Grateful Dead Music Forum

Ok, I know next to nothing about connecting things up properly, and was wondering if maybe you guys could help me out.

So my setup will be FYD Preamp > Carvin DCM200L > SSP 2x12 with K120s.

I am just trying to figure out whether or not I use both channels of the Carvin or just the one since the FYD has two outputs. Then I am not sure about the Carvin because (I think) the cab is wired for parallel with a stereo jack, so I am unsure of what and how to hook up everything properly.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all.

Where are you?

Richmond VA.

1/4" out from back of FYD, to Carvins input. Carvin in stereo mode. Each Channel, 1/4" out to each speaker. Cut the ends, expose some braid, twist and insert into K120's. Black is positive. Red is negative on the JBL's. Or just splice the naked end of the speaker cable into the Carvins red and black outputs for each channel. I use actual home audio speaker cable. Thick, and looks like lamp wire.

Searing75 wrote:1/4" out from back of FYD, to Carvins input. Carvin in stereo mode. Each Channel, 1/4" out to each speaker. Cut the ends, expose some braid, twist and insert into K120's. Black is positive. Red is negative on the JBL's. Or just splice the naked end of the speaker cable into the Carvins red and black outputs for each channel. I use actual home audio speaker cable. Thick, and looks like lamp wire.

Thanks for the information.

I've got everything wired up - nothing. The Carvin "Signal" light hasn't come on, which I suppose means it isn't even passing a signal to the speakers, however I can hear the amp turn off (a small click) through the speakers. The power light is on, but I'm not getting anything.

Any ideas?

Your going out of the fyd's output into the Carvins input, correct? Also, adjust the output level on the FYD accordingly.

Searing75 wrote:Your going out of the fyd's output into the Carvins input, correct? Also, adjust the output level on the FYD accordingly.

Wow. Not sure how I missed that...

Well I did get it going last night, and then the Carvin died. Fuse didn't blow - the amp just died. I'm not off to a good start here.

I was using E120s instead of K120s, but I didn't think that would have caused this issue since the power handling on the speakers is higher than the output per channel on the Carvin.

Not really sure what happened, but they are sending me another one thankfully.

lestera34 wrote:

Searing75 wrote:Your going out of the fyd's output into the Carvins input, correct? Also, adjust the output level on the FYD accordingly.

Wow. Not sure how I missed that...

Well I did get it going last night, and then the Carvin died. Fuse didn't blow - the amp just died. I'm not off to a good start here.

I was using E120s instead of K120s, but I didn't think that would have caused this issue since the power handling on the speakers is higher than the output per channel on the Carvin.

Not really sure what happened, but they are sending me another one thankfully.

What Ohms are the speakers? Are you going into each speaker separately? Wired in series/parallel? What output are you using on the Carvin 1/4 inch or XLR?(I have the same amp with an SMS) Is the Ohm switch in or out? How about the Bridge button and the Parallel button. Are you using the 1/4 inch output or the terminals? If the terminals...which ones?

It's a great amp. I love it with the SMS and 2-E120's. I have mine bridged at 200 watts and at 4 pounds it can't be beat. You will love it once it is working.

lightningbolt wrote:

lestera34 wrote:

Searing75 wrote:Your going out of the fyd's output into the Carvins input, correct? Also, adjust the output level on the FYD accordingly.

Wow. Not sure how I missed that...

Well I did get it going last night, and then the Carvin died. Fuse didn't blow - the amp just died. I'm not off to a good start here.

I was using E120s instead of K120s, but I didn't think that would have caused this issue since the power handling on the speakers is higher than the output per channel on the Carvin.

Not really sure what happened, but they are sending me another one thankfully.

What Ohms are the speakers? Are you going into each speaker separately? Wired in series/parallel? What output are you using on the Carvin 1/4 inch or XLR?(I have the same amp with an SMS) Is the Ohm switch in or out? How about the Bridge button and the Parallel button. Are you using the 1/4 inch output or the terminals? If the terminals...which ones?

It's a great amp. I love it with the SMS and 2-E120's. I have mine bridged at 200 watts and at 4 pounds it can't be beat. You will love it once it is working.

Speakers are both 8 (at least that's what they are labelled, I'll test them with my multimeter before putting everything back together). Yes, there is a stereo jack on the cab, so I am going into each separately. So it's wired like this:

FYD > instrument cable (I don't think this is the issue - Dan said use instrument cable out of the preamp) > input 1 on Carvin (1/4"). Parallel switch is in, 1/4" speaker cable out to each input jack on the cab.

Have I done something wrong?

if you ever want to motor down I64-I81 to the NRV, I'd be happy to help out.

The jacks on the back of the cab may be in parallel? In other words, meant to take the signal and carry it onto another cab. Not meant as separate inputs for each speaker. Go out of channel one of the Carvin only, and into one of the input jacks of the cab.

Searing75 wrote:The jacks on the back of the cab may be in parallel? In other words, meant to take the signal and carry it onto another cab. Not meant as separate inputs for each speaker. Go out of channel one of the Carvin only, and into one of the input jacks of the cab.

Ok, this may very well have been my problem. The cab is wired in parallel.

This would make the ohms rating for the cab 4 ohms - so would I be ok with Carvin on the single channel out (I think it wants a minimum of 4 ohms).

So making the change you have recommended above, would I leave the parallel switch out? What about the bridge and minimum load select switches?

lestera34 wrote:

Searing75 wrote:The jacks on the back of the cab may be in parallel? In other words, meant to take the signal and carry it onto another cab. Not meant as separate inputs for each speaker. Go out of channel one of the Carvin only, and into one of the input jacks of the cab.

Ok, this may very well have been my problem. The cab is wired in parallel.

This would make the ohms rating for the cab 4 ohms - so would I be ok with Carvin on the single channel out (I think it wants a minimum of 4 ohms).

So making the change you have recommended above, would I leave the parallel switch out? What about the bridge and minimum load select switches?

Single channel out is fine. It will be 100 watts @ 4 ohms.
Parallel switch out
Bridge switch out
Minimum load switch in

Hopefully that will get you going...then you need to post a review and some sound clips....

lightningbolt wrote:

lestera34 wrote:

Searing75 wrote:The jacks on the back of the cab may be in parallel? In other words, meant to take the signal and carry it onto another cab. Not meant as separate inputs for each speaker. Go out of channel one of the Carvin only, and into one of the input jacks of the cab.

Ok, this may very well have been my problem. The cab is wired in parallel.

This would make the ohms rating for the cab 4 ohms - so would I be ok with Carvin on the single channel out (I think it wants a minimum of 4 ohms).

So making the change you have recommended above, would I leave the parallel switch out? What about the bridge and minimum load select switches?

Single channel out is fine. It will be 100 watts @ 4 ohms.
Parallel switch out
Bridge switch out
Minimum load switch in

Will
Hopefully that will get you going...then you need to post a review and some sound clips....

Awesome, thank you sir! I will definitely post my review/thoughts. I haven't ever made clips of anything either, maybe I will give that a spin too.