Loudest Micro amp at EIGHT ohms???

::::BASSIST:::: · #1 10-11-2010, 03:10 AM

Aside from the Markbass Littlemark 800 and the GB Shuttle 9 what else is out there for loud micros **at 8 ohms**? Idea being it would be powerful enough to drive a 115 cab. I am currently using my Peavy DPC 1000 poweramp + VT Bass to drive my LDS 15/6 and it sounds great. However the poweramp (and everything else) probably weighs close to 18LBS and I'd like to see whats out there thats lighter, yet ideally approaches the same power ability (1000w at 8 ohms).

Ideally suggestions would include:

~no less than 500w at 8 ohms (hopefully more)

~no more than 8LBS

waleross · #2 10-11-2010, 03:52 AM

Ampeg Micro-v

Jaco who? · #3 10-11-2010, 04:19 AM

Sorry, but it's an exercise in futility. Even the all revered almighty 3015LF won't handle a true 1000 watts, and even if it did, two of them with the 9.0 would handle anything, so why not just do that? Pointless. Fun to ponder though, I spose........

I don't know much about them, but you might look at the SWR go-light/amp-light combinations. Still pointless, though....

lomo · #4 10-11-2010, 04:51 AM

Shuttle 9 is the current micro power/weight ratio champ. There's also the iAMP Pro: not micro but 10 lbs and 600 watts at 8 Ohms. My 15/6 pretty much maxes out with the 450 watts from my M9 (tried it outdoors for kicks). IMHO the box will not benefit from more power than that.

KJung · #5 10-11-2010, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lomo

Shuttle 9 is the current micro power/weight ratio champ. There's also the iAMP Pro: not micro but 10 lbs and 600 watts at 8 Ohms. My 15/6 pretty much maxes out with the 450 watts from my M9 (tried it outdoors for kicks). IMHO the box will not benefit from more power than that.

+1 From my experience with quite a few 12/6's and 15/6's, they like it clean and wide (versus the more voiced punchy of the Shuttle 9). The Puma1000 or iAmp Pro would be a great match for this cab. For the price, the iAmpPro would probably get the call for me if the 15/6 was my thing.

lomo · #6 10-11-2010, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 From my experience with quite a few 12/6's and 15/6's, they like it clean and wide (versus the more voiced punchy of the Shuttle 9). The Puma1000 or iAmp Pro would be a great match for this cab. For the price, the iAmpPro would probably get the call for me if the 15/6 was my thing.

That's pretty much my experience. I've directly A/Bed the 9 and M9 with my cab and the M9 won by a wiiiiiiiiide margin, even though I wanted to prefer the Shuttle 9. The iAMP Pro sounded superb as well but I dig the compressor, graphic eq and voicing of the M9.

KJung · #7 10-11-2010, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lomo

That's pretty much my experience. I've directly A/Bed the 9 and M9 with my cab and the M9 won by a wiiiiiiiiide margin, even though I wanted to prefer the Shuttle 9. The iAMP Pro sounded superb as well but I dig the compressor, graphic eq and voicing of the M9.

+1 I'm not a fan of the iAmp with most other cabs, but that sort of voicing really works with the 3015LF cabs, which can actually use that super deep low end. And, the 'brightness' of that mid driver in the upper midrange and the 'politeness' in the upper treble yin yangs nicely with the smooth upper mids and super sizzly treble of the iAmp. The Puma sounds great also, but the cost and the fact that the company is on a different continent for service and supporty makes that a difficult option for most in the US.

I bet the M9 sounds great also, but the size and weight are not within the OP's requirements.

tombowlus · #8 10-11-2010, 07:48 AM

I know that it's not rated at 500 watts into 8-ohms, as per the OP's qualifications, but the GK MB500 is crazy loud driving an 8-ohm load. I was able to get more usable volume in a gig situation with my MB500 driving a fEarful 12/6/1 than I was with the Shuttle 9.0 driving that same cab. This may have been a function of the limiter, as much as a function of the output section, but either way, the MB500 is very impressive even when driving an 8-ohm load.

KJung · #9 10-11-2010, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

I know that it's not rated at 500 watts into 8-ohms, as per the OP's qualifications, but the GK MB500 is crazy loud driving an 8-ohm load. I was able to get more usable volume in a gig situation with my MB500 driving a fEarful 12/6/1 than I was with the Shuttle 9.0 driving that same cab. This may have been a function of the limiter, as much as a function of the output section, but either way, the MB500 is very impressive even when driving an 8-ohm load.

And, that head is also one of those 'deep, wide, and extended up top' sort of voicings that seems to work better with these particular cabs versus the more mid punch of other heads like the Genz, the Markbass stuff, etc.

