Genz Benz ShuttleMAX 9.2 or Carvin BX1500 with fEarful 15/6

nateynate · #1 11-03-2011, 07:28 AM

I've recently built a fEarful 15/6 and am loving it. Had it sprayed with Line-X covering. (pics soon).

I'm normally an Ampeg guy, and as such purchased a Crown XLS1500 and Ampeg SVP-Pro preamp to use with the fEarful. It sounds good.

A friend loaned me his Shuttle 9.0 and it made that cab come alive. I really liked the sound from all my basses.

I am leaning towards getting a ShuttleMAX 9.2 (basically the same amp, but with much more flexible EQ and both tube / FET blendable preamps).

What are you guys' thoughts on thet STL9.2 vs. the Carvin BX1500? I've never played the Carvin.

drdunwoody · #2 11-03-2011, 07:41 AM

I have two Carvin basses and love'em (SB5000 and B50) but I've always been skeptical of their power amps. Heard too many people complain about too many issues. Their new line is totally different so perhaps they have fixed those issues. Others can chime in. I do have a Shuttle 9.0 and I love the size and weight and sound. Perhaps you can find someone on here who has them both and they can give you a shoot-out. I would say that if you tried the GB and loved it, then get it. For me the extra size of the 9.2 over the 9.0 wasn't worth it for my gigging amp.

mophead · #3 11-03-2011, 07:46 AM

Don't forget the Shuttlemax 12. Less power BUT the ability to run two four ohm cabs at the same time. I have never lacked for volume with the Max 12 with one four ohm cab.

And a spare amp inside should one fail. You don't get that on the Max 9.2.

greenboy · #4 11-03-2011, 07:53 AM

The BX is the way.

will33 · #5 11-03-2011, 08:01 AM

If you like a lot of flexible eq, the carvin's the way to go. They can also biamp and you can do stuff like footswitch the graphic on and off to change between sound, say a warmer fingerstyle tone and a snappier slap tone or something. I think they still do the 30 day return thing if it turns out it's just not your cup-o-tea.

svtb15 · #6 11-03-2011, 08:52 AM

I will say that my Genz gear travel extensively with me.. In gig bags or cases , overseas, and local gigs.. It have never failed me.. Never overheated. and i play them hard, loud and they get bounced around alot! takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'

nateynate · #7 11-03-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboy

The BX is the way.

Is it just the power? or is the tone and performance that much better with the Carvin?

I know the STL9.2 will give me 500w @ 8ohms, and the Carvin bridged will give me 900w @ 8ohms. The Shuttle 9.0 I played was LOUD.

greenboy · #8 11-03-2011, 09:33 AM

It's the power. They are both tonally flexible.

nateynate · #9 11-03-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboy

It's the power. They are both tonally flexible.

Thanks GB.. Both for the info and for the amazing fEarful design.

Typically, the shows I play are either smaller venues, or if larger, have very good PA support, so in my experience the 500w has been plenty loud. I have carried around racks of gear and heavy cabs for years, and am excited by the opportunity to carry around a 50lb cab and virtually weightless amp, creating an easily portable rig that sounds amazing and can be used from the smallest venue I play to the largest.

I actually used my SVT3-Pro with the fEarful for a few shows and even though I was only feeding it 275w it sound good, although I could tell the cab wanted more power.

I'll try to play a BX1500 before I make a decision, but is there any reason not to go with the GB if I won't ever be driving the amp to it's max? (I just like the portability of the GB).

fishtx · #10 11-03-2011, 10:40 AM

I'm an SM9.2 user and love it. It's my go to amp right now...and I will also say "Consider customer service when you make a decision as well"...

The GB guys will take care of you if anything happens...seriously great CS...

NWB · #11 11-03-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mophead

Don't forget the Shuttlemax 12. Less power BUT the ability to run two four ohm cabs at the same time. I have never lacked for volume with the Max 12 with one four ohm cab.

And a spare amp inside should one fail. You don't get that on the Max 9.2.

Actually, the 12.0 would have more power (1200 watts) if you run a pair of 4-ohm cabs. With a single 8-ohm fearful though the 9.2 would be putting out more power than the 12.0.

MarTONEbass · #12 11-03-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

If you like a lot of flexible eq, the carvin's the way to go. They can also biamp and you can do stuff like footswitch the graphic on and off to change between sound, say a warmer fingerstyle tone and a snappier slap tone or something. I think they still do the 30 day return thing if it turns out it's just not your cup-o-tea.

