NAD! Orange Terror TB500h / Compared to Aguilar TH500

[KJung]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

Great question. The Mesa M6 Carbine is Uber clean and clear, pretty much ALL the time. Thew M6 Carbine has tons of headroom and an play very loud. The lows are very deep and sound more extended on the low-end than most amps. The Mesa M6 Carbine has a rather 'wide presentation of the extreme low and high frequency ranges.' This is not to say it is not very musical. But mating the amp with the right cab is important. My Bergantino AE410 is a rather tight/focused 4x10, so it balances out the wide frequency range of the Mesa. The highs are also prominent, yet sweet and the mids are very very clear. The Midrange on the Mesa M6 Carbine is not as complex as the Orange Terror in my experience. I love the Growl and grind of the Orange. It sits just right in the band mix.

The Mesa does have a DI Output level knob which is nice, but so far, the two gigs I did using the Orange DI out, worked perfectly and neither soundmen had any complaints at all.

The Orange Terror TB500 has some grit and grind (mild distortion) baked into the Low mids and midrange, but just the right amount. The Midrange on the Orange seems to have more growl and grind in ways that I consider more tubey than the Mesa. While the Orange has that grit, grind and growl in the mids, it remains very articulate and punchy. Just a perfect blend of lows, mids and highs. It's like all the tweaks I would make to the EQ settings on other amps .... is already DONE 'flat' on the Orange. Very Plug N Play for me. Set the Volume and GO! I like that a lot!

Then ....the Orange is easy to one hand and carry and the Mesa comes in a rack or big heavy head case. I've loved my Mesa M6 Carbine since I got it. But I am overhauling my 'big' gear to make it easier to move around. Color me ....Orange!

Cool thread. The Orange seems like a cool little box. Your description of the M6 is right on, and I can see how a similar 'big tone' but with more character in the mids (and a little less extension way down low and way up high) would sound great, especially with the AE410. Nice!

You know, I never could figure out why amps would have a level on the DI. Any mixing board other than the very cheapest 'all in one' PA head would have pad controls on each channel, which would allow for any signal from the DI. So, I don't find that a problem at all.

Anyway, great review. I've only heard the Orange heads briefly, and that was with a typical 'Orange' fan just screaming the distortion out of the thing.

I'm not a big fan of the form factor and the 'look', but that is a minor issue. I'll have to check one out sometime with the mighty P Bass! I like the switchable impedance like an 'all tube amp'. Pretty cool!

[Musicman20]

I have the AD200b as my big ass amp and it kills.


I've gotta say we get the TB500 did a real bargain here...about £470 if shopping about.

[Session1969]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

Was it the SP410? The smaller one? or a regular 4x10 cube? Thanks!

The SP410. They were asking 900 and change for her.

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by Session1969

The SP410. They were asking 900 and change for her.

Cool! I played an SP212 today at my local shop. Very impressive. They didn;t have an SP410 or I would have tried one. I think I might actually like it based on a very positive experience with the SP212. But ultimately, I think I would want an SP212 stack (Pair of them). mmmm. Could be very cool. nice tall stack makes for good nearfield monitoring.

[Session1969]

Whoops ! It was the OBC 410 I played through. They don't have an SP410 on their site.

I'm looking forward to trying the Aggie as well. I might be getting into a rock project so I've been interested in both of these based on the reviews.
Unfortunately, the larger music retailers north of San Francisco don't carry them in stock to try.

[rpsands]

The Orange isobaric cabs are just soooo much money for what they give you. Seriously a waste of money.

[Green Lantern]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

Great question. The Mesa M6 Carbine is Uber clean and clear, pretty much ALL the time. Thew M6 Carbine has tons of headroom and an play very loud. The lows are very deep and sound more extended on the low-end than most amps. The Mesa M6 Carbine has a rather 'wide presentation of the extreme low and high frequency ranges.' This is not to say it is not very musical. But mating the amp with the right cab is important. My Bergantino AE410 is a rather tight/focused 4x10, so it balances out the wide frequency range of the Mesa. The highs are also prominent, yet sweet and the mids are very very clear. The Midrange on the Mesa M6 Carbine is not as complex as the Orange Terror in my experience. I love the Growl and grind of the Orange. It sits just right in the band mix.

