Considering switching to Pre + Power amp instead of head. Suggestions?

ledyard · #1 10-02-2010, 09:41 PM

Ok, I have been contemplating this the last week. I love my SVT II. Love it. But I dont even have a wireless, tuner, conditioner, ect in my rack yet and i'm at or over 75 lb. Now I am the last one to complain. I take a big cab with me no matter what size the gig. Big production or no production is usually my motto.
I was considering going to pre/power split pieces to see if I could save some weight and how much.
The first thing is the Pre would be an Ampeg SVP. Thats not an issue. The question is what power amp and why?
I looked into maybe doing this 2-3 years ago and started to look at the new Crown and QSC amps but didnt pursue it.

My basic requirements are:
1) must have more head room than i will ever need. ie: 1000 watts minimum. Preferably 1500 or above at 4 ohms mono. I dont care if thats one side or bridged.

2) I'm trying to save weight so as light as possible while still being as indestructable as possible. Tour quality gear.

3) And ofcourse I dont want to pay $1500 for a power amp. Something affordable.

Something that sounds good on its own. If you plug direct into a power amp its sterile clean power. But line a bunch of them up and they will sound a little different.

poorbassist15 · #2 10-02-2010, 09:49 PM

Sounds like you want a Peavey power amp.

If it's power you want, I suggest this, but it's 52 pounds

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...ier?sku=481330

3,800 watts.

Something with less weight and 1,000 watts

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...Amp?sku=476312

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...Amp?sku=481388

and 1800 watts.

There you go.

ashtray · #3 10-02-2010, 09:50 PM

As strange a concept as it was to me, power amps do sound different - and they do act differently too. Luckily for me I'm WAY too ignorant on the topic to know any better! hahaha (ignorance is bliss... I have a QSC RMX 1450 - and I like it, though it's got some weight to it)

What I did was got rid of my 6 space rack in favor of a 2u and a 3u. In the 2u I have my power conditioner (which people will tell you is questionable, but I had already bought mine so I'm going to use it) and my preamp. In the 3u I have a tuner and the QSC. Doesn't take much to hook the two cases together, and each one is "light" enough to carry... well, lighter than they would be combined! It's still a heavy beast.

I think it was Peavey that came out with some lightweight high powered amps that had the option of stereo and bridging - but don't know anything about how they sound, function, etc. I'm sure people here can chime in.

poorbassist15 · #4 10-02-2010, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashtray

As strange a concept as it was to me, power amps do sound different - and they do act differently too. Luckily for me I'm WAY too ignorant on the topic to know any better! hahaha (ignorance is bliss... I have a QSC RMX 1450 - and I like it, though it's got some weight to it)

What I did was got rid of my 6 space rack in favor of a 2u and a 3u. In the 2u I have my power conditioner (which people will tell you is questionable, but I had already bought mine so I'm going to use it) and my preamp. In the 3u I have a tuner and the QSC. Doesn't take much to hook the two cases together, and each one is "light" enough to carry... well, lighter than they would be combined! It's still a heavy beast.

I think it was Peavey that came out with some lightweight high powered amps that had the option of stereo and bridging - but don't know anything about how they sound, function, etc. I'm sure people here can chime in.

I just posted one, I think someone else makes light power amps, I just can't remember who.

Oh, and I just found this. Who needs this much power?

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...ku=481434#used

ashtray · #5 10-02-2010, 10:02 PM

As an aside, I think there's a limit to how much power an amp can give you running off a regular 15A (?) wall socket. 1,200-1,500 watts, if I remember... read it on the internet, so it must be true, right?

(actually, I read it here somewhere so...)

anderbass · #6 10-02-2010, 10:16 PM

When... I mean If you find your disappointed in your new poweramp and decide to go back to your SVT-II, just rack it by itself and get another shallow effects rack for your other gear.

poorbassist15 · #7 10-02-2010, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashtray

As an aside, I think there's a limit to how much power an amp can give you running off a regular 15A (?) wall socket. 1,200-1,500 watts, if I remember... read it on the internet, so it must be true, right?

(actually, I read it here somewhere so...)

Wire it from your house's circuit breaker, proceed.

BuzzKing · #8 10-02-2010, 11:09 PM

Look at the QSC PLX series and the Crown XLS series poweramps. Light, affordable, and relatively transparent. I currently use a Fender preamp with a QSC PLX 1602. I am looking at getting the Crown XLS1500 because it is only 9 lbs!!!

BK

Dark Barn · #9 10-02-2010, 11:14 PM

I use a pre/power set up and I'm happy with it, personally I may never roll with a regular head ever again, although some of these micros are tempting. However if you're happy with the tone and volume of your SVT II, don't sell it just to make space/save weight for stuff like a wireless or rack tuner and especially not for a "power conditioner".

Stompbox tuners all the way. 1/4" cable all the way. Surge protection power strips all the way. Now this is just my opinion, but here's how it may be important to you: The tone you get from your SVT II represents a synergy of both the pre AND power amp sections of the head. A SVP pro pre with a crown power amp is highly unlikely to sound the same to you, maybe you'll prefer it, maybe not...

