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[Corey Scogin]

The plate amps on eBay are set with the correct DSP for a TH118. AFAIK the tweakable SP modules are only available to OEMs and you need the right software to set them. I’m sure their consumer model will “work” but not as well. You could get a new one thru Danley.

I wasn't considering buying a consumer model from Speakerpower. I've purchased a plate amp before through Danley for another sub so I have an idea about what that price should be.

[Rick Powell]

I wasn't considering buying a consumer model from Speakerpower. I've purchased a plate amp before through Danley for another sub so I have an idea about what that price should be.

I saw the ad too and was surprised what they are asking. I guess that’s what the “Make Offer” button is for. I have seen 2 or 3 sets of Speakerpower modules for sale, pulled out of a TH115 or TH118 in the past few years.

[Art Welter]

I'm using 71V for RMS and 101 for Peak (corresponding to the "program" capability of the sub and 3 ohm min impedance, for safety)
According to the power chart, the PLD4.5 in ABC config is only capable of 98V at 4ohm (2400W).

At an outdoor event recently, I got to a point where more fader wasn't corresponding to more sound and the limiters weren't engaging - RMS or Peak.

Corey,

Assuming the Danley plate amp is the SP-4001, it puts out the same at four ohms as the PLD4.5 in ABC mode, 2400 watts.
Going to ABCD mode only gets 3000 watts, not worth changing things around.

I tested the SP-4001 using various drivers. It had plenty of power to fry a pair of LAB-12s, but I felt the BC-18SW115-4 still could have used another 3dB or so peak, though 2400 watts with some EDM tracks would be enough to toast it too.

Assuming DSL's revised impedance chart for the TH-118 is now correct, (no longer on the spec sheet  ) it does not drop below 4 ohms with the BC-18SW115-4, the 3 ohm minimum was with an 18Sound driver that has not been used AFAIK since before 2011.
The sensitivity and frequency response of the current TH-118 spec sheet have been revised downward also, with the taller TH-118XL now appearing to be the same level at 30 Hz as the older TH-118 spec....

Art

[Corey Scogin]

Assuming the Danley plate amp is the SP-4001, it puts out the same at four ohms as the PLD4.5 in ABC mode, 2400 watts.
Going to ABCD mode only gets 3000 watts, not worth changing things around.

The plate amp is the SP1-2400...which I think is what you meant.
According to the PLD4.5 spec on the QSC website, ABC channel config at 4ohm is rated for 2400W continuous and 2500W peak.
In AB+CD configuration, that jumps to 4200W continuous and 7500W peak. That should be a least a few DB and somewhat noticeable for kick drum punch.

Assuming DSL's revised impedance chart for the TH-118 is now correct, (no longer on the spec sheet  ) it does not drop below 4 ohms with the BC-18SW115-4, the 3 ohm minimum was with an 18Sound driver that has not been used AFAIK since before 2011.
The sensitivity and frequency response of the current TH-118 spec sheet have been revised downward also, with the taller TH-118XL now appearing to be the same level at 30 Hz as the older TH-118 spec....

I had wondered about that as well. I went looking for the minimum impedance value for the TH118 to verify my previous notes and I had to dig out an old spec sheet I saved back when I bought the TH118s around 2012/2013. @Art, where did you find the minimum impedance spec? If @Ivan is paying attention, I wouldn't mind a brief explanation about the spec revision...what was the reason for the change? the new driver? Given that the minimum impedance is often used for voltage limiter calculations, shouldn't it be on the spec sheet?

[Mark Wilkinson]

I'm using 71V for RMS and 101 for Peak (corresponding to the "program" capability of the sub and 3 ohm min impedance, for safety)
According to the power chart, the PLD4.5 in ABC config is only capable of 98V at 4ohm (2400W).

At an outdoor event recently, I got to a point where more fader wasn't corresponding to more sound and the limiters weren't engaging - RMS or Peak. There's a good chance that I won't gain much of anything with a larger amp or an extra PLD in ABCD mode but having the extra capability and letting the voltage peak limiter do its job I suspect will sound better than the amp hitting its max voltage.

My setup on the PLD4.5 of ABC channel config for a TH118 and D for an SM80 works quite well. I've never needed more indoors. More often, I'm not even close to the maximum capability of the system. This recent outdoor gig just got me considering options. I've worked outdoor gigs before and been happy. This one was just larger and in an amphitheater that, oddly, got thin quickly toward the back.