The Mesa does have a DI Output level knob which is nice, but so far, the two gigs I did using the Orange DI out, worked perfectly and neither soundmen had any complaints at all.

The Orange Terror TB500 has some grit and grind (mild distortion) baked into the Low mids and midrange, but just the right amount. The Midrange on the Orange seems to have more growl and grind in ways that I consider more tubey than the Mesa. While the Orange has that grit, grind and growl in the mids, it remains very articulate and punchy. Just a perfect blend of lows, mids and highs. It's like all the tweaks I would make to the EQ settings on other amps .... is already DONE 'flat' on the Orange. Very Plug N Play for me. Set the Volume and GO! I like that a lot!

Then ....the Orange is easy to one hand and carry and the Mesa comes in a rack or big heavy head case. I've loved my Mesa M6 Carbine since I got it. But I am overhauling my 'big' gear to make it easier to move around. Color me ....Orange!

Thanks for sharing info in the Boogie; I am a huge Boogie fan and have been for over 20 years with their guitar and bass amps. I had their 400 plus amp which was the ultimate tube amp for me. But the cost of the tubes and the weight was a challenge. I have played a M6 in a store that was in a 212 boogie cabinet. It sounded exactly as you described it. I loved it but even with the wheels and handle, the weight was too much for me, The mid control really helped it have a lot of different sounds. But it remained very clean, articulate, and full. sounds like the Orange as well as my TH500 has more character which we prefer. But the M5 is a great alternative. I am thinking about the Benz Genz as a second flavor as I decided to go with the D class amps that are light. There are enough of them out there that one will meet your needs. Though the Walkabout amp may be a good option too but it's almost double the price of a Shuttle 6.2.

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by rpsands

The Orange isobaric cabs are just soooo much money for what they give you. Seriously a waste of money.

The Orange ISO SP212 was kinda cool, but not $899 cool.

[rpsands]

Yeah, they definitely sound good. No issues there. Just take issue with the price per decibel.

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by rpsands

Yeah, they definitely sound good. No issues there. Just take issue with the price per decibel.

Totally agree Ryan! Even with the deal I can get on one ( $650 ), there are a LOT of very nice 1x12 boxes that sound as good, if not better. Isobaric or not, the SP212 is good, but not a game changer. In fact, that design is quite dated.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

Totally agree Ryan! Even with the deal I can get on one ( $650 ), there are a LOT of very nice 1x12 boxes that sound as good, if not better. Isobaric or not, the SP212 is good, but not a game changer. In fact, that design is quite dated.

+1

I think when you take into account the max spl, weight of the box, lack of sensitivity, and cost, it all negates how good the cab may sound.

[mikenel169]

I just purchased a TB500 last week, it wont be here till Friday tho! I have a mesa m2000 that kicks ass but i wanted to try Orange out. I'll see which one stays and which one goes this weekend!

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by mikenel169

I just purchased a TB500 last week, it wont be here till Friday tho! I have a mesa m2000 that kicks ass but i wanted to try Orange out. I'll see which one stays and which one goes this weekend!

Right on! I can't WAIT to hear your review! What cab are you pairing the Orange with? What kind of bass and music style?

[mikenel169]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

Right on! I can't WAIT to hear your review! What cab are you pairing the Orange with? What kind of bass and music style?

Well i have 2 Mesa 410s one is a powerhouse and the other is a diesel, man i love these cabs. I have a Spector euro Ian Hill signature and i play all types of music, but i am in a metal band. I can't wait to get this puppy in the mail. I've read a lot of great things and some not so good, problems with capacitors and what not. But I'm not worried, I'm sure this thing is a beast. I also have 2 JJ tesla 12ax7s I'm going to swap out with the stock ones!

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by mikenel169

Well i have 2 Mesa 410s one is a powerhouse and the other is a diesel, man i love these cabs. I have a Spector euro Ian Hill signature and i play all types of music, but i am in a metal band. I can't wait to get this puppy in the mail. I've read a lot of great things and some not so good, problems with capacitors and what not. But I'm not worried, I'm sure this thing is a beast. I also have 2 JJ tesla 12ax7s I'm going to swap out with the stock ones!