Point is, if you want to chase better tone down the rabbit hole then YES by all means you should. But if you just want this other fluff then IMO it's not worth getting rid of something you like and already works to your satisfaction for tchotchkes that impart nothing to your sound (well, maybe the tuner...)

My 2 cents.

ledyard · #10 10-03-2010, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Barn

I use a pre/power set up and I'm happy with it, personally I may never roll with a regular head ever again, although some of these micros are tempting. However if you're happy with the tone and volume of your SVT II, don't sell it just to make space/save weight for stuff like a wireless or rack tuner and especially not for a "power conditioner".

Stompbox tuners all the way. 1/4" cable all the way. Surge protection power strips all the way. Now this is just my opinion, but here's how it may be important to you: The tone you get from your SVT II represents a synergy of both the pre AND power amp sections of the head. A SVP pro pre with a crown power amp is highly unlikely to sound the same to you, maybe you'll prefer it, maybe not...

Point is, if you want to chase better tone down the rabbit hole then YES by all means you should. But if you just want this other fluff then IMO it's not worth getting rid of something you like and already works to your satisfaction for tchotchkes that impart nothing to your sound (well, maybe the tuner...)

My 2 cents.

No, i'm not trying to chase a better tone. Just maybe go to 1/3 the weight. If i use the SVP it will still have the ampeg flavor so I will have no issues.
But just to clarify..I WILL NOT be selling my SVT II

.
ALso, either way I get a spare/2nd rig out of it too.

RickenBoogie · #11 10-03-2010, 07:35 AM

Way too many great sounding lightweight heads on the market to justify a full rack kit to reduce weight.

Rumblefisher · #12 10-03-2010, 07:44 AM

^^^^^^^ +1

or if you must go the power amp route:

Aguilar DB728 tube power amp

aledeville · #13 10-03-2010, 09:21 AM

What about an Alto D3? 1500W at 8 Ohms bridged.

steveksux · #14 10-03-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzKing

Look at the QSC PLX series and the Crown XLS series poweramps. Light, affordable, and relatively transparent. I currently use a Fender preamp with a QSC PLX 1602. I am looking at getting the Crown XLS1500 because it is only 9 lbs!!!

BK

+1000 I have the crown K1, and eagerly awaiting it's death so I can drop the weight and get an XLS1500... Only a few hundred bucks, too, very cheap.

Damn thing won't die.

Relatively few choices in preamps compared to heads, but there are some fine ones out there.

Eden navigator, great preamp, I have one. Expensive though, for more reasonable prices there's been some good reviews of the BBE-Max T (has tube preamp). Probably many more out there.

Randy

steveksux · #15 10-03-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashtray

As an aside, I think there's a limit to how much power an amp can give you running off a regular 15A (?) wall socket. 1,200-1,500 watts, if I remember... read it on the internet, so it must be true, right?

(actually, I read it here somewhere so...)

120 V x 15A = 1800 W available from a 15 amp service. That's on average, so it can draw more for peaks assuming slo blo fuses or circuit breakers.

Regular power amps are far from 100% efficient, so the actual power available would not be too close to that. Class D amps are way more efficient, you could get 1500 watts out of one of those without blowing a breaker. Give or take, I don't have the efficiency figures offhand.

Randy

ledyard · #16 10-04-2010, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aledeville

What about an Alto D3? 1500W at 8 Ohms bridged.

It needs to be 4 ohms.

As far as buying another "head" thats light weight, I have considered the Carvin BX1500 (or is it 2000, i forget but the BX). I dont want to buy just another head because I want to keep the Ampeg tone.
I was actually looking at the QSC plx series last time I was looking at amps. I have to look again.
The peavey stuff isnt what I'm after unless its the big gun. Then it weighs a ton. So no.
I'f i'm going to bother at all with this whole deal I want to have case, pre and amp under 30 ln. Which shouldnt be an issue.

Aussie Mark · #17 10-11-2010, 04:23 PM

I run an Alembic F-1X pre into a QSC PLX 1804 (2 x 900w @ 4 ohms). This rig weighs 30lbs all up including the 3RU SKB roto case.

Hard to beat that for power/weight/price/tone.

murphy · #18 10-11-2010, 07:37 PM

I use an F2b with a SWR stereo 800 for optimum sound or PLX2402 for more power.
But Markbass SA450 always gets the gig....because it's so much easier

Jim Carr · #19 10-11-2010, 07:45 PM

The QSC PLX and PLX2 series get my vote for light and powerful. I use a lead sled at times, my CA6, which has oceans of clean head room. However, my current passion is a Mesa Boogie Carbine M9—which you would hate since you love ampeg. That said, I must say losing 50 lbs from ones rack is almost as good as losing it from one's waist line!

johnk_10 · #20 10-11-2010, 07:55 PM

and SVP-CL (or SVP-Pro) with a Crown xti2000 will give you 2K watts bridged mono in a pretty light package. and a Crown drivecore XLS1500 will knock 10 more pounds off of that (1500 watts). IMO, for the tone, power, weight, and money, there aren't many (if any) heads that even come close to that.