Have you seen the EQ on a 9.2? 2 footswitchable channels, 2 semi-parametric mid bands, preshape filters, etc.

9.2 is my vote, I love mine and I've owned plenty of amps.

Jimrs2k · #13 11-03-2011, 11:22 AM

Hi, just mention that I've been using a gb 9.2 with a fearful 15/6/1 for nearly a year now, and im totaly happy with it, as a long time ashown user i was not easly convinced .
I really don't give a f@%k what the output my or maynot be,, its as loud as hell thru a single cabinet .

jnewmark · #14 11-03-2011, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarTONEbass

Have you seen the EQ on a 9.2? 2 footswitchable channels, 2 semi-parametric mid bands, preshape filters, etc.

9.2 is my vote, I love mine and I've owned plenty of amps.

This stuff is pretty subjective, of course, but I have owned both and much prefer the Carvin. Alot of EQ choices on both, along with options, but the Carvin also has a compressor, the choice between ( or both ) semi para and graphic eq, ability to go down to 2 ohms, if that is important, the abilty to bi amp or run stereo, and is hundreds of $ cheaper. As far as overall WHUMP goes, it's a wash between the two, but you can bridge the Carvin for that 1500 watts.

MysticMichael · #15 11-03-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nateynate

Typically, the shows I play are either smaller venues, or if larger, have very good PA support, so in my experience the 500w has been plenty loud. I have carried around racks of gear and heavy cabs for years, and am excited by the opportunity to carry around a 50lb cab and virtually weightless amp, creating an easily portable rig that sounds amazing and can be used from the smallest venue I play to the largest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nateynate

I'll try to play a BX1500 before I make a decision, but is there any reason not to go with the GB if I won't ever be driving the amp to it's max? (I just like the portability of the GB).

Once again, there seems to be this lingering misperception that the primary purpose of a large amount of headroom is to have the capacity to generate a large amount of volume.

That's simply not the case.

Headroom is much more related to the quality (tone) of one's signal - not so much the quantity (volume). A high-powered amp putting out approximately the same amount of SPL as a mid-sized amp will typically not work nearly as hard, resulting in low end that feels more effortless - and hence more bottomless. All things being equal, it will also tend to operate more cleanly, with less THD.

But yes, there is always the volume thing too...

MM

P.S. The Carvin BX1500 weighs 10 pounds.

rpsands · #16 11-03-2011, 01:14 PM

I'd lean toward the BX1500. Carvin's power figures, having played their DCM power amps, seem a bit more...realistic. I've played the BX-series and owned a Shuttle and can say i didn't feel like the Shuttle 9 had that much more whump than a BX500.

jeff7bass · #17 11-03-2011, 01:55 PM

I would throw the Carvin B2000 in the mix, if you plan on running a single cab or a pair of 8 ohm cabs. I you plan on running a pair of 4 ohm cabs, then the BX1500 would be ideal. I know the B2000 runs at 2 ohms but I like the flexibility the BX1500 gives you when running 2 cabs. It will power each 4-ohm with its own dedicated 450w amp. Now if you have a pair of 3-way cabs, you can dial down some mids/highs using your lower cabs attenuator’s, then set the BX1500’s active crossover so the upper cab gets most of the mids while the lower cab gets most of the lows. The amount of flexibility the BX1500 provides is HUGE, but for some it may be too cumbersome. They’re all good amps of course.

nateynate · #18 11-03-2011, 02:12 PM

All good points. As of right now, one fEarful 15/6 is all I'll need for any show I'll be playing in the foreseeable future. It just sounds and *feels* so good on stage. Most likely I'd never need the crossover in the BX1500.

pbasswil · #19 11-03-2011, 02:25 PM

I'm in the same boat -- recently got a fEARful 15/6/1, and have a Shuttle 9.0. It's a pretty loud pairing.

But there's still a few dB in the fEARful that I can't get to yet.

I've considered the Carvin as an option, to max out the available SPL.

But I may stay with a 500 watt amp. I kind of like the idea of not being able to blow up my drivers, even if I were to put every dial on "11". :^)

I have great confidence that all the Genz' are very well designed, and well-protected against any peaks beyond the rated power.

domestique · #20 11-03-2011, 03:13 PM

Can anyone comment on Carvin's DI? I know many praise GB's DI and say it is very useable for live gigs and even recording.

Also, on Carvin's BX1500, if one power amp blows, does the other still work (i.e. like GB's Shuttlmax 12.0)?

I myself am leaning towards the ShuttleMax 9.2 with having 2 separate channels and the portability of putting the 9.2 into your gig bag.