EA iAMP Pro vs Genz Benz Shuttle Max 12.0

ba55i5t · #1 05-20-2010, 06:19 PM

Hey all,

I'm looking for a small, lightweight, powerful, portable head which features semi-parametric EQ options and packs a punch. I am slightly stuck between these two heads, despite my availability to demo them in stores.

Can anyone drop their .02 as to why one may be better than the other, any advantages, or anything like that?

I'm looking for a really middy tone that can cut through two distorted guitars, and am wondering which one could do the job better.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

EA iAMP Pro

Genz Benz Shuttle Max 12 FRONT

Genz Benz Shuttle Max 12 REAR

MysticMichael · #2 05-20-2010, 06:27 PM

Subscribed...

MM

RickenBoogie · #3 05-20-2010, 06:35 PM

Well, if it were me, I'd opt for the one with less knobs, in this casse, the EA. But really, shouldn't it be a matter of which one sounds better to you?

ba55i5t · #4 05-20-2010, 06:42 PM

It should be, but the stores around me don't have either the GB or EA in stock to demo.

rpsands · #5 05-20-2010, 07:46 PM

The Iamp 800 was one of my favorite heads. Liked it a lot better than the tube preamp shuttle I owned (6.0). However, I would say the fet preamp on the Shuttle 3.0 is comparable to my ears in "tone", except for slightly inferior tone shaping.

The shuttlemax has fantastic tone shaping but cannot push a single cabinet as hard as the iamp can. Not a huge downside, but i NEVER use two cabinets pretty much so it would be for me

The Iamp series loses out in one spot, which is that it has an inferior low end shelving mechanic, which causes it to thud a little on bottom - way too open for live bass if you need to push the amp hard or your speakers can't take the <40hz stuff.

If it were between the EA and a Shuttlemax 9.0 (not out yet) I would go with the SMax 9. Between the Smax 12 and the EA, that's an easy choice: EA!

A shuttlemax 6 might be a good compromise if you never need more than 2 cabs. It's a lot cheaper than either and has great tone shaping.

Thornton Davis · #6 05-20-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ba55i5t

It should be, but the stores around me don't have either the GB or EA in stock to demo.

If you want to take a drive to Barrie, you're welcome to demo my ShuttleMAX 12.0

You can test it driving either one or two 410 cabs. PM me if interested.

TD

silky smoove · #7 05-20-2010, 10:43 PM

A really middy tone does not describe the iAmp Pro to me. It's a much more polite amp than a middy one. Also not an amp I would use in a heavy context, which is what I assume you're using it for since you were concerned with cutting through two heavy guitars.

That said, the iAmp Pro into a Berg AE410 was one of the best tonal combinations that I've ever heard. Quite stunning to my ears, but I'm not doing the whole "heavy guitar" thing anymore, so I'm not convinced it would be a good pairing.

babebambi · #8 05-20-2010, 11:00 PM

the iAmp Pro is 4 ohm minimum , right?

silky smoove · #9 05-20-2010, 11:12 PM

I thought it went down to 2 ohms... I could be wrong on that one though...

CDweller · #10 05-20-2010, 11:28 PM

Pretty sure the Pro goes down to two ohms. A guy from EA posts here, and I recall he mentioned it goes down to two, although this is not mentioned in any promo material for the amp.

I too am looking at these amps, as well as a Carvin B2000 and a WW Ultra. I just love having more power on tap than I'll ever need- effortless volume when needed.

Not a fan of too many buttons and knobs, and thus the EA Pro is more appealing than the Shuttlemax 12. If the Carvin has a suitable tone, I don't mind spending a lot less money.

babebambi · #11 05-21-2010, 12:49 AM

I remember reading about the Pro going to 2 ohm in the mega thread too, but I couldn't remember that the last word was... So it's one of those "it can do 2 ohm, but we are not putting it in writing" kinda scenario?

I bought this up because the OP never mentioned the cab(s) he intended to use. If the iAmp goes to 2 ohm, the the amp choice is down to preference; but if not then the choice will depends more on the cab(s).

B String · #12 05-21-2010, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDweller

Pretty sure the Pro goes down to two ohms. A guy from EA posts here, and I recall he mentioned it goes down to two, although this is not mentioned in any promo material for the amp.

I too am looking at these amps, as well as a Carvin B2000 and a WW Ultra. I just love having more power on tap than I'll ever need- effortless volume when needed.

Not a fan of too many buttons and knobs, and thus the EA Pro is more appealing than the Shuttlemax 12. If the Carvin has a suitable tone, I don't mind spending a lot less money.

I took the Pro out for a while. My main gripe with the amp was
that on the gig, it was VERY hard to tell which of the little
black buttons were in or out. It seemed like they were pushed
in by accident quite often. It was weird to change tone on the
fly. The slider and button combinations were great if you had
time to work it out.
Having said that, I'm not sure how much simpler the 12 is.
My 9.0 is very easy to see everything and change on the fly.
I'd like to have a few more bands of the same type eq. I think
I'd buy a Shuttlemax 9.

**Freddels** · #13 05-21-2010, 04:41 AM

The ShuttleMax 12 is voiced differently than the Shuttle 6.0. The Max 12 has much more lows and low mids. Also the ability to use either the FET or the tube preamp or mix them is a great option. The iAmp Pro does do 2 ohms and the Max 12 can do 4 ohms on each side.

peterpalmieri · #14 05-21-2010, 04:51 AM

I own an IAMP Pro, and it does do 2 ohms safe, I have no shuttle experience.

I find the Iamp layout to be perfect for dialing in my tone, at first it seems confusing but once you learn the head it is intuitive. I love the tone and it gets ridiculously loud. Each EQ point gives you the ability to choose the center frequency and the two mid EQ points also allow you to choose the Q width. Great functionality but honestly I do very little in terms of EQ to get a great tone out of this amp.

Both these amps are relatively small but neither is ultra light or something I'd consider micro, just an FYI

KJung · #15 05-21-2010, 05:26 AM

As has been alluded to above, the Shuttle Max 12 is a dual mono amp that cannot be bridged... so you need two 4ohm cabs for it to reach its full volume. NICE sounded head, but the Shuttle 9 would be the more 'apples to apples' comparison with the iAmpPro.

I had an iAmp800 for a while.... very extended in the low end (IMO, that's not a good thing), very modern (I would say 'clinical') up top, and polite in the mid response. Just like the Shuttle 9, I found the presets out the iAmp totally useless (way too extreme). However, if you like a very hi fi (as we use that term on TB... HUGE low end, sizzly top end, and a touch of scoop to the inherent tone), the iAmp would be a good call.

If you want it small, bright, punchy, the Shuttle 9 sounds great. Another couple of 'big power into 4ohm' heads to consider are the Markbass SD1200 and the Carvin B2000...