THORRR · #10 10-11-2010, 08:06 AM

Call Dave, the owner of www.avatarspeakers.com

He's easy to talk with and will give you straightforward information to help you in your quest.

I own a Markbass LM III 800, and chose to use 2 of his B410 Neo cabs (I realize this is not what you're looking for) but he was extremely helpful to me when I was choosing cabs and shopping all the brands.

Tell him what you're trying to accomplish and see what he says. He's a great source.

(And, personally, I love the Avatar products)

Bmorefoozler · #11 10-11-2010, 08:13 AM

Orange Terror Bass has the power but probably not the correct tonal profile.
The Carvin Bx1500 you had was probably as close as you can get.

KJung · #12 10-11-2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THORRR

Call Dave, the owner of www.avatarspeakers.com

He's easy to talk with and will give you straightforward information to help you in your quest.

I own a Markbass LM III 800, and chose to use 2 of his B410 Neo cabs (I realize this is not what you're looking for) but he was extremely helpful to me when I was choosing cabs and shopping all the brands.

Tell him what you're trying to accomplish and see what he says. He's a great source.

(And, personally, I love the Avatar products)

He is looking for a head to drive his amazing 15/6 cab, not another cab.

rpsands · #13 10-11-2010, 09:33 AM

Just seconding that the Mb500 is more than sufficient for my needs. The F1 got me by too, actually, but I find the Mb500 a little more open in the lows and the low mid knob is in a good spot.

You have a LM2 right? Have you tried it out and found it not providing enough volume?

::::BASSIST:::: · #14 10-11-2010, 11:21 AM

Yeah, I like my LMII alot but find it compresses without much effort at 8 ohms.

That MB500 by GK is really getting my attention.

rpsands · #15 10-11-2010, 11:25 AM

It's worth trying out for sure. I keep hoping they're goin to drop the bomb on an MB900 or something soon =)

Vic · #16 10-11-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

And, that head [MB500] is also one of those 'deep, wide, and extended up top' sort of voicings that seems to work better with these particular cabs versus the more mid punch of other heads like the Genz, the Markbass stuff, etc.

+1, at least "flat" (I know, I know), but I found dropping the bass control on this head a little and tweaking the mids a touch really tightens it up considerably if that's the desired result. Otherwise, it's "flat" setting is really quite nice for sparser mixes. I'm generally a pretty big fan of the Markbass F heads, playing most of my gigs in crowded mixes and less than ideal acoustics, but I'm quickly warming up to the MB Fusion after doing a couple gigs with one.

KJung · #17 10-11-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic

+1, at least "flat" (I know, I know), but I found dropping the bass control on this head a little and tweaking the mids a touch really tightens it up considerably if that's the desired result. Otherwise, it's "flat" setting is really quite nice for sparser mixes. I'm generally a pretty big fan of the Markbass F heads, playing most of my gigs in crowded mixes and less than ideal acoustics, but I'm quickly warming up to the MB Fusion after doing a couple gigs with one.

That 15/6 really is a different beast, and just thrives on that wide tonal footprint (i.e., the very wide hi pass and lo pass settings on the GK heads). I didn't dig the MB2-500 at all with any of my cabs, but I can see it really singing with the 15/6, which benefits from a head that is bumped and goosed a bit up top, and also can handle the deep hi pass setting nicely.

All these type of heads (Puma, EA iAmpPro, GK micro's) seem to really thrive with the 15/6.

Vic · #18 10-11-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

That 15/6 really is a different beast, and just thrives on that wide tonal footprint (i.e., the very wide hi pass and lo pass settings on the GK heads). I didn't dig the MB2-500 at all with any of my cabs, but I can see it really singing with the 15/6, which benefits from a head that is bumped and goosed a bit up top, and also can handle the deep hi pass setting nicely.

All these type of heads (Puma, EA iAmpPro, GK micro's) seem to really thrive with the 15/6.

Cool.

Just one thing, keep in mind the MB500 heads are a next generation from the MB2-500, and depending on exactly when you tried one, sound very different (IMHO, in a good way). That said, they're still in the big wide category to me tho.

tallboybass · #19 10-11-2010, 01:50 PM

Of course if you like tubage in your tone, the MB Fusion is the same power section with lots of tubey-goodness packed in a tiny package.

KJung · #20 10-11-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic

Cool.

Just one thing, keep in mind the MB500 heads are a next generation from the MB2-500, and depending on exactly when you tried one, sound very different (IMHO, in a good way). That said, they're still in the big wide category to me tho.

Both the ones I have played had been 'repaired' and upgraded to 'version 7', so my understanding is they sound pretty close to the current models. The downside is they both hissed like snakes, and that is something that is a deal killer for me, since I enjoy a full range sound with a tweeter engaged.