Power/Pre with LDS 15/6.5 Cab?

bassplayer7770 · #1 06-03-2010, 07:44 PM

Well, after seeing the Crown XLS 1000 power amp for $300, and knowing it is rated to push 700 watts bridged at 8 ohms, I'm seriously considering a power/pre setup to use with my LDS 15/6.5 cab.

What affordable preamps offer good versatility that can cover Rock as well as Hip-Hop/Rap, Pop, etc.? Here are a few I was thinkin' about...

BBE BMAX
Aguilar Tone Hammer (will this work as a pre straight into a power amp?)
Boss GT-10B (again, will this work directly into a power amp?)

Any other affordable preamps to consider? Feedback on any of the preamps I listed is also appreciated.

johnk_10 · #2 06-03-2010, 07:48 PM

IMO, the RPM & RBI are nice. i think that Art Pro channel's work really well too, are tube, and have a lot of features for the $.

rpsands · #3 06-03-2010, 08:24 PM

Yamaha Pb-1 is my favorite budget preamp.

My second favorite is the BBE 383 which has a crossover which is ideal for the fEarful stuff if you have the slots for it. The compressor onboard is useless but the rest of it works great. I got mine super cheap after shopping around for a deal and it's almost as good as the PB-1.

Also, folks have had issues with the 700w in the Xls 1000 being generously rated, so you might want to get the 1500.

johnk_10 · #4 06-03-2010, 08:58 PM

+1 on xls1500 and the PB-1
and the ashley BP-41 is another really good one.

bassplayer7770 · #5 06-04-2010, 08:09 AM

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

RP, why would I need a pre with a crossover if my cab has a built-in crossover? Maybe I'm just confused...

Also, thanks for the info about the output rating. Maybe I'll just save for the 1500.

Any thoughts on the BMAX pre?

KJung · #6 06-04-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer7770

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

RP, why would I need a pre with a crossover if my cab has a built-in crossover? Maybe I'm just confused...

Also, thanks for the info about the output rating. Maybe I'll just save for the 1500.

Any thoughts on the BMAX pre?

No, the internal crossover works great. However, I believe Don includes a biamping jack option at request which allows you to use an electronic crossover to send a totally separate signal to the woofer and mid driver. Of course, then you are back to needing lots of power from one side of a non bridged power amp to really drive the woofer, so that wouldn't be a great solution for most.

Don't forget some of the great sounding, powerful at 8ohm monoblock heads out there, like the Shuttle 9, the Markbass SD1200 and the Carvin B2000... simple, lightweight, easy, small!

Foz · #7 06-04-2010, 08:45 AM

Active xovers are tunable which gives you the ability to tune the cab's output to your desires... you can do this with a pre that includes biamp outputs or the if available the digital signal processing inside the amp - such is available in both the xls drive core and the xti series Crown amps.

The passive xover the Green Man designed for the 15/6 is quite good IMO - but biamping is better.

I have had good results thru a 15/6 with a mono pre and a xti2000 with the dsp of the amp set to biamp x'd at about 700 to 800 Hz and the HF padded back 6 to 9 dB [ gives ya about 575 watts for the lows and 100'ish for the HF] but I prefer to biamp through the pre because then I can easily dink it on stage to get the voicing I want for that room/gig.

I suggest you try a bigger amp before you settle on the one you are looking at - the 15/6 responses well to power and head room and the 8 ohm 3015lf woofer is not excursion limited at peak center frequency of +/- 100 Hz until you get to +/- 750 watts. It'd be loafing with that xls1000, be a pity to leave all that potential performance in the weeds especially if you ever dabble in dub or other extreme LF genres.

My $0.02

mcapote · #8 06-04-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer7770

Aguilar Tone Hammer (will this work as a pre straight into a power amp?)

yes it has a DI out, dunno if the 1000 is like the 2000 in terms of being able to use input 1 to power both outputs but if it does that would be good. btw i use the 2000 with fearfuls

bassplayer7770 · #9 06-04-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Don't forget some of the great sounding, powerful at 8ohm monoblock heads out there, like the Shuttle 9, the Markbass SD1200 and the Carvin B2000... simple, lightweight, easy, small!

I haven't forgotten, but I kinda like the idea of being able to try different preamps if I want a change in tone rather than buying an entirely new head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foz

I suggest you try a bigger amp before you settle on the one you are looking at - the 15/6 responses well to power and head room and the 8 ohm 3015lf woofer is not excursion limited at peak center frequency of +/- 100 Hz until you get to +/- 750 watts. It'd be loafing with that xls1000, be a pity to leave all that potential performance in the weeds especially if you ever dabble in dub or other extreme LF genres.

I think I may get the XLS 1500 instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcapote

yes it has a DI out, dunno if the 1000 is like the 2000 in terms of being able to use input 1 to power both outputs but if it does that would be good. btw i use the 2000 with fearfuls

So you use an Aggie with the 2000? How does it sound?

rpsands · #10 06-04-2010, 10:16 AM

Like Foz says, there is a significant performance and flexibility gain by biamping. I recommend to everyone who gets those LDS cabs that has any interest in pre/power to get the switchable biamp jacks added.

bassplayer7770 · #11 06-04-2010, 01:31 PM

Anybody have thoughts on the SWR Grand Prix preamp? Oh, and what would be a good price on a used one in excellent condition?

Foz · #12 06-04-2010, 02:36 PM

xls 1500 is still a bit wimpy by my lights to biamp a 3015LF... only 300 watts into 8 ohms. If you can, try out something much bigger before you buy a low power amp - so at least you know what you aint getting

DaveDeVille · #13 06-04-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer7770

Any other affordable preamps to consider? Feedback on any of the preamps I listed is also appreciated.

not one of the preamps you listed , but the Aguilar DB659 sounds awesome thru my 15/6.5 ...

KJung · #14 06-04-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david meissner

not one of the preamps you listed , but the Aguilar DB659 sounds awesome thru my 15/6.5 ...

That is an amazing sounding pre, and my favorite Aguilar product of all times. Like a much punchier, tighter DB750. I can just imagine that with a 15/6 and some power going into it. Awesome!

Hard to find those now, since they've been off the market for a number of years.

bassplayer7770 · #15 06-04-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foz

xls 1500 is still a bit wimpy by my lights to biamp a 3015LF... only 300 watts into 8 ohms. If you can, try out something much bigger before you buy a low power amp - so at least you know what you aint getting

I don't have the biamp option with my LDS, so I was planning to bridge the power amp into the LDS cab.

Quote:

Originally Posted by david meissner

not one of the preamps you listed , but the Aguilar DB659 sounds awesome thru my 15/6.5 ...

I'm sure that Aggie would sound great, but they don't seem to be available much anymore.

So, nobody has thoughts on the SWR Grand Prix preamps?

silky smoove · #16 06-04-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer7770

So, nobody has thoughts on the SWR Grand Prix preamps?

Big scoop in the low mids and mids, tons of upper mids.. Not great unless you want that tone profile from the start. There's a mod that makes the pre very flat.