-
connection), but also offer a greater and more stable connection surface. This solid connection provides a more effective
transfer of power to your speakers.
Only SPEAKER CABLE of 18 gauge or heavier (the heavier the cable, the lower the gauge) should be used to connect your
550x to your speaker system. Do not use shielded instrument cable to connect your amplifier to your speaker enclosure, as
this can result in intermittent power loss, cause your amp to oscillate and damage itself and/or your speakers, and render the
cable useless for any purpose.
NOTE: Unlike some amplifiers on the market, the 550x can be used for recording purposes without
speakers attached to the speaker output jacks (using only the Balanced [XLR] Output).
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