For what you do and what you play, I would say be prepared for what may be the best sound you've ever had through those Mesa 4x0's. I LOVE those cabs. Too heavy for me to lift, otherwise I'd probably own a Powerhouse 4x10. But what TONE!

Try the amp stock before swapping the tubes. I have a ton of old stock tubes on hand, but I have yet to be unhappy with what I am hearing from the Orange TB500h. Doesn't mean it couldn't be even better. But I want to get to know the amp as -it-is first. So then when I try different tubes, I'll be able to draw a more conclusive contrast. If that makes any sense.

[mikenel169]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

For what you do and what you play, I would say be prepared for what may be the best sound you've ever had through those Mesa 4x0's. I LOVE those cabs. Too heavy for me to lift, otherwise I'd probably own a Powerhouse 4x10. But what TONE!

Try the amp stock before swapping the tubes. I have a ton of old stock tubes on hand, but I have yet to be unhappy with what I am hearing from the Orange TB500h. Doesn't mean it couldn't be even better. But I want to get to know the amp as -it-is first. So then when I try different tubes, I'll be able to draw a more conclusive contrast. If that makes any sense.

Yea i love these cabs. They are very heavy, but i'm fortunate to have a "roadie" (younger brother ) who helps lug my gear around. youre right that is a great idea to hear the amp as is before changing the preamp tubes. I'm sure i'll love the tone as is, I can't wait!

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by mikenel169

Yea i love these cabs. They are very heavy, but i'm fortunate to have a "roadie" (younger brother ) who helps lug my gear around. youre right that is a great idea to hear the amp as is before changing the preamp tubes. I'm sure i'll love the tone as is, I can't wait!

I did a corporate show Saturday night (500 people) in a HUGE ballroom at a local 5-Star Resort Hotel. Used the Orange TB500 and my Bergantino AE410. The Bergantino AE410 is a little more focused and lacks the low end of your Mesa's. But it is tight, ballsy and punchy. I had arguably the absolute best bass sound I've ever had in my life. I got to step on the gas a bit more than usual. Had FOH support, but it was a biog stage and huge room.

Side note: Beware, the feet on the Orange TB500 head are kind of hard plastic-ish and smooth. I was laying on the B string a lot and the amp was starting to walk across the top of my cab. It never got away, but that's how loud we were playing. The Master Vol on the Orange was between 9-10 'o'clockat most. Input gain at noon. Seriously blew my mind how GOOD it sounded.

[mikenel169]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

I did a corporate show Saturday night (500 people) in a HUGE ballroom at a local 5-Star Resort Hotel. Used the Orange TB500 and my Bergantino AE410. The Bergantino AE410 is a little more focused and lacks the low end of your Mesa's. But it is tight, ballsy and punchy. I had arguably the absolute best bass sound I've ever had in my life. I got to step on the gas a bit more than usual. Had FOH support, but it was a biog stage and huge room.

Side note: Beware, the feet on the Orange TB500 head are kind of hard plastic-ish and smooth. I was laying on the B string a lot and the amp was starting to walk across the top of my cab. It never got away, but that's how loud we were playing. The Master Vol on the Orange was between 9-10 'o'clockat most. Input gain at noon. Seriously blew my mind how GOOD it sounded.

In that case I think the mesa m2000 is going bye bye!

[Kopfjaeger]

I've been lurking here on this thread for the last several days. I own an Orange AD200b and I love the heck out of it! Before purchasing it I was stuck between the TB500 and the AD200b. I think I would have been happy with either but I'm glad I made the AD200b choice.

OK, the AD200b is a heavy beast. I'd like to pick up a a combo type amp to cut down on weight and space for certain applications. Toting around 2 or 3 basses plus effects a 4x10 cab and an all tube head is a bit of gear.

The Orange TB500c (Tb500 and 2/12 isobaric combo) is on the list along with a GK MB212-2. Both are rated 500w and have a smaller footprint than my current big rig. For band practices and many gigs, the weight reduction would be a godsend!

We play a mix of metal and rock (Sabbath. Metallica, Foo Fighters).

Any suggestions??

Sepp

[CL400Peavey]

Legit a fEARful 12/6 and a tb500 would be a killer lightweight rig.