Also what got me thinking about this is there are some TH118 plate amps on Ebay I'm considering. (though not at the asking price btw. I know how much they are new). Not sure if the seller is on the psw forums.

Thx Corey, your settings are right in line with what I've been using on similar power handing subs.

I'm kinda wondering about  outdoors on a bigger gig than usual, if maybe you weren't running into compression, ...and you just knew enough not to raise the slider further (without getting to 70v cont)

Because here's Danley's posted setting.... Thermal Limiter: 40 Volts, 3.0 Seconds Attack, 1.0X Release (multiplier of Attack)
Maybe Ivan will see this and comment....

I also wonder about the PLD 4.5's ability to produce peak voltage,  when channels are paralleled.
Like you say, 3 ch ABC specs 2500W peak into 4ohms, or  100v. 
4ch ABCD  peak at 3000W into 4, or 110v  (with NO increase in continuous 2400 watts!...actually a 100w decrease from 3ch to 2300 unless it's a misprint)

AB+CD, 4 channels combined in parallel/bridge specs 4200W cont into 4 ohms, and 7500W peak, or 173v.
That should get the lights going, huh ?


(I know you know all these specs, I was just throwing them into the thread for others following...oops see you already did
Sorry I have nothing to add re plate amps)

[Art Welter]

1)The plate amp is the SP1-2400...which I think is what you meant.
2)According to the PLD4.5 spec on the QSC website, ABC channel config at 4ohm is rated for 2400W continuous and 2500W peak.
In AB+CD configuration, that jumps to 4200W continuous and 7500W peak. That should be a least a few DB and somewhat noticeable for kick drum punch.
3)I had wondered about that as well. I went looking for the minimum impedance value for the TH118 to verify my previous notes and I had to dig out an old spec sheet I saved back when I bought the TH118s around 2012/2013. @Art, where did you find the minimum impedance spec?

Corey,
1) I actually meant SP1-4000, which is rated 4000W/2 ohm, 2400W/4, 1300W/8, it weighs only 7 lbs.
2) Missed the AB+CD configuration, that should make the cones jump ;^)
3)The "old" TH-118 spec sheet (impedance chart 2/11/10, "anywhere on earth", different FR chart date) was not changed after the driver was, and had an 18Sound driver in the photo. May 17, 2018 I downloaded the spec sheet again, and noticed the impedance chart had changed- the increase in impedance between the 18Sound and BC18SW115-4 would account for the increase, but not the frequency change in peaks and dips, unless the cabinet had also changed.
Then on June 24, 2018, I downloaded the new TH-118 and TH-118XL spec sheets, which updated the frequency response and sensitivity, but no longer included impedance charts.

The "old" spec is on the left, "newer" on the right, TH-118XL separate screen shots. Note the larger "XL" now has about the same LF response as the "old", and the "new" now has less, as well as 3 dB less overall sensitivity.

Art

[Brandon Scopel]

I was eyeballing the crest prolite 7.5 if I ever get around to buying some, with a seperate DSP since IIRC 2 of the 7.5 could be had for around the same as the pld4.5.

[John Chiara]

I was eyeballing the crest prolite 7.5 if I ever get around to buying some, with a seperate DSP since IIRC 2 of the 7.5 could be had for around the same as the pld4.5.

A friend has the Crests...they work.

[Roch Lafleur]

I got 4 passive TH118s a few years back. At the time, I had 2 Crown IT-6000s to power the subs. They were really happy and sounded amazing. However, I often play in smaller venues where power can be an issue. After reading up on the SpeakerPower plate amps and Langston review, I sold the Crowns and purchased 2 SP1-4000 and installed them into 2 of the 4 subs. Ivan was nice enough to provide me with detailed instructions on how to calculate the voltage in order to set the limiter in my processor.

Sometimes I wonder if I would be better with separate power amps, but I have not had an issue with the SpeakerPower plate amps. This weekend was a good reminder of how modular the system is. I had to provide sound on 2 separate stages at a local fair. I was also the bass player in both bands. So I set up one powered sub at each location. Each sub powered a second (passive) sub. Easy peasy, no heavy amps to carry and very low power draw.

My only complaint is that after a few years, the silk screen print on the amps is all about gone. But it's hard to mess up... plug in XLR, powercon, speakon to 2nd sub, turn on power switch and turn volume all the way up.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the setup.

[ProSoundWeb Community]