Need slave power for Demeter VTBP-201

one-note · #1 12-15-2010, 10:47 AM

I am shrinking my rack and would appreciate any suggestions for a lightweight(less than 5 pounds) ,2-space, high-power
(500 watts into 8 ohms or better) slave power amp that could work with my Demeter preamp. No tone controls-just power, volume, output. Thanks

PSPookie · #2 12-15-2010, 11:24 AM

The Peavey IPR 3000 is the frist thing that comes to mind. It fits your stated size and power goals but it weighs in around 7lbs. I'm not sure if you're going to find anything that fits all three requirements.

Hoover · #3 12-15-2010, 11:34 AM

lightweight, cheap, good... pick any two.

Dan Knowlton · #4 12-15-2010, 11:35 AM

Check out the Stewart 2.1

Dan K.

wcriley · #5 12-15-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

lightweight, cheap, good... pick any two.

The Peavey IPR series does all three.

My IPR1600 weighs 7 lbs, costs $300 new, and has never let me down. It should do around 1000 watts bridged at 8 ohms if my math is right. (Spec'd at 530 per side @ 4 ohms)

Hoover · #6 12-15-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcriley

The Peavey IPR series does all three.

I'll respectfully opine that in over 35 years of gigging as a bassist and working as a professional audio engineer I have never encountered a Peavey power amplifier that I would unhesitatingly refer to as "good".

"Adequate" maybe.

jmac · #7 12-15-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

I'll respectfully opine that in over 35 years of gigging as a bassist and working as a professional audio engineer I have never encountered a Peavey power amplifier that I would unhesitatingly refer to as "good".

"Adequate" maybe.

The CS800 wasn't bad. Actually, it was good. The units that I owned never failed. That's the only good experience I've had with peavey.

wcriley · #8 12-15-2010, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

I'll respectfully opine that in over 35 years of gigging as a bassist and working as a professional audio engineer I have never encountered a Peavey power amplifier that I would unhesitatingly refer to as "good".

"Adequate" maybe.

I'm not as experienced, so I'll respectfully ask what your critera are for a "good" power amp.

Hoover · #9 12-15-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcriley

I'm not as experienced, so I'll respectfully ask what your critera are for a "good" power amp.

Headroom, for one thing. Never met a Peavey amp that didn't go into gross clipping when asked to reproduce low frequency transients.

gregbackstrom · #10 12-15-2010, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

I'll respectfully opine that in over 35 years of gigging as a bassist and working as a professional audio engineer I have never encountered a Peavey power amplifier that I would unhesitatingly refer to as "good".

"Adequate" maybe.

You clearly haven't heard the IPR 3000, then (or if you have, you haven't paired it with anything good). I've used mine with a Demeter VTBP-201s, Aguilar DB 659 and 680's and a Michael Pope MPP-1 into Bergantino AE212's and it absolutely crushes! Great, loud, quick, full-bodied sound with amazing dynamic response. And in a 7.5 lb package. Amazing!!

Peavey's tube amps (VB-2 and VB-3) are equally amazing. I've played bass for over 42 years and have used great gear for much of that time. IME (lots of it) and IMO, Peavey gear takes a back seat to nobody!

- Greg

wcriley · #11 12-16-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

Headroom, for one thing. Never met a Peavey amp that didn't go into gross clipping when asked to reproduce low frequency transients.

Are you saying that the power specs are fudged?
Or are you saying that there's something wrong with Peavey's designs that makes them unsuitable for powering subs?

Just curious and wondering if I made a mistake buying one.

greenboy · #12 12-16-2010, 11:07 AM

You are fine. Look for solid data rather than hearsay if you have concerns.

TomB · #13 12-16-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

I'll respectfully opine that in over 35 years of gigging as a bassist and working as a professional audio engineer I have never encountered a Peavey power amplifier that I would unhesitatingly refer to as "good".

"Adequate" maybe.

Have you ever worked w/a CS800? Heavy, back-breaking heavy, but definitely "good", IME.

Hoover · #14 12-16-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomB

Have you ever worked w/a CS800? Heavy, back-breaking heavy, but definitely "good", IME.

In fact, the CS800s were the first models that clued me in that Peavey was compromising dynamic headroom in order to meet a pricepoint! Also CS400s, M-3000s, M-2600s, and anything called a "Bass" head from about 1972 up through Mark III, Mark IV, and then the brown lightweight Will Lee-approved model circa mid-1980s. Listen to what happens -- or, if you have the time, take a look at the waveform on a scope -- when you put loud low frequency transients through those amps (and the DDT is switched "off" ...ironically, the net output isn't that much different with DDT off or on, but the distortion profile changes.)

I'll be honest, because of this consistent shortcoming of every Peavey amp I've encountered from the early 70s up through the early 90s, I have not bothered to check out this IPR 3000 model that gregbackstrom mentioned. If Peavey finally got their poo together and figured out how to make a decent power amplifier, I grant them this: They're patient.

Plstrns · #15 12-16-2010, 04:28 PM

Power is power is power. Durability is the only important quality, along with weight if you have to carry it far.

If you have headroom problems, buy a bigger amp.

Sickneedhelp · #16 12-16-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

I'll respectfully opine that in over 35 years of gigging as a bassist and working as a professional audio engineer I have never encountered a Peavey power amplifier that I would unhesitatingly refer to as "good".

"Adequate" maybe.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...855865&page=56

If you research this well respected reviewer's prior posts, you will find comments similar to yours. He then reviewed one of the IPRs and posted his results. They include the following statement:

I find it very hard to admit that the Peavey IPR-1600 sounded really good as a full range amplifier because my own built in prejudices formed over many years of using pro gear and home audio gear still tell me quite loudly that "PEAVEY IS NOT A HIGH FIDELITY AMPLIFIER". But my ears told me that I could hear more detail that was cleaner and more open than the other amplifiers. It has been quite hard to get over built in prejudices vs. what I heard.......

While his review does not focus on headroom, you will find lack of headroom is not a Peavey power amplifier trait since the past decade (GPS3500 & 2600, CS4080HZ - 1800, etc.). The review does show there is merit in reevaluating old opinions.

Thank you to those who jumped in to defend Peavey.

Regards

Plstrns · #17 12-16-2010, 06:48 PM

I've heard from several that the GPS amps where among the best ever from anyone, forgot about those.

I know I like my IPR's.

TomB · #18 12-17-2010, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

I'll be honest, because of this consistent shortcoming of every Peavey amp I've encountered from the early 70s up through the early 90s, I have not bothered to check out this IPR 3000 model that gregbackstrom mentioned. If Peavey finally got their poo together and figured out how to make a decent power amplifier, I grant them this: They're patient.

Interesting! My comment comes only from my experience with a CS800 that was in place in a teen center for 14 years; ramped up to 11 and tweaked nightly by every young sound novice in the county... it never once blinked; remained loud & reliable the whole time. That's what I meant by "good"... I don't think anyone ever checked its specs! Thanks for the info